Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-08-30
Giving Away a Child.

evidently In very destitute circumstances but
the exceeding beauty of the children, two girls
and boy. was the admiration of their fellow.
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 follow
log touching. and as we suppose, truthful &C.
count of the negotiation:
proceeded. be says, Immediately upon my
delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend on
deck, / thus opened the affair:
You are very poor"
His answer was very characteristic.
Poor sir ?" said he, Gay, il there's poor
er man troublin' the world, God pity both of
Us, for we'd be about siquil"
"Then how do you manage to support your
children ("
"Is it support them, sir why don't sup
port them any way, they get supported some
way or other. It'll be time enough for me to
complain when they do"
"Would it be a relief to you to part with
one of them?"
1t was too sudden be turned sharply
round.
"A what, sir ?" he cried, "a relief to part
from my child 2 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 good to Us, what do you name 7"
You don't understand me" replied &" If
now, it were in ones power to provide CON-
fortably for one of your children, would you
stand in the way of its interest 2"
"No, SIR" said he 1.-The heavens know
that would willingly cut the sunshine away
from myself, that they might be all the warm
er of it /; but tell us what you are drawing at"
l then told him that lady had taken
fancy to have one of his children, and, if he
would consent to it, 1t should be educated, and
finally settled comfortably in life.
This threw him into fit of cogitation.-
He scratched his head, and looked the very
picture Of bewilderment The struggle be-
tween q fathers love and child's interest
was evident and touching At length he said:
90, murther, wouldn't it he q great thing
for the baby? But l must go and talk with
Msry-that's the mother of them an it wo'd
not be right to be giving away her children
afore her face, and she to know nothing at all
about it,"
Away with you them" said I, "and bring
me au answer back as soon as possible"
In about half an hour he returned leading
two of his children. His eyes were red aud
swollen, and his face pale from excitement ard
agitation.
well" inquired, "what success p
Bedad, it was hard struggle, sir" said
he. "But I've been talking to Mary an she
says, as it's for the chld's good, maybe the
heavens above will give US strength to bear
it."
"Very we'll and which of them is it to
be ?"
Faix, and don't know, sir" and he ran
bis eye obviously over both
Here's little Norah-she's the oldest, and
won't need her mother SO much but then
o, tear an ages, it's myself that can't tell
which I'd rather part with least so take the
first one that comes wild O blessing There,
sir,' aud be handed over little Norah, turning
back he snatched her up in his arms, and gave
her one long, hearty fathers kiss, saying
through his tears
May God be good to him that's good to
you, and them that offers you hurt or harm,
may they never see St. Pether"
Then taking the other child By the hand,
he walked away, leaving Norah with me.
| took her down to the cabin, and we tho't
the matter settled 1t must be confessed, to
my great indignation, however, in about an
hours time saw my friend Pat at the win
dow. As soon as he caught my eye he began
making signs for me to come out. did SO,
and found that be had the other child in his
arms
whats the matter now 2" asked
"Well, SIR" said he, ask your pardon
for troubling you about so foolish q thing as
child or two, but we're thinkin' that mabe it'd
make no differ-you see, sir, I've been talkin'
to Mary, an she says she can't part with No
rah, because the creature has look ov me
but here's little Biddy, she's purtyer far, an
av you please, sir, will You swap?"
Certainly whenever you like" said l.
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
it was some recovered treasure, and darted
away with her, leaving little Biddy, who re-
mained with Us all night but 10 the mo-
ment we entered the cabin 10 the morning.
there was Pat making his mysterious signs at
the window, and this time he had the young
est, baby, in his arms.
Whats wrong now ?" inquired.
BE the hokey fly, sur, an it's meself that's
almost ashamed to tell ye. Ye see I've been
talking to Mary, and she didn't like to part
with Norah, because she has look ov me, an
be my soul, cant part with Biddy, because
she's the model Of her mother but there's
little Paudeen, sir. There's lump of Chris
tian, for you, two years old, and not day
more /; he'll never be any trouble to any one
for av he takes after his mother he'll have the
brightest eye, an av he takes after his father
he'll have fne broad pair Of shoulders to
push his way through the world. Will you
swap again sir {"
with all my heart" said / al it is all the
same to me )" and so little Psudeen was left
with me.
"Ha, ha," said to myself, as looked in.
to his big, laughing eyes, 80 the affair 10 set