The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-25
FRANK FINNEGAN,
THE FOSTER BROTHER.
BY WIZ. CARLETON.

There is scarcely trait of human nature in
volved in more mystery, or generally less I'M
derstood, than the singular strength of affec-
tion which binds the humble peasant of Irish
life to his foster-brother, and more especially
if the latter be q person of rank or consdera-
ton. This anomalous attachment, though it
may be to certain extent mutual, is never
theless very seldom known to be equal in
strength between the parties. Experience has
sufficiently proved to uB, that whilst instances
of equality in feeling have been known to
characterize 10, the predominant power of it's
spirit has always been found to exist in the
person of the humber party. How to account
for this would certainly require more philo-
sophical acquaintance with human nature
than has fallen to onr lot; We must therefore
be content to know that the fact is precisely
as we have stated it.. Irish history and tradi-
ton furnish with sufficient materials on
which to ground clear and distinct proofs that
the attachment of habit aud contguity in
these instances far transcends that of natural
affection itself. 1t is very seldom that one
brother will lay down his life for another, and
yet instances of such high and heroic sacrifices
have occurred in the case of the foster brother,
whose affection has thus not unfrequently tri-
umPhed over death itself. 1t is certainly i'm
possible to impute this wild but indomitable
attachment to the force of domestic feeling,
because, whilst We maintain that the domestic
affections in Ireland certainly stronger
than those of any other country in tho world,
still instances of this inexplicable devotion
have occurred in the persons of those in whom
the domestic ties were known to be very
feeble. 1t is true, there many moral ano-
males in the human heart with which we are
as yet but imperfectly acquainted; and us
they arise from some wayward aud irregular
combination of it's impulses, that operate in
depeadentlySo of any known principles of action,
1t ID not likely TINT we shall ever thoroughly
understand them. There is another peculiari-
ty in Irish feeling, which, as it is analogous to
this, We cannot neglect to mention it: we
explain at further length to our readers. When
the Dublin Founding Hospital was In exist
ence, the peer infants whom an unhappy des-
institution, were transmitted to different parts
of the country to be nursed by the wives of
the lower classes of the peasantry-suoh as
day lsborers, cottiers and email farmers, who
cultivated from three to six or eight acres of
land. These children wero generally, indeed
almost always, called Parisheens-a word
which could be properly applied to such only
as, having no known parents, were supported
by the parish in which they happened to be
born. 1t was transferred to the Foundli6Rs,
however, although with the exception of the
metropolis, which certainly paid parish tax
for their maintenance, they were principally
supported by very moral act of Parliament,
which, by the wise provision of a large grant,
held ont very liberal bounty I'd prafligacy.
AT all events, the opprobrious epithet of Par
isheen was that usually fixed upon them.
Now, of all classes of our fellow creatures,
deserted and forsaken beings would be apt,
consigned as they uniformly were to the care
of mercinary strangers, to experience neglect,
ill-trestment, even cruelty itself; and vet
honor DO to the generous hearts and Affection
ate feelings of our humble people, it has been
proved by the incontestible authority of q |
Commission expressly appointed to examine |
and report on the working of the very hospital
in question, that the care, affection and ten
derness with which these Inflated creatures |
were treated by TIE nurses to whom they were !
given out, were equal, If not superior, to those
bestowed upon their own children. Even
when removed from these nurses to situations
of incomparably moro comfort-situations in
which they were lodged, fed and clothed in
far superior manner-they have been known
in innumerable instances to elope from their
masters and mistresses, and return to their old
abodes, preferring the indulgence of their af-
lection, with poverty and distress, to anything
else that life could offer.
All this, however, was very natural and rea-
sonable, for we know that even the domestic
animal will love the hand that feeds him. But
that which we have alluded to a. constituting
The strong analogy between it and the attach
nent of the foster brother, is the we'll known [
TACT, that the affection of the children to tho
nurses, though strong and remarkable, was as !