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

down deiectedly, while Mary, his
wife, looked up from her work in
blank dismay.
"What do you mean, Dennis?" she
asked. 'Sure we don't owe a penny
of rent, and if the Lord spares our
health, we'll remain So"
'It's too true, I'm afraid. o Molly.
It'll break my heart to leave the old
place; and what'll you and Oona do?"
and the old man rocked himself to
and fro, and moancd bitterly.
"Whist, Dennis, DEAR" Mary said,
gently placing her hand on her hus-
bands shoulder, "there is some mis-
take, We may be certain. His Honor
could not mean to turn us out, for
sure there's no decentcr poor people
on all the property than the neigh
bors. 1t isn't like as if we were llv-
ing entirely on the land, and couldn't
pay The rent. His Honor couldn't
mean to evict us, Dennisn
But his Honor did mean to evlct
them, as they learned formally few
days after; the whole village of
Cloonabeg was to be swept away.
1t was Il wild, bleak spot on the
west coast of Ireland, not many miles
from the ancient "Cirie of the Tribes"
The village consisted of a long, strag-
Cling row of cabins, Oh the edge of a
common, and within stones throw
of the sea. The inhabitants Of Gloon
abeg were fishermen, poor, simple,
honest, hardworl>ing people, who had
been born in the cabins they dwelt in
and their fathers and grandtathers
before them, and knew little Of the
world beyond. They all had the
right Of the common-on the other
side of which stood the village OF
Cloonamore, Il much more important
place, which boasted the possession
of q police barrack, Il chapel, and a
national school. There was little i'll
timacy between the inhabitants ofthe
two villages. The Cloonamore peo-
pie were farmers, comfortable as
farmers 90 in the west of Ireland,
where they have to toll, and toll con
tinuallv to make the wretchcd land
produce anything. They were very
Jealous of their nelghbors down by
the seaside, who paid far less rent,
and on the whole seemed not onl y to
work less, but to be more comtorta-
bic.
The fishermen were quiet, proud,
reserved people, who lived entirely to
themselves, helping each other in diff
ficulty, ,consoling each other i'll trouble
and taking little interest in anything
save the coming and going Of the
shoals Of fish.
They spent their evenings, when
not out on the bay, with their wives;
and it was pleasant to see them sitting
outside their cabin doors, smoking
their pipes, or mending their nets and
sails-the men in their rough home
knit blue guernsey, the women III
their scarlet jackets. They were very
poor. but then their wants were few,
and they were contented and happy
in their simple way.
Dennis Connor was considered the
most comfortable man in C)oonabeg.
He had son in America, who often
sent him money, and a daughter mar
ried to fishmonger in Galway, who
was considered almost merchant
One other child he had, Oona, pret
, ty, golden-haired girl, the pet of the
whole village.
In the next cabin to Denis Connor's
lived Il very old woman named Mer-
rick; poor judy she was called, tor
she had many troubles i'll herlltetlme.
Her husband and only son were
: drowned twenty years before trying
to save the crew Of a brig which
struck on Marguerite's Rock. >
Young Merrick left wife, who died
few months after, and one sickly
little boy. Poor judy took the child,
and managed to bring him up and
keep roof overhead by constant
work. She assisted the neighbors in
their housework, who paid her in kind,
made and mended nets for any Of the
men who could afford to pay her a
trihe, Just sufficient to pay the rent
For fifteen years judy toilcd late and
early, and then her grandson Willie
was old cnoug;: to take his fathers
boat and nets and earn his living and
support his grandmother. a fine,
handsome, manly lad was Willie
Merrick, full-chcsted, clear-eyed and
supple-sinnewed like the majority OF
the hardy sons of the seacoast.
In the market everyone liked to buy
his mackerel and haddocks, not only
because they could depend on what
ever he offered for sale being genuine
" good and moderate i'll price, but
they liked the look Of his honest face
and clear hazel eyes and thesound OF
his hearty voice.
) Mrs. Merric,l was proud OF her
grandson, and not without some rea=
son. for he was a universal tavorte,
and deserved to be.
A few evenings after Denis Connor
had told his wife of the threatened
eviction, Oona, his daughter, was sit
ting with Willie i!errick Oh the stone
step outside old Judy's cabin. There
was no stake" and the men were all
about the beach attending to the dry
ing of nets, or watching a little boat
which was making for the quay
against wind and tide.
"Shc'll never get in, Oona, If they
don't take more to the BASTARD" d" VIII
lie said. ooh, if | had a boat like
her, wouldn't l be happy"
"Aren't ye happy as yc are, Willie?'
Oona asked. aye told me the other
night that ye was the happiest boy in
Cloonabeg, or Cloonamore either"
$50 l am, darlin'" Willie said, look.
; ing tenderly at the fair saIcy face be,
side him; ''but I'll be happier when
yer my own intirely. When is it to
be-"
"Whenever yc like, Willie; father
and mother are will, and yer granny
is teasing ne every day. Sure, we're
all as one as married, aren't we, VIII
lie?"
ayes. darlin': but 7 want the priest