Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-10-19
Giving eTay q Child.

dren. They were evidently in every desti-
tute circumstances but the exceeding
beauty of the cbildren-two boys and a
girl-was the admiration of their fellow.
passengers. A lady, who had 10 children
of her own, was desirous of adopting one of
the liltle travellers, and made application to
the father through friend, who gives the
following touching and, as we suppose, truth
full account of the negotiation:
I proceeded, he says, Immediately, on
my delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend
on deck, thus opened the affair, "You are
very poor?"
His answer was very characteristic =
"Poor, sir p' said he, Gay, if there's poor
er man than me troublin' the world, God
pity both of uz, for we'd be about aquail. I"
"Then how do you manage to support
your children ?"
sis it support them, sir? Why, don't
support 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 relief to you to part with
one of them7"
1t was too sudden he turned sharply a.
round
ga what, sir ?" be cried ia relief to
part from the body, or the heart torn
out of my breast? A relief, indeed! God
be good to US, what do you mean |"
"You don't understand me-" 1 replied
eff, now, it we're in ones power to provide
comfortably for one of your children, would
you stand in the way of its interests 7"
"No, sir" said he; "the heavens know
that would willingly cut the sunshine
away from myself, that they might get all
the warm of it; but tell US what you're
drawing at"
then told him that lady had taken
fancy to have one of bis. children and if he
would consent to it, it should be educated
and finally settled comfortably in life.
This threw him into fit of graduation.
He scratched his head and looked the very
picture of bewilderment The struggle be.
tween fathers love and the child's inter-
est was evident and touching. At length
he said, "Oh! murther, wouldn't it be q
great thing for the baby? But | must go
and talk with Mary-that's the mother of
them, and it wouldn't be right to be giviu'
away her children before her face, and she
to know nothing about it,"
"Away with you, then," said I, "and
bring me an answer back as soon as posi-
ble."
In about half an hour he returned, lead
ing two of his children. His eyes were red
and swollen, and his face pale from excite
ment and agitation
"What's the matter ncw2 I asked.
"Well, sir" said he, 81 ask your pardon
for troubling you about so foolish thing
as child or two, but we'rc thinkin' that
maybe it'd make no difference-you see,
air, I've been tatkin' to Mary, and she says
she can't part with Norah, because the
creature has the look ov me; but here's
little Biddy, she's purtyer, and av you
place, sir, will you swap?"
"Certaiuly; whichever you like" said I.
He snatched up little Norah, as though
it was some recovered treasure, and darted
away with her, leaving little Biddy, who
remained with US all night; but 10 the
moment we entered the cabin in the morn
ing, there was Pat making his mysterious
signs again at the window; and this time
he had the youngest, baby, in his arms.
"What's wrong now ?" I inquired.
"Sure, sir, an it's meself that's almost
ashamed to tell ye. Ye see I've been talkin'
to Mary, an she didn't like to part with
Norah, because she has look oV me; an
be me soul, I can't part with Bddy, be-
cause she's the model of her mother; but
there's little Paudeen, sir. Will you swap
again, sir?
"With, all my heart" said I "it is all
the same to me 5" aud little Paudeen was
left with me.
"Ha, ha '' said I to myself, as I looked
into his big laughing eyes, $50 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 said, "It's no use I've been
talking to Mary, an We can't do it. No,
sir; we cant bear hard fortune, starvation,
and misery, but We can't hear to part with
our children, uDless it be the will of heaven