South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-07-04
The Chained Host.

Iu small village on one of the most
barren districts Of the west Of Ireland, there
lived a very poor widow whose sole
inheritance from her husband were two
healthy children, girls, Of the respect
i've ages of three and five. Painfully & by
the utmost effort she had contrived to pass
two years Of her sorrowful widowhood.
Bad aud 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 a few DAYS
aud without great suffering from her earth
ly troubles The poverty of the whole
parish was so great that nothing could be
done for the poor orphans. All the neigh
bors, with the utmost desire to help, were
too famine stricken, and heard their own
children too often cry 10 vain for bread, to
assist others.
If the children could only be got to
kilburn, avillge some miles distant, 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 bad there as here
replied another and l fear they will be
no better off there
ut cannot be possibly worse than here,
for starvation stares them in the face. If
we send them to their relations VIC have
done our duty. We cannot possibly keep
them here
80 carrier, who was going rear to Kill
burn, as an act of charity, took the two
girls-Lizzie was seven now, and Mary
foo = 49,, a.
i'd children kept very quiet and close to-
gether, ami the carrier hardly looked at
them. Towards noon they reached the
spot where the cart should turn off The
man lifted them out, showed them, the
road to the left, and babe them go straight
forward, and il they did not turn from the
high-road they would, in about two hours
come TO the place. He then drove off.
The children sobbed out 'good-by,' aud
looked after him as long as they could see
the last 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 20 get to KilburD. We cannot stop
here on the road
i am so hungry sobbed Mary. 'We
have had nothing to eat all day And a.
gain they both began TO cry; for Lizzie was
equally as hungry.
The children were very weak, aud could
only drag themselves slowly along. Hand
IN hand they troted on. At last Lizzie
tancled, she saw house, and pointed to-
wards the spo'. 1t took them more than
quarter of an hour before they reached the
farmhouse, for such it proved to be. With
hesitating 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 nothing else but their
terrible hunger. When few steps from
the house they heard the farmer violently
Seeding one of his men. Then he went
into the house, fcrcely closed the door af.
ter 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 open
ed the door and both children entered. The
farmer sat 10 an arm chair by the fire.
We'll, what do you wantY be harahly
asked the children, who were too frighten-
ed TO utter a word and tell their errand.
Can you speak 2 be asked roughly.
lizzie took courage and said gently {:
'Oh 1t you would be so good as to give us
the least little bit 10 eat-a small piece Of
bread or a few potatoes.4
Il thought So shouted the farmer; q
was sure you were nothing bat beggars,
although you don'' seem to belong to this
neighborhood. We have plenty OF those
here, and do not want them to come from
other parts. We have not bread for our.
selves in these hard times. You will get
nothing here BE of this momenty
The children, both dreadfully frightened
began to cry bitterly
THAT will not do you any good, con-
tinued the man. That kind IF whining
IS nothing pew to me, and don't move me.
Let your parents feed you but they no
doubt prefer idIiog rather than getting
their living by honest labor
Oar parents are both dead, said Lizzie
u thought So, replied the farmer. When.
ever children arc sent ou; 90 beg, their
father and mother arc always dead, or at
least their father This is a mere excuse
for begging BE of this minute
~ tHten moIsel tbls WnOle
day pleaded Lizzie I'VE are 50 tired we
cannot move step. II you would but
give US the least little bit to cat, we are so
hungry
Il have told you ! would not Beggars
get nothing here.
The farmer got Up with a threatening
look. Lizzie quickly opened the door and
are" her sister with her. The children a.
gain stood IN the farm yard, but knew not
what % do. Snldanlu linla Maru drnrz