Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-08
Erom the Nauonal Magazlne.
Giving Away A Child.

mo @AH - II NAAANl
On board one of the lake steamers, bound
for the Ear West were an Irish family-hus-
band, wife, and three children. They were
evidently in very destitute circumstances; ;
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 little travellers, and made applica-
ton TO the father, through friend, who gives
the following touching and, as We suppose,
truthful account Of the negotiation -
! proceeded, he says, Immediately upon my
delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend on
deck, thHs opened the affair
"Iou are very poor r.... .rt
Poor, sirl" said he, Gay, if there's a
poorer man than me troublin the world, God
pity both ofuz, for we'd be about equal
"Theh how do you manage to support
your children
9" III support them, sir? Why, 1 don't
support them any way, they get supported
sowew way OF other. tn be time enc lgh ior
iiie to complain when they do
Would it be a relief-t TO you to pan with
one Of then2H --rI r
1t was too sudden; he turned sharply
round .ia JA --st-H
IA what, sir ?'' he cried, " a reliefto part
from my child? Would it bea relief 10 have
the hands chopped from the body, or the
heart torn out of my breast? A relief
indeedl God be good to uz, what do you
mane?'
" You don't understand me, I replied
" If now, it We're in ones power to provide
comfortably for one of your children, would
you stand in the way OF its interests?
" No, sir, said he, the heavens know
that ! would willingly cut the sunshine away
from myself that they might get all the
warm ofitj but tell US what you're drawing
at -.-t.- I.s..
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 into fit OF gratulation.-
He scratched his head and looked the very
picture Of bewildement The struggle
between a fathers love and chiId's interest
was evident and touching. Atlength be said {:
go, murther, wouldn't it be a great thing
for the baby? But must 60 and talk wit h
Mary-that's the mother Of them; an it
wouldn't be right TO be giving away her
children atore her tace, and she to know
nothing at all about it,
" Away with you then, said ], &" and bring
ne an answer back as soon as possible"
In about half an hour he returned, leadin z
two of his children. His eyes were red and
swollen, and his face pale from excitement
and agitation
"WeH, l enquired, "what success.
Bedad, it was a hard struggle, sir, said
he. But I've been talking 10 Mary, an
she says, as its for the child s good, maybe
the heavens above viii give US strength %
bear it.
VERY well; and which of them is it to
be?7
''Faix, an don't know, sir, and he ran
his eye obviously over both. q
Here's little NOrah-she's the Oldest an
won't need her mother so much; but then
OF tearan' aigers-its myself that can't tell
which I'd rather part with least; otake the
first one that comes, wild blessing. There,
sir, and be handed over little Norah; turning
back, he snatched her up in her arms, an
gave her one long, hearty fathers kiss, saying
through his tears
you, an them that offers you hurt OF harm,
may their souls never see st. Pether.
sSThen taking his other child by the hand,
he walked away, leaving Norah with me.
tUOOk her down TO the cabin, and We
thought the matter settled. 1t must be con-
fessed, to my great Indignation, however, in
about an hours time ! saw my friend Pat at
the window. As soon. as he canght my eye
he commenced making signs for me to come
out did so, and found that he had the
other childin his arms.
whats the matter now p asked ].
''Well SIR said he 81 ask You pardon for
troubling you about 50 foolish a thing as
child or two. but we're thinkin' that maybe
it'd make no differ-yOu see, sir, I've been
talking to Mary, an she says she. can't part
with Norah, because the creature has a look
ov me; but here 5 little Biddy, she's purteyer
far an ay you plase, sir, viii you swap?''
nCertainly," said ], "whenever you like
So he snapped up little Norah as thoughit
were 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 in the morning,
there was Pat making his mysterious signs
again at the window, and this time he had
the youngest baby, in his arms.
"Whats wrong now p enquired.
nBe the hokey fly, sir, an its meself that s
almost ashamed TO tell you. You see I've
been talking to Mary, an she didn't like 10
part with Norah, because she had look Oy
me, an be me sowl, can't part with Biddy,
because she's the moddle OF her mother, but
there's little Paudeen, sir. There's a lump Of
a Christian for YOU two years old, and not
a day more; he'll never be any. trouble to
any one, for av he takes after his mother
III have the brightest eye, an av he takes
after his father he'll havea fine broad, pair Of
shoulders to push his way through the world.
VIII you swap again, sir ?''
''With all my heart, said I, cts ali the
same 70 me = and SO little Paudeen was left
with me. l-a y 70 Ltaa o.
'Ha, ha, said I to myself as looked into
his big laughing eyes, ''the affair is settled at
last" -....--..--.
But it wasn't; for ten minutes had scarce
ly elapsed, when Pat rushed into the cabin
without sign or ceremony, and snatched up
the baby, and cried out;
dts no use; I've been talkin to Mary,
an We can't do it. Lookat him, sir, he's the
youngest and best Of the batch Yon
wouldn't keephim from Us. You see, sir,
Norah has alook oy me, an Biddy has a look
Oy Mary but, be me soul, little Paudeen has
the mothers eye, an my nose, an little oy
both ov W all overl No, sir, no; we can
bear hard fortune, starvation and misery, but
we can't bear 70 part from our children, un-
less it be the will of Heaven to take them
from US"