The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-12-20

/ dreWeI the OLD let fruitlesS 0ygones die,
Prepare with smiles to welcome in the new,
And crave a benison on our future days.
How a Convict Won Pardon.
"Will you never give up those
trips, Terrence? 1t is so lonely stay
ing here nights, and, besides, / am
fearful that some one will break in
and rob the house and murder US
all. 1 never say my prayers and go
to bed without trembling for my own
life and that of the children" and
the little woman hung upon the arm
of the strong man, begged him with
fearful eyes to give up his wander
ing life (that of peddIefo and set
tie down.
GAS soon as I have gathered
enough together to buy me bit OF
ground, or what would be better
still, to emigrate to America, that
blessed land of Freedom, where as
the song says, "there's bread and
work for alP' and the bright sun is
always shining, I'll gladly give up
carrying the pack, for it is no easy
work at the best"
'sOnly think of the money you
have in the house now, husband
dear! Surely there Is enough to
take us across the sea-you and ]
and the children, and Bridget, too
if she likes to CO."
Bridget was the servant girl who
helped the wife of the peddler and
was her sole companion when he was
away, and her eyes snapped with ap-
parent delight when she heard the
proposition. But she said nothing
and "the master" continued
alt is true for you, Kathleen,
that / have a matter of an hundred
pounds or so which 1 shall leave
for you to take care of, and if have
good luck this trip 1 promise you
either to remain at home or 60 to
America, bless her. It's q good
friend she has been to Ireland, and
many's the poor soul she has kept
froul starving. So take good care
of the gold and children, Kathleen,
you and Bridget,-until l come
back" and he kissed his wife and
bright-eyed, curly-headed babies,
gave Bridget the goodbye, shoul-
dered his pack and strobe stoutly
away, whistling merrily.
His heart was light, his form
strong; he had none of the fears OF
his wife, and was looking forward
ljoyfully to the time when he would
have little home, ga pig and cow
and a patch of pratees" that would
belong to himself alone, and over
which no hard hearted steward or
nonresident landlord could claim
control, although he would willing
ly pay his tithes to the church.
). Terrence O'Brien was peddler by
profession, and what was called 6
"forehanded" man. His family con
sisted of the good wife, two children
: boy OF scarcely three years, 8
tabe and the girl of all work-Brid.
+ get. At the start of his married
life he had rented a little cottage
that stood in a lonely, ofthe-way
place; although he had increased his
stores, he had retained possession
of it on the score Of economy.
A brave, athletic man, and one
who feared nothing human, he could
not understand the terrors of hif
Kathleen-in fact, gave them little
thought. Beside, robbery was
thing almost unknown among the
peasantry, and who would evel
dream of bis wretched cabin? Blu
lit was not his custom to do SO. Usu
ally he deposited it in a secure place
So he gave the matter no furthel
thought than to promise himsel
that this should be his last journey
(if he did as well as he anticipated
and tugged around, fattering th'
rosy-cheeked girls into purchasing
finery with which to dazzle the eye
of their beaux at the next fair.
With Kathleen, however, it was
far different. AS the night began Il
draw near and the wind to creeI
round the corners OF the cabin an(
, whistle down the chimney with
mournful sound, she bethought her
self of the sovereigns her husban
left, and taking the bag in whlcl
they were kept from the little cup
board over the fireplace she care
fully tucked it between the beds, re-
marking, at the same time, to Bird
get, .sthat no one would ever }thinl
of looking for it there"
"No," was the reply. sit woul'
:. be smart man, shure, that woul'
be lookin,,' under the childers +
e find gould"
: The tea over, for they wer
: early sleepers as well as early riseri
the girl requested that she might b
allowed to pass the evening with be
! sister who resided about mile dis
tant, and the anxious wife and moth
er, although soreiy 10th to do so,
,, length consented, insisting upon a
early return.
o "But you will be back early, Brio
:, get ?"
"Av coorse / will that same. Bl
: don't be afther< <frettin," And the gi
departed.
;. The lone woman busted herself
best she might until late hour, b'
=. the girl did not return. In few.
of anxiety, she watched until full
% another sixty minutes had passe'
i. although it appeared to her like ha
g a day; and thep, considering it us
N less to remaintur longer, sought h
n own pillow, after commencing he
D self to Him who is the protector
!; the widow and the father of the &
/. therless., But she had not close
lher eyes before there was loud rs
8 ais that ysu Bridgetf" she aske'
hopefully.
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