The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-18

hO0se with che agent. everywhere ne SAID
the same thing: "Ye must clear out. His
Hon. OF wants the place. pu forgive ye half
this half years rent all round, and give ye
till the 1st of January to get away. But
remember the men'll be here on New Years
Day to pull down these dens."
By the time they had reached Denis
Connor's the whole village-men, women,
and children-were after them, crying bit
terly, and Judy Merrick came to ask what
the matter was.
Its evicted we are-served with notice
to quit, judy" Mary Connor said quietly.
IL isn't easy to leave the place ye were
bred and born in, and go out on the world.
But Gods good cheer up, Denis avicn
"What does she mean. Dennis COnnor Z"
Judy cried. " Is it that they're goin' to
dispossess ye-to turn ye ont of your cabin
ye were born in, and yer father and grand
father before YET"
Yes, ma'am that's exactly what we
meau," the bailiff said. I'm going to serve
| You next"
Serve me ! evict me turn me, an old
| women of threescore and ten, out on the
roadside !" Judy screamed. "No! was
born in that cabin my father lived and
died in it; my ancestors were the fret
| that ever raised a stone of Cloonabeg. Old
| Judy, poor Judy, Jady Merrick, ye may
call me, but Pm Julia O'Brien, and in
the cabin I've lived in there I'll die"
| !" Wen see about that" the bailiR sneer-
u, q,
| her door step.
The first one of ye that crosses here
| will have to walk over me-" che shrieked
bat the bailiff advanced, and laying his
hand on her shoulder, gave her printed
form. and said jeering:
You're served, Mrs. Merrick and I'd
/ take it easier, if 1 were you. Come on,
sir" he added turning to the agent, who
| was examining the condition of the house.
Judy Merrick stood up, and looked at the
notice in her hand, and then advanced to
the the agents eide; 1 "Mr. M Hayes. +s, sir," che
on the 1st Of January, amn't II"
eyes; and see that you are," Mr.. Hayes
replied.
"Wbere am to go to, sir 7"
"My good woman, that's nothing what
ever to me-" he said, Struggling his shoul-
ders "go wherever you like"
"YOu know, sir, that in Cloonamore one
of us can't get bit, nor sup, nor lodging, for
love or money, even if we had that same.
Where'll We go to, Mr.. Hayes, sir; will ye
ask His Honor THAT 2"
"That's nothing whatever to His Honor
he wants his houses, and suppose he has a
right to them. It's not every landlord
would treat ye SO well as to forgive ye a
quarters rent, and then give ye two
months' notice and nothing to pay" the
agent said.
It's not every tenant that treats land
lord well as we did. In my memory
and that's more then tbreescore. years-he
never lost penny on one OF these cabins,
and one of US was never day behind with
sixpence o. rent. Can Cloonamore say that,
and tell His Honor that Judy Merrick is
going to die in the cabin she lived in, OF
on the heap OF stones ye level it to-"
Come, come, that's all nonsense! See
that you are out, bag and baggage, before
the 1st of January" the bailiff said, rough
lU vi "a
shoulder.
Don't touch me, ye miserable crea
ture !" she cried shrinking back. "Don't
lay yer dirty hand on me, ye black hearted
him, the Evictor! It's all his doin's and
them, Willie Don't forget their evil |
facesp
"1'll not forget them, granny" Willie
Merrick said sternly, with quivering lips |
and flashing eyes; "aud if ever have a
chance, God help them both" "
Och !" Judy cried, lifting up her hands
may God forget them at their greatest |
need, and forgive them like as 1 do uow )"
and then she went in and sat rocking her
self for hours over the fire.
The Ist of January 1S5- was a bleak
wild day, with fierce east wind driving a
cutting, bitter sleet before it. The sea and
sky, of q gray leaden hue, seemed to meet,
you could scarcely distinguish one from
the other; and the storm ragged along the
desolate coast.
The village of Cloonabeg presented
very pitiful sight that New Years Day-a
sight, once seen, never to be forgotten-a
sight which impressed itself on the memory |
with burniDgintensity-the sight of an evlc- |
tioni All words are inadequate to describe !
the scene-it is something one must look |
on to thoroughly comprehend. That morn.
ing, on the common, wherever stunted |
shrub offered the faintest shelter from the |
bitter east wind, the people were sitting |
huddled together, OF lying on their poor |
beds to keep themselves warm, waiting for
the demolition of their cabins women
weeping bitterly, children shiveripg, and
men with folded arms, set teeth, and
blanched faces men poor, ignorant, home
less, yet exercising a self CONTROL wonder
ful and touching. The lane leading to the
village was also lined oR each side by the |
unfortunate people and as the bailiR came
with pick to begin their work, the women |
greeted them with a terrible cry.
ha luni