The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-07-05
A DOGS LESSON.

Tn potato famine in Ireland was no
where felt more severely than in that
part of the country where the follow
ing story is told as true tale
In small village in one of the most
barren districts of the west of Ireland,
there lived very poor widow, whose
sole Inheritance from her husband
were two healthy children, girls, of the
respective ages of three and five.
Painfully, and by the utmost effort,
| she had contrlved TO pass two years of
scanty food, obtained only by labor
too great for her delicate frame, had at
last thrown her upon her sick bed and
death, in pity, removed her in q few
days and without great suffering, from
her earthly troubles. The poverty of
the whole parish was so great that
nothing could be done for the poor or
phans. All the neighbors, with the
utmost desire to help, We're too famine
stricken, and heard their own children
| too often cry In vain for bread, to as
sist others.
"If the children could only be got
to Kilburn, village some miles dis
tant said one Of the neighbors, after
the poor mother had been buried. "a
brother of their father lives there, and
he could not possibly refuse to take
care of them"
"But matters are as bare there as
here, replied another, land / fear
they Will be no better off there"
cit cannot possibly be worse than
here, for nothing but starvation stares
them in the face. If we send them to
their relations we have done orr duty.
We cannot possibly keep them here. y
SO carrier, who was going near
Kilburn, as an act OF charity, took the
two girlsHLizzie was seven now and
Mary five-in his cart with him. The
timid children kept very close togeth-
er, and the carrier hardly looked at
them, Towards noon they reached
the spot where the cart would turn off
The man lifted them out, showed them
| the road to the left, and babe them go
straight forward, aud if they did not
turn from the high road they would.
III about two hours, come to the place.
He then drove off The children sobbcd
out - good-by," and looked after him
as long as they could see the least
speck of the cart, and then they both
began to cry
Lizzie ceased her crying first she
took hold of her little sisters hand.
who had seated herself on the grass,
aud said: "Get up, Mary we must
not stay here If we wish to get to Kill
burn. We cannot stop here on the
road"
q 1 am SO hungry" sobbed Mary :;
eve have had nothing TO eat all day. y
And again they both began to cry, for
Lizzie was equally hungry.
The children were weak, and could
only drag themselves slowly along.
Hand in hand they tottered on. At
last Lizzie faucied she saw house,
and pointed towards the spot, but it
took them more than quarter of an
hour before they reached the farm
house, for such it proved to be. With
hesltating steps they entered the yard,
for they had never begged before, in
spite of their former misery. But at
this moment they could think of moth
ing else but their terrible hunger.
When few steps from the house, they
heard the farmer violently scolding
one of his men. Then he went into
the house, fiercely closed the door after
him, SO as to make the windows rattle.
continuing his abuse all the time The
children, terrified, stood still at the
door until the voice ceased. Then
Lizzie opened the door, and both
children entered. The farmer sat in
an armchair by the fire
"Weu, what do you want ~ he
harshly asked the children, who were
too frightened to utter Il word and to
tell their eIrand. Cant YOU speak ~
he asked, more roughly.
Lizzie at last took courage, and said.
gently: sob, if you would be so
good as to give us the least little bite
to eat-a small piece of bread or a few
potatoes
81 thought SO, }" shouted the farmer;
81 was sure you were nothing but
beggars, although you do not seem to
belong to this neighborhood We
have not bread for ourselves in these
hard times. You will get nothing here.
Be off this moment ~
The children, both dreadfully fright
ened. began to cry bitterly.
sThat Will not do you any good. y
continued the man; g that kind of
| whining Is nothing new to me, and
won't move me. Let your parents feed
you; bat they, no doubt, prefer idIing
rather than getting their living by
| honest labor.
''Our parents are both dead, +" said
Lizzie
Il thought SO, replied the farmer
whenever children are sent out to
beg, their father and mother are al
ways dead, or at least their father
This is a mere excuse tor begging. Be
off this minute -
"We have not eaten morsel the
whole day." pleaded Lizzie eve are
so tired that we cannot move a step.
If you would but give Us the least lit
tie bit to eat, we are SO hungry"
Il have told you | would not Beg
gars get nothing here.
The farmer got up with a threaten
ing look. Lizzie quickly opened the
door and drew her sister with her. The
children again stood III the farm-yard,
but knew not what to do. Suddenly
little Mary drew her hand from her