The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-07-03
THE CHANGEB HOST.

The potato famine in Ireland was no
where felt more severely than in that
part of the county where the following
story is told as true tale:
In small vi llage 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 uttermost effort she had contrived to
pass two years of her sorrowful widow
hood. Bad and scanty food obtained
only by labor two great for her delicate
frame, and had at last thrown her upon
a sick bed, and death, in pity, removed
her in a few days and without great suf-
fering from her earthly troubles. The
poverty of the whole parish was so great
that nothing could be done for the poor
orphans. All the neighbors, with the
utmost desire to help, were too famine
stricken, and heard their own children
too often cry in vain for bread to assist
others.
8 If the children could only be got to
Kilburn, village 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 fear they
will be no better off there"
Tt 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 our duty.
We cannot possibly keep them here"
So carrier, who was going near to
Kilburn, as an act of charity. took the
two girls-Lizzie was seven now and
Mary five, in his cart with him. The
timid children kept very quiet and close
together, 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
forward, and if 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
bye 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 hersei if on the ass,and said,
Get up, Mary We must not stay here,
if we wish to get to Kilburn. We cannot
stop here on the road"
Il am so hungry sobbed Mary
i've have aad nothing to eat all day.
And again they both began to cry; for
Lizzie was equally hungry
The children were very weak, and
could only drag themselves slowly along.
Hand in had they tottered on. At last
Lizzie fancied 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 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 ter
rlble hunger. When few steps from
the house they heard the farmer violent
ly scolding one of his men. Then he
went into the house, fercely closed the
door after him, sa2s to make the win
doWs rattle, continuing his abuse all the
time. The children terrified, stood still
st the door until the voice ceased. Then
Lizzie opened the door, and both chill
dren entered. The farmer sat in an arm
chair by the fire.
Well, what do you want ?' he
harshly asked the children. who were too |
frightened TO utter word and 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 bite to eat
. small piece of bread or a few pota-
toes"
" | thought So" shouted the farmer;
!" was sure you were nothing but beg
CARS, although you do not seem to belong
to this neigh harhood. We have plenty
Of those here, and do not want them to
come from other parts We have not
bread for ourselves these hard times.
You will get nothing here. Be off this
moment -
The children, both dreadfully fright
aned, began to cry bitterly.
"That will not do you any good" con-
tnued the man 'that kind of whining
is nothing new to me, and won't move
me. Let your parents feed you; but
they no doubt prefer idling 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 mothers are always
dead, or at least their father. This is a
mere excuse for begging. Be off this
ninutei'
. We have not eaten morsel the
whole day." pleaded Lizzie. We are
20 tired that We cannot move a step. IF
you would give US the leas. little bit to
eat, we are so hungry"
81 have told YOU I woald not. Beggars
get nothing here"
The farmer got up with a threatening
,ook. Lizzie quickly opened the door
md drew her sistur with her. The chill
3res stood IN Tie farm Yard but knewf