Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-03-07
mARGERY brown AND SCHOOL
MASTER JOHN.
a storY ef ollonIal TImes.

goodly number or emlgrants, LETT
Cork, in Ireland, for the shores of
New England. Though a continent
was to be settled, emigrants were
not so numerous as at present; yet,
among those who came, Ireland, then
as now, furnished its proportionate
share; and in general they were a
class equal to the best who have
sought our shores from the Green
Isle in later years.
Wandering lonely among the gos-
slipping groups on deck, was man
of superior appearance to the others,
both in manner and figure. He held
no conversation with any, further
than brief but courteous replies to
some question or remark concerning
she voyage, the rare sight of a sea-
bird in mid-ocean, or the wide, the
vast, the awe-inspiring sea itself,
beating increasingly yeasty waves
along the curving bows of the study
vessel. His dress, his carriage, his
preoccupied look, forbade familiari-
ty, while his entire unacquaintance
with the other passengers indicated
that the voyage had been undertaken
for some pressing purpose and in
much sorrow. 1t will not be foreign
to our subject if we delayythe nara
tive moment longer to relate his
painful story.
He was a member of an ancient
and worthy family of the Irish gen
try, native of Limerick, whittier he
had been recalled from his studies
on the continent few years before.
Left alone by her other sons, who
had Joined the armies in one country
or another, his widowed mother de-
sired that John, who was more given
to study and quiet than the others,
should remain with her at home un-
til, at least, the present commotion
had passed. But children always
will do something not approved by
the parent; so John, not to be an ex-
ception, fell in love with a young
woman somewhat below his rank,
and, honorable man as he was, desir.
ed to marry her. His mother was SC
bitterly opposed to the match that
she not only utterly refused her con,
sent, but declared that if he married
the girl he. should never have any
portion in the estate. This threat,
if persisted in, would effeetually
prevent the marriage, as the girls
relations would not consent to hel
union with a penniIess man. Meth
ier were the lovers able of themselves
to commence life without the aid OF
their families; for he had not been
trained to any profession or occupa.
ition, and he knew not how he could
make even his own living. "MOth.
er," replied he with a passion, ''if
you do not withdraw that threat and
consent to my marriage with the Ia
dy of my choice, 1 will go where you
shall never see me again. "
His mother persisted in her pur-
pose. Pale and trembling, he be-
Sought her TO take till tomorrow to
consider. The next day the cruel
woman repeated her threat.
/ At the evening meal, John was
missing; in the morning his bed was
found to have been unoccupied; and
from that day his native country
saw him no more.
Instead, however, of seeking sur
cease of sorrow in the world of spir-
its by an easy leap into the friendly
waves of the Shannon, as others
might have done, he projected him
self upon the unknown regions in the
present state of being; thereby
showing that there was an unextin
guished spark of health within him
still
+ With heavy sorrow at heart, it is
not strange that he sat apart, wrap
ped in silent gloom, or paced the
deck unregardful of the babble of
the light-hearted emigrants. Self
expatriated, without hope or interest
in the future, and in the recent past
a great pain which smothered all
pleasant recollections, there could be
nothing in common between him and
the moving forms Whoistared at him
askance, save the usual matters of
physical sustenance and comfort;
and even in these, conditions of his
life had caused wide difference of
feeling. One person alone attracted
his attention, as her bright blue eye
caught his own, or his ear was ar
rested by her cooing and prattling
to the several babies On board, her
musical snatehes of song, OF her
sweetly plaintive voice, when the
loneliness of her situation, and the
recollection of friends she had left
behind, seized upon her thoughts.
John had watched her with some
interest, partly, perhaps, for her beau
ty, but chiefly for her peculiar rela-
ton, or rather, un-rel2sion, to any
on board. Seeming at first like him
self, a stranger to the others, she
was soon mingling freely and famil
iarly with every family in the ship;
yet he was unable, watching with
increased interest, to discover any
relation or connection whatever,
other than the most casual, between
the girl and any family or individu-
al in the vessel. She, also, marked
his loneliness, and seemed to be af-
fected by his evident sorrow; and
one day she boldly put herself in his
way with some trifing question. Yet
her demeanor was modest, and her
eye, of the hue-of the sky where it
meets with the sea, flashed forth no
1nholy CLEAN. Brown hair, a fair
complexion, with especially rosy
cheeks, and a graceful figure, made
his girl of nine years more attract
we to the beauty-loving eye than
any one on board-though present
ng the attractions of more develop
I'd forms and conscious womanly feel
ng. a brief conversation showed that
5he girl was without a relation or
friend on board.
Surprised at this fact the young
nan inquired, half earnest half in
sport: