The daily gazette., 1877-01-26
THE MADONNA.
by N. j, d.

an Jamie hungry, Tor my little DoTah.
the crather. that's me own heart. r'
Now, Teddy, be quiet. will We.
darlin' Didn't tell ye l took ye for
better for worse an if it's turned out.
worse, it's not your fault, dear"
But to see ye starvin' to death an
yer red cheek growin' wan an white,
an not able to find fer ye- o. it's
breakin' the heart OF me ~ And the
kind-hearted fellow hid his face in his
hands, and sobbed aloud. "a purity
country this" he continued, where
the big ones ride by in their kirridges
and swape the streeths wild velvet, an
the poor crathurs beside them hasn't
bread nor rint for the bit o. shieling!"
"But the kind Teddy tould us the
poor would be helped by the corpora
tion-wasl 1t ?"
The young Irishman's face flushed
till the crimson mingled with his
chestnut curls.
"Biddy Donavon," he said, 81 love
ye, an" I'd die fer ye but, lass, I'll
not beg fer ye No, / can starve, but
not beg! That was not the lesson the
ould mother fought me I"
"Teddy, darlint, I have been tellln'
me bades the mornin,' an it won't 90
out of me head we'll mate luck. The
praist tould US we'd meet wild help, an
we kept brave heart. How much
money ha' ye got by ye. jewel, the
day"
Fifty cints II buy me-" said Dona>
Won, laying currency note upon the
rough board which served for table.
TEDDY, dear, ye tould me, the May
morpin' that's gone, that all ye had
was mine, an that was your heart,
Teddy. have less now 2"
20 Biddy, an isn't it the bitther sor-
row that that's all ye have now ?"
Then, darlint, it's all l want, an
the bit o. money I'll jist give to the
saints, Teddy, buy me a ticket for
the picture of the Virgin they were
tellin' We Of"
"Biddy. yer crazy, stark crazy It's
the bread for the childer yer asking,
an breaking me heart wild refusing
ye I'
The wife said nothing, Slipping to
his side, she laid her head upon his
shoulder. and the great brown eyes
looked into his with an entreating
gaze Her lip trembled.
"Teddy, me own darlint. ye'll not
refuse me. It's blessing, not bread,
I'm saking." she murmured.
They were interrupted by a loud
knock; one of those heartless knocks
so often heard at the gates of poverty.
There is\the light step on the thresh-
old, the slight touch of the silver bell,
that says, MAY an honored guest find
admittance ?" There is the quick en-
try of trade, which says, "Not you,
my friend, but your patronage-your
money, l want. The express goes at
four, no waiting" And there is the
domineering insolence OF wealth,
thiaking its drachma can close the
wound in the heart. On this occasion
it was thln-faced, hard.looking man,
who, in the convenient character of
agent, did up his rich employers
cruelty for Linn at so much month.
"Mr, Donavon," he said, in tone
hard as cut steel, "I'll thank you for
settlement"
"Work's not to be had, sir" said
the tenant, stepping before hispartner,
who had opened the door. "Ivery
clint shall be paid when l get it."
SIN that case" said the agent, sin
that case, the premises must be cleared
by Saturday noon. This is very valua-
BILE property" he said, looking at the
falling plaster and torn paper on the
walls,
every well, sir" said Donavon :;
"an' it's yer own measure. if small
grace ye find when yer ordered out of
yer tiniment body !"
The man of business did not hear
the last of the sentence as he descended
the stairs.
Bridget's eyes rested on the solitary
piece of script on the table, and her
lip quivered.
"l'ake it, jewel. take it !" said Dona-
Won. eth not do much. Give it to
the saints"
Bridget threw her arms around her
husbands neck. He broke from her
gently and rushed down stairs.
The beautiful hall, in which was
held the fair for st. Mary's orphans
was filled with gifts of rare workman
ship and costly magniicence but
conspicuous among them was Ma
donna of surprising loveliness. Group
after group fingered around the beau
t11ul WOrk OIL arr. ltS pIlCc, TWO tnOu-
sand dollars, was divided among num-
erous shareholders at the trifling sum
of fifty cents.
Among those who crowded around
the painting was pale, dark-eyed
young woman. Crossing herself, as
she raised her eyes to the picture, she
hurIiedly laid the price of ticket
upon the table, and turned sadly away,
A look of pity from the gayly dressed
danes around followed her, as the thin
figure, wrapping her shawl closely
around her, left the hall.
We must now return to the Dona-
vops. On the evening of the day on
which they had received such sum
mary notice to quit their abode, low
knock startled them from the reverie
into which both had fallen, and mo-
ment after pale face was thrust into
the darkened room.
can 1t plase ye, Mrs. Donavon,
me own Willie's dying, sure he is, an
me not sup to wet the blue lips of
him |"