The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-10-30
From the National Magazine.
GIVING AWAY A CHILD.

On b srl one of tho lsko steamers, boun,
for the far West were an Irish anily--hus-
band, wife aud three chilren. They wer,
evidently in very destitute circumstances; bu
the exc,eling beauty Of the children, twc
gir's and boy, was the admiration of al ,he
fellow passengers. A lady who had no chill
dren of her own, was de,irouS Of adopting one
Of he little travellers, and made application
to the father, through friend who gives the
following touching and, as we suppose, truth
ful account of the negotiation:
| proceeded, he says, Immediately upon
my delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend
on deck, thus opened the affair."
."You are very poorw
"Poor, sir" said he. lay, if there's poor
er man than me troubin' the world. God
pity both of us, we'd be about equal"
"Then how do You manage support your
children?'
"Is it support thom, sirl Why, don't
support them any way, they get supported
some way or other. It'l be time enough for
me to complain when they do
"Would it be a relief to you to part with
ono Of them"
1t was to sudden; he turned sharply round.
"A what, siri" be cried, "a relief to part
from my childl Would it be relief to have
he hands chopped from tho BODY, or heart
torn out of my breasti A relief indeed -
God be good to US, what do YOU name"
"You don't understand me-" | replied
"If now, it were in ones power to provide
comfortably for one Of your children, would
you stand in the way of its nterestsl"
mo, SIR" said he, "the heavens know that
| would willingly cut the sunshine away from
myself that they might get All the warm Of
it; hut tell us what you are drawing At"
then told hin that lady hal taken a
fancy to haze 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 a fit of gra'ulation.-
He scratched his head and looked the very
picture Of bewil,erment. The struggle be-
tween fathers love and childs interest t
was touching. At length he said:
80 murthor, wouldn't il be great thing
for the baby bat must 90 and talk with
Mary-thal's the mother Of thom an it
wouldn't be right to be giving away her chill.
dren a(ore her face, and she to know nothing
about it.
Away with you them" said |, land bring
me m answer back as soon as possible"
In about half au hour he returned leading
two of his children. His eyes were red aud
swollen, and his face pale from excitement and
agitation.
"Weli," enquirci, ''what success?'
"Belad it was hard stru sge, sir, said he.
"But I've been talking to Mary, and she
says as it's for the child's g)ol, maybe the
heavens above will give us strength to bear
it,"
"very well; AMI which of than is it to
be?"
"Fax, an don't know sir" anl he ran
his eve obviously over both.
Heres little Norah-she's the Oldest, AM
won't need her mother 50 much: but then
o tear an oigers'-its myself that can't tell
which Id rather part with less; 20 take the
first one that comes, wil blessing. Thore,
SIR" aud he handed over little Norah; turn
ing 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 their souls never ST. Peter"
Then taking his 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
nv greot Indignation, however, in about au
hours time | saw my friend Pat at tho win.
dow. As 500 rs he caught my eye he com
menced making signs for me to come out.
did So and found that he had the other child
in bis arms.
whats the matter now" asked |.
"WeIl, sir, said he, 81 ask your pardon for
troubling you about SO foolish a thing as
child or two, but we're thinking that may be
it'd make no dlfier-you sea sir, Nv been talk
ing to Mary, and she says she cannot part
with Norah, becaus the creature has look ov
me; but hero's little Biddy, she's purteyer far
an av you please, sir will you swap!"
"Certanly,' said |, "whcnever you like"
$50 he snapped up little Norah as though
it were some recovered treasure, and dartod
away with her, leaving little Biddy. who re-
nslned 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.
"WhaCs wrong uow" | inquired.
"Bo the hokey hv, sir, an its myself thst
is almost aNha ned to tell you You sec
have been talking tp Mary and she didn't
like TO part with Norah, because she b ID
look oy me, and be the sowl cant part with
Bddy, because she the moddIe ov her mother
but there's Paudoen, sir There's lump of
christian for you, two years old, and not a day
mere, he'll never be any trouble to any one,
for av he takes after his mother he'll have
the brightest eye, and av he takes after bis
father he'll have fine broad pair Of shoulders
to push his way through the world. Will
you swap again, sir"
"With all my heart said l, Its all the
same to me" aud SO little Paudeen was left
with mo.
ala, ha,' said to myself, as | looked in
to his big laughing eyes, the affair is settled
at last.
But it wasn't; for ten minutes had scarcely
elapsed, whea Pat rushed into the cabin with
out sign or ceremony, aud snatched up the
baby, and cried out:
It's no use I've been talking to Mary, and
divil the biz can we be after doing it. Look
at him sir. he's the youngest and best Of the