Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-11

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2. 4 PERRYSBI
the fire, brushing the snuff from.his cam
brio shirt.ftill
"They are men," said Mr.. Kclsoe,
gravely; "and perhaps it would be better
to have called out the best part of their
manhood, instead Of the worst"
Tom turned this over in HE mind, but
could make nothing Of it. But at the
next words he pricked up his ears.
." By the way, K2lSoe, there is queer
story going that one Of your dairios Is len
open at night from which, fhe eroppy
families can hclp themselves to milk and
bread. Surely, thereis no truth in itgN
"The women and clildren restarYing,"
said Toms mother, quietly.
You encourage the rebellion, madam"
IF thine enemy hunger, feed him"
said, Mr. Kelsoe. I
"If you are trying to make man out
of a croppy, through. gratitude, you are
brihing swine with pearls said the Cap.
tain.
All this perplexed Tom. OF course his
father must be right. But it was SO easy,
like the Captain, to see no good in those
who differed with you, to deny that your
enemy was only faulty man, like your.
self, and to call him brute He went
down that very night, and stood on the hill
to watch the lean, ragged women stealing
into the open dairy for the food left there
for them 1t was all that stood between
them and starvation. They were huddled
inf hn ht,tp hn
their husbands were all IN the rebel army.
CHAPER III.
Nearly year had gone by. One cool
evening Just after harvest time, Tom sat
alone on the doorstep, looking over the
dreary fields. He had just eaten miser-
able supper; the usually bright, cheerful
room was dim and dirty, the ashes of the
fire were scattered over the hearth. There
had been sickness in the house for many
months, and trouble almost want-had
come, so that the old orderly routine had
long ago given way to discomfort. yTE
Tom crept up now and then to the door
of his fathers room, and listened to his
heavy, feverish breathing, or looked at
his mothers pale face bending over the
bed, and then down again. The doctor
came down after while from his daily
visit.
"How is he to-day, sir?"
"The same, my lad. Typhoid is q slow
disease. But hope it will all come right,
in tim" ~" He looked pityingly down on
the boy who had followed him to the
gate, and stood with his hand on the
horses name. "The farm needs your
father sorely." - IL - 3
"Yes. If was only man, -
The doctor was silent. This terrible
year of war and pestilence had made the
sky dark for them all, The rebels were
conquered, but were,stll in hiding among
the hills. shot down like dogs whenever
they ventured OUT in every house there
was disease or want, but the jolly Kelsoe
household seemed to have Jared worst of
all
"What is wrong, Tom, boy? Perhaps
I can be of some help to you"
"My father was in debt, it seems. One
of the creditors is pushing hard for q
small sum. The Sheriff served a writ to-
day if my father was not so near to
death, he would be in Jail at this minute 7"
Tom broke down here, altogether; he
was only child, after all and he hid his
face against the doctors knee, and sobbed
out loud.
"Tut, tut! Poor lad! This must be set
right at once. I'll see to it, Tom"
But Tom, when he looked up, had no
brighter face than before. So many OF
his fathers friends had gone to " see to it, v
and there was the end of it. There was
nothing so plentiful as goodwill that
year, or so scarce as money.
"If your crops were n"-hesitated the
doctor.
eff the crops were in, we would be
safe" said Tom, eagerly; "but look at
themi' pointing to the great fields of un-
cut grain, beginning to droop from over
ripeness. "There is not man to be
found to cut them"
"There are not half dozen laborers
left in the county; we miss the croppies,
that is true" reioined the Doctor.
"There is no chance of pardon for
them?" asked Tom, anxiously.
pardon Why, regiments from Dub
lin are guarding every cross road through
the hills; and, as soon as rebel thrusts
| his head into sight, he is shot down like a
rat in a hole. But that is not our trouble
Just now. I'll do what | can
~Yes, sir.n But Tommy sat down
again, ,ldespondingly, ON the step, not even
turning his head to see the doctor ride off.
If he had done so, he might have caught
sight of dark shadow gliding swiftly
away from the hedge by which they had
stood, through the furze. bushes ,-~
1t was boys figure, and one sleeve
hung empty by his side. - w.
DR.. Lannan did what he could the next
day, but it was not possible to raise the
money. IfKelsoe's crops were harvested
every body said, "they could be sold in
an hour" But the crops were not har'
| vested.
keep a good heart, Tommy" said the
doctor, as he bade him good-by the next
evening. "Your father has been true tC
his God and his friends, and neither o.
them will desert him" y
al don't know" said Tom, drearilv
But his heart grew warm and light He
ran to the kitchen, and brought smoking
cup Of tea up to his mother. She would
drink it from him, rather than any of the
maids. She looked at his bright face, a;
she gave the cup back.
as there any good news, Tom?"
"Well, no not exactly news. But i
will come, mother" said Tom, conf
IDENTIFY.
AS he came down the stairs with thu
empty cup, he saw dark figure standing
in the dimly lighted hall. He stopped
with thrill of terror: the man wa
masked. He had heard of cases where
desperate from hunger the rebels had lef
their hiding fplaces, and gone into farm
'houses, both to rob and murder. Whethe
these stories were true or not it is nj
wonder that Tom drew back as the maj
came close to him. But he only held ou
letter; and when Tom took it, disap
pesred. 1t was square, dirty paper, sealed
4 with the mark of thumb upon the wax
!. msideJwere these words: IL 4 De-
"Let no one IedUe this house to,niQM. o.
pain Of death.
(Signed) "By order of
"THE SHAN VAN VoGHT."
And underneath were scrawled these lines
III "For ould Ireland shall be free,
From the centre TO the sea,
Says the shan Van Noght. -
What the Shan Van Yoght might. bt
Tom did not clearly know. a ,mysteriou
power which the rebels obeyed, ,he ha
heard, no matter what deed Of fwickedaes