The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-02-19


bound for the far West, were an Irish
family-husbands, wife and three child.
rem. They we're evidently in very des-
titute circumstances but the exceeding
beauty Of the children, two girls and
boy, was the admiration of all the fel.
low passengers. A lady, who had no
children Of her own was desirous of
adopting one of the little travellers and
made application to the father, through
friend, who gives the following touch.
ing, and as we suppose truthful account
Of the negotiation:
! proceeded, be says, Immediately on
my delicate diplomacy. Finding my
friend on deck, / thus opened the affair.
You are very poor p
His answer was very Characteristic:
Poor sir y said he /; 'av if there's
apoorer man than me troubliu the world
God pity both of us, for we'd be about
aiqpil:'
'Theu how do you manage to sup
port your cbildren''
Is it support them. sir ? Why, I
don't support them any way they ge,
supported some way or other; an it i'll
be time enough for me to complain when
- they do.
would it be a relief to you part with
one Of them p
twas too sudden. He turned sharply
round. -e---. - rv-
"A what, sir !! he cried; a relief
to part from my child Would it be q
relief to have the hands chopped from
the body, or the heart torn out of my
breast A relief indeed! God be
good to US what to you name p
You don't understand me- II re-
piled, IF now it were in ones power to
provide comfortably one Of your children,
would you stand'in the way of its inter-
ests p
No, SIR said he; the heavens
knows that I would willingly cut the
sunshine away from myself, that they
might get all the warm Of it; but do
tell VI what your driving at p
p then told him that a lady had taken
afancy to have one of his children and
if he would consent to it, it should be
educated, and finally settled comforta-
bly, in life. y
This threw him into ct of graduation.
He scratched bis head and looked the
very picture of bewilderment. The
struggle between q fathers love and a
child's interest was evident and touch
ing. At length he said:
%, murthcr, wouldn't it be a great
thing for the baby but I must 90 and
talk with Mary, that's the mother of
them an it wouldn't be right giviu'
away her children right afore her face,
and she to knowing about it.
Away With you, then,' said I, and
briDg.me an, answer as soon as possible
In about half an hour he returned,
leading TWO of bis children. His eyes
red and swollen, and bis face pale from
agitation
Well,' I inquired, what suocessi'
Bedsd, it was hard struggle, sir,
said he. But I've been talking to Ma
ry, an she says, as it's for the child,s
good, maybe thd heavens above will give
No strength to bear it,
very well, and which OF them is it
to be p
Fsix and don't know SIR and be
ran his eyes dubiously over both. 'Here
is little Norah--shes the oldest and wont
need her mother so much but then o |!
tear aud aigers, IFS myself that can =
tell which I'd rather part With least so
take the 6rst one that comes, wild a
blessing. There sir, and he handed
over little Norah I; turning back, be
suatebed her up in bis arms and gave
her one long hearty fathers kiss, saying
through bis tears:
Nay Gsd be good to him that is
good 70 you, and them that offers you
burt or harm, may their souls never see
St. Pether.' = = -
Thsn taking the other child BY the
arn' Dc walked away leaving Norah with |
SO ~