Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-15

| vas Jay, lIOlll tilS ldl tilcSI SoliiSi "
which he pulled a wedding ring.
"This Shrovetide, then Willie,
Oona. whispered with blush. "Nov
| must 90 in, as mother'll be wanting
me. Is that the agent gone int
Martin Gill's, Willie? l didn't thinl
it was rent day yet"
eyes, faix 1t is, Oona, and it want
week yet to the half-year;;" anC
Oona went into the house, while
Willie went to see what the people
were gathering into groups for, an'
talking so mysteriously about. 4
few words served to explain the ob
ject of the agents visit. He hao
come accompanied by the bailiff tC
serve "notice to quit" on every house
"His Honor, the landlord, wanted
the place clear> d down." was all the
reason he gave.
1t was sad thing to walk through
the village of Cloonabeg that evening
and 90 from house to house with the
agent. Everywhere he said the same
thing: aye must clear out; his Hon
or wants the place. Pll forgive yo
halt this half years rent all round
and give We to the lst of January tc
get away. But remember, the man'l
be here on New Years day to pull
down these dens."
BY the time they had reached Den
is Connor's the whole village - men
womenand childrcn-were after them
crying bitterly, and Judy Merrick
came to ask what the matter was.
dts cvicted we are-served with
notice to quit, judy" Mary Coz > ol
said quietly. at isn't easy to leave
the place We were bred and born in.
and 90 out on the world. But Gods
good; cheer up, Dennis, avic."
"What does she mean, Denis Con
nor?" judy cried. SIS itthat they're
goin' to dispossess ye-to turn ye out
of the cabin We were born in, and yer
father and grandfather before ye?
Eyes, ma'am; that is exactly what
we mean," the bailitf said. ppm 90
ing to serve you next"
s'Servc me! evict me. turn me, IN
old woman Of threescore and ten, out
on the roadside!' Judy screamed.-
"No. I was born in that cabin; my
father lived and died in it; my ances
tors were the first that ever raised 4
stone of Cloonabeg.. Old Judy, Judy
Merrick, ye may call me, but I'm
Julia O'Bricn, and in the cabin I've
lived, in there I'll die"
"We'll see about that" the bailiil
sneercd, and Judy rushed out, and
knelt down at her doorstep. "Thc
first one of We that crosses here will
have to walk over me-" she shrieked;
but the bailitf' advanced, and, laying
his hand on her shoulder, gave her 4
printed form, and said, iecringly:
"You're served, Mrs Merrick, and
T'd take it easier if were you. Como
on, sir" he added, turning to tht
agent, who was examining the condi
ton Of the house.
Judy Merrick stood up, and looked
at the notice in her hand, and thel
advanced to the agents side. "AIr
Hayes, sir" she sad slowly, ''Tm tC
be out of this cabin on the lst OF
January, amn't T."
"Ycs; and see that you are MIR
Hayes replied
"Where am | to 90 to, sir"
"My good woman, that's nothing
whatever to me-" he said, Struggling
his shoulders; 90 wherever yor
likk."
"You know, sir, that i'll CloonamorC
one of us can't get bit nor sup, no
lodging for love nor money, even /
we had that same. Where'll we &C
to, Mr.. HAYES, sir; will ye ask hi
Honor thlt?'
"That's nothing whatever to hi
Honor; he wants his houses, and
suppose he has right to them. IT.
not every landlord would treat ye Sc
well as to forgive ye q quarters rent
and then give yc two months notice
and nothing to pay" the agent said
'It is not every tenant that treats ;
landlord as well as we did. In m,
mcmory-and that's more than three
score years he never lost Il penny OF
one of these cabins, and one Of IL
was never behind a day with siXpcnc'
O. rent. Can Cloonamore say that
Mr.. Hayes, sir? Go back to the big
house and tell his Honor that Jud,
Mcrrick is going to die i'll the cabil
she lived in, or the heap Of stones
you level it to-"
"Come, come, that's all nonsense
See that you are out, bag and bag
gage, before the first OF January" thu
bailitf said, roughly laying his hant
on the old woman's shoulder.
'Don't touch me, yc miserable
creaturew she cried, shrinking back
''Don't lay your dirty hand Oh me, V
black hearted villain. Look ut him
neighbors, mark him, the eoictor.
It's all his doin's, and his" pointing
TO the agent. sMark them, Willie
Don't forget their evil faces"
"I'll not forget them, granny" WI
lie Merrick SAID sternly, with qniver
ing lips and flashing eyes; "and if
ever have a chance, God help then
both"
"Och!" Judy cried, lifting up he
hands; "may God forgive them a
their greatest need, and forgive then
as | do now;" and then she went il
and sat rocking herself for hours
over the fire.
The lst of January, 1856 was ;
bleak, wild day, with n fierce cas
wind driving cutting, bitter slee
before it. The sea and sky, Of Il gray
leaden hue, seemed to meet, you coulC
scarcely distinguish one from another
and the storm ragged along the desc
late coast
The village of Cloonabeg presented
very pitiful sight that New Years
Day-a sight once seen, never to b'
forgotten-a sight which impressed
itself on the memory with burning
intensity, the sight of an eviction
All words are inadequate to describe
the scene-it is something one mus
look on to thoroughly comprehend
That morning, on the common, wher
ever stunted shrub offered the faint
! est shelter from the bitter east wind