Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-06-26


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.
"Well, what do you want ?'' he harsh
ly asked the children, who were too
frightened to utter word and to tell
their errand. "Cant you speak ?' he
asked more roughly.
Lizzie at last took courage, and said,
gently, "Oh, if you would be so good
as to give us the least little bit to eat
small piece of bread or few pota-
toes"
"I thought So" shouted the farmer;
''I was sure you were nothing but beg
gars, although you do not seem to be-
long to this neighborhood. We have
plenty of those here, and we do not want
them to come from other parts. We
have not bread for ourselves in these
hard times. You will get nothing here.
Be off, this moment r'
The children, both terribly fright
ened, began to cry bitterly.
"That will not do you any good, con
tinued the man; " that kind of whining
me. Let your parents feed you; /; but
they, no doubt, prefer idling rather
than get their living by honest labor
"Our parents are both dead" said
Lizzie.
stI thought SO" replied the farmer
"Whenever children are sent out to
beg, their father and mother are
always dead, or, at least, their father.
This is mere excuse for begging. Be
off this minute p
"We have not eaten a morsel of
"We are SO tired that we cannot move
step. If you would but give us the
least bit to eat, we are SO hungry"
&c have told you I would not. Beg
gars get nothing here"
The farmer got up with threatening
look. Lizzie quickly opened the door
and drew her sister with her. The
children again stood in the farm yard,
but knew not whatto do. Suddenly lit
tie Mary drew her hand from her sis
ter's clasp and went off to the other side
chained his dinner stood before him
in wooden basin. Mary put her hand
into the basin and began to eat with the
dog. Lizzie went nearer, and saw that
In the basin there was some liquor in
which few pieces of bread and a
few potatoes were floating. She, like
wise, could not resist she had but one
.feeling-that of the most gnawing hun
ger she took some bread and potatoes
and ate them greedily.
The dog, not accustomed to such
guests, looked at the children full of as
Constituent; he drew back, and then
left them at his dinner, of which he had
eaten but very little. At this moment
the farmer stepped into the yard he
wished to see whether the children had
really left, and then he saw this singular
scene. The dog was noted for his
ferceness, and feared alike by old and
young. He was obliged to be constant
ly chained, and no one dared to come
near him except his master. Even the
servant put his food before him in the
most cautious manner. In the first mo-
ment the man thought of nothing but
the fearful danger in which the children
were, and walking quickly toward them,
he exclaimed
"Don't you see the dog? He Will tear
you to pieces 20
But suddenly he stopped as if rooted
to the ground the dog had got up again
and gone near the children /; then he
looked at his master and wagged his tail.
1t seemed as If he wished to say:
Don't drive my guests away ]"
AT that sight great change came over
the man the spectacle before him acted
like an electricc shock, and feelings such
as he never had before seemed to stir
within him.
The children had risen, terrified at
the call of the man, fearful of punish
ment for having eaten, with downcast
ence, the farmer said:
&c Are you really SO fearfully hungry
that you do not even despise the dogs
food? Come in, then, you shall have
something to eat, and as much as you
like" And then taking them by the
hand he led them into the house, calling
out to the servant, Biddy, get some
hot bread and milk, and be quick, for
these children"
The dog had shamed his master-the
brute had shamed the man. Touched
by what he had seen, the farmer was
anxious to make amends for what his
conscience showed him to be great sin.
He seated the children at the table, sat
down by them, and kindly asked their
| names.
"My name is Lizzie, said the eldest,
and my sister is called Mary"
Have your parents been dead long ?"
"Our father has been dead two years,
but our mother only died last week"
At the thought of their recent loss
both children began to weep.
"Don't cry, children" said the far
mer kindly. "God will in one way OF
another take care of you. But tell me
now, where did you come from ?''
"From Loughrea, replied the child.
GO From Loughrea ?" asked the man,
" from Loughrea? That is strange r'
He began to suspect the truth, and
asked, hesitatingly
"What was your fathers narae ?''
" Martin Sullivan, - replied Lizzie.
"What- -Martin-Martin Sullivan ?''
he exclaimed, jumping up at the same
time, and casting piercing look at the
child en-, thoroughly frightening them.
His face grew red, then tears came
into his eyes ; at last he sobbed aloud.
He took the youngest child into his arms
pressed her to his heart and kissed her.
The child struggled and called to he1
sister for help; she could not think what
the man meant. Then he put down the
little one and did the same to Lizzie
who took it more quietly, as she hac
seen that the man did not hurt her sis
ter. At last, becoming more composed
he dried his tears and said:
"Do you know my name, children ?"
"No," replied Lizzie.
d" How happened it, then, that yo'
} any one sent you to me ?"