Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-08-05
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GIVING AWAY A CHILD.

tor the far West, was an Irish famlly-hus-
band, wife, and three children. They were
evidently in very destitute circumstances; but
the exceeding beauty of the children, two
girls and a boy, was the admiration of all
their fellow-travelers With view of adopt
ing one of the children, a lady made applica-
tion to the father, through friend, who gives
the following touching, and we suppose, truth
full account of the negotiation:
proceeded, he says, Immediately upon my
delicate diplomacy. Finding my friend on
deck, thus opened the affair:
"You are very poor"
His answer was very characteristic:
"Poor, sir p said he, "ay, if there's poorer
man than me troublin the world, God pity
both of US, for we'd be about aiquil."
"Then, how do you manage to support
your children?"
"Is it support them, sir? Why, 1 don't
support them any way they get supported
some way or other. It'll be time enough for
me to complain when they do"
"Would it be relief to you to part with
one of them?"
1t was too sudden he turned sharply
round.
"A what sirw he cried: "a relief to part
from my child? Would it be relief to have
the hands chopped from the body, or the
heart torn out of my breast? A relief, in
deed God be good to us, what do you
name"
"You don't understand me" replied. eff
now, it were in ones power to provide com.
fortably for one of your children, would you
stand in the way of its interests?"
"No, sir" said he; "Heaven knows that l
would willingly cut the sunshine away from
myself, that they might get all the warm oft;
but do tell us what you are driving at"
then told him that lady had taken
fancy to one of his children, and if he would
consent to it, it should be educated and final
ly settled comfortably in life
This threw him into fit Of graduation.
He scratched his head, and looked the very
picture of bewilderment. The struggle be-
tween fathers love and a childs interest
was evident and touching. At length he said:
20 murther, wouldn't it be great thing
for the baby But must 60 and talk with
Mary, that's the mother of them it wouldn't
be right to be giving her children away afore
her face, and she to know nothing at all about
it."
"Away with you then," said I, "and bring
me an answer as soon as possible"
In about half an hour he returned, leading
two of his children. His eyes we're red and
swollen, and his face pale from excitement
and agitation.
"Well" inquired, "what success?"
"Bedad, it was 4 hard struggle SIR" said he.
"But I've been talking to Mary, an she says
if it's for the child's good, may be the heav-
ems above will give us strength to bear it."
"Very we'll and which Of them is tito be?"
"Faix, and 1 don't know, sill" and he ran
his eye obviously over both, "Here's little
Norah-she's the oldest, and won't need her
mother so much; but then-oh! tear and
aigers-it's myself that can't tell which I'D
rather part with least; so take the first one
that comes, wild blessin.' There, sir" and
he handed over little Norah turning back he
snatched her up in his arms, and gave her
one long, hearty fathers kiss, saying, through
his tears
"May God be good to him that's good to
you an them that offers your hurt or harm,
may their souls never see St. Pether."
Then taking his other child by the hand
he walked away, leaving Norah with me.
took her down to the cabin, and we
thought the matter settled. 1t must be con.
fessed, to my great indignation, however, in
about an hours time saw my friend Pat at
the window. AS soon as he caught my eye
he commenced making signs for me to come
out. I did so, and found that he had the
other child in his arms.
whats the matter now?" asked l..
"Well, sir" said he, ~ ak your pardon for
troubling you about so foolish thing as
child or two, but we we're thinking that may
be it'd make no diference-you see, sir, I've
been talking to Mary, and she says she can't
part with Norah, because the creature has
look ov me; but here's little Biddy, she's
purtyer far, an av you please sir, will you
swap7"
"Certainly," said 1 "whichever you like"
So he snapped up little Norah, as though
it were some recovered treasure, and darted
away with her, leaving little Biddy, who re-
mained with us all night; but 10! the mo-
ment when we entered the cabin in the morn
ing, there was Pat making his mysterious
signs again at the window, and this time he
had the youngest, baby, in his arms.
"By the hoky fly, sir, an it's meself that's
almost ashamed to tell you. You see I've
been talkin' to Mary, and she didn't like to
part with Norah, because she had look ov
me, and, be my soul, can't part with Biddy,
because she's the model of her mother, but
there's little Paudeen, sir. There's lump
of Christian for you, two years old, and not
day more he'll have the brig ghtest one av
he betakes after his mother, an av he takes
after his father, he'll have fine broad pair
of shoulders to push his way through the world.
Will you swap agin, sir?
"With all my heart" said | a.; "it's all the
same to me-" and so little Paudeen was left
with me-
"Ha, ha," said I to myself, as I looked into
his big, laughing eyes, "the affair is settled at
last"
But it wasn't; for ten minutes had scarcely
elapsed, when Pat rushed into the cabin with
out sign or ceremony, and snatching up the
baby, cried out
"Its no use I've been talkin' to Mary, an
we can't do it. Look at him, sir; he's the
Youngest and the best of the batch. You
wouldn't keep him from us. You see, sir,
Norah has look ov me, and Biddy has
look ov Mary; but, be me soul, laittle Pau
deem has the mothers eye, an my nose, an
laitle of both uz all over No, sir, no; we
can bear hard fortune, starvation, and misery,
but''we can not bear to part from our children,
unless it be the will of Heaven to take them
from us. us."-Natioaal Magazine
THINK.-Do your own thinking. Yes, that
is the idea. Think for yourself 1t is well to
listen to the expressed thoughts of others, and
it is an agreeable pastime to give expression
to your thoughts; but when alone, weigh
what YOU have said. It is well to do this, for