Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-12
Miscellapeous.
Giving away a Child.
From the National Magazine

On board of one of the Lake steamers
bound for the far West were an Irish fam
ily--husband, wife and three children
They were, evidently in very destitute cir
cumstances; but the exceeding beauty Of
the children, two girls and boy, was the
admiration of all their fellow passengers
A lady who had no children of her own
was desirous of adopting one of the lutte
travellers, and made application to the faith.
er, through friend, who gives the follow
ing touching, and, as we suppose, truthful
account of the negotiations:
proceeded, he says, Immediately upon
my delicate diplomacy. Finding my
friend upon deck, thus opened the affair
"You are very poor?"
His answer was very characteristic:
"Poor, sir, said he; aye if there's poor
er man than me troublin' the world, God
pity both of us, for we'd be about aquil.'
@Then how do you manage to support
your children"
ais it support them, sir! Why don't
support them any way; they get supported
some way or other"
"Would it be a relief TO you to part with
one of them?"
1t was too sudden: he turned sharply
around.
"a what, sirw he cried relief to part
from my child? Would it be a relief to
have the hands chopped from the body, or
the heart torn out Of my breast? A relief,
indeed! God be god to us, what do you
mane?"
sYou don't understand me-" I replied ;
"F now, it were in ones power to provide
comfortably for one ofyour children, would
you stand in the way of its interests
"No, SIR" said he; s'the heavens know
that 1 would willingly cut the sunshine
away from myself: that they might get the
warm of it; but do tell me what yer dri-
wing at" s
f, I then told him that lady had taken a
fancy TO have one of his children; and, if he
would consent to it, it should be educated,
and finally settled comfortably in life.
This threw him in a fit of gratulation.-
He scratched his head and looked the very
picture of bewilderment. The struggle be-
tween q fathers love and a child's interest
was evident and touching. AT length he
said: s1
80, murther, wouldn't it be great
thing for the baby? But I must 90 and
talk to Mary--thats the mother of them;
and it wouldn't be right to be giving away
her children afore her face, and she know
nothing at all about it."
"Away, with you then,' said |, and
bring me an answer back as soon as possi-
ble.' - ma 'si
In about q half an hour he returned,
leading two of his children. His eyes
were swollen and his face pale from excite
ment and agitation. ia- ef5
"Wel," what successY .s
"Bedad, it was hard struggle, sir" he
said. "But I've been talking to Mary. and
she says, its for the childs good: may be
the heavens above will give us strength to
bear it. p -
"Vey well, and which of them is it to
beap n .4eS7ls.ss-.
"Faith, and 1 don't know sir" and he
obviously ran his eye over both. Here's
little Norah--she's the oldest, and won't
need her mother SO much but then-O!
tear and aigers-it's myself that can't tell
winch I'd rather part with least; so take
sne a nrst one that comes, wild blessin.'--
Inere, sir, and he handed over little No
RAM turning back, he snatched her up in