The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-02-14
VOL. XI--NO.
who was delicate, turned pale and gath
cred the little ones round her.
"sBarry. runp she said, with white

who was delicate, turned pale and gath
cred the little ones round her.
Barry, runp she said, with white
lips that scarcely moved.
"'Pll not run for all the rascals in
Ireland said father, frowning and gath
ering himself up. II they're bound to
sill me, I'll die game. I've done moth
ing wrong, and / believe every cottager
on the plsce would stand up for me-
"But these are not our people, said
my mother; they only want TO know
that a man is an agent to wreck their
vengeance upon him at once. And
harkp
"She sprang to her feet. There were
certainly harsh voices and the tramp of
men not far of. Presently glare as
of torches could be seen, red light
Illuminating the murky atmosphere.
{" Barry. you owe it to US to save
yourself' cried my mother, with tear
less, strained eyes and clasped hands; and
we children went down on our knees to
implore him to hide himself.
"' What would be the good of my hid
ingf he asked. They would only burn
the house over our heads
"' You know how well you can take
off Biddy,' said my mother, and she
has gone home for the evening. Put on
one of her dresses, and talk Irish 10 them.
You may divert their attention, and we
will tell them they must search elsewhere
for you,
shouts Of the bloodthirsty mob could
now be heard, as they came-a drunken,
iisorderly body-across the lawn. He
gave one look at my mother, another ct
the children, and then hastily left the
room, mother following. Black Jim in
the meantime had made his escape. The
noises were growing louder and more
hideous.
"The house was locked with the usual
fastenings, and before the furious mob
had reached the outer door, mother
came in again, still deadly pale, but
very quiet.
Gas think of it now, see that little
mother of mine-so small, SO frail in
the light of real heroine, as she drew
her children together, and told them
what to do and say in case the house was
searched. Scarcely had she ceased when
thunderous noises commenced.
Mother took one of the tall candles
and went herself to undo the fastenings
of the great door. When it opened, there
was sudden silence. suppose the ap-
pearance of that little, fearless woman,
with her pale face, awed them for the
moment.
"What do you want, gentlemen she
asked, quietly.
"The man the mastherp shouted
one or two voices.
He heard that you were coming,
and you must search for him elsewhere
said my mother, calmly.
"Some few were disposed to move
away, but the most of the rough crowd
had been indulging in whisky, and were
eager to satisfy more brutal instincts.
They pressed forward through the hall
into the great dining-room.
ga more terrific crowd, as seen by the
faring of the torches, could scarcely be
found. Their clothes were ragged and
dirty, their hats torn, their faces neither
washed nor shaven.
"They made free with the house, and
quickly invaded the kitchen. where
Biddy McGraff assailed them with vigor-
Gus Irish, fairly driving them back with
the broom, the tongs, or whatever came
handy-Biddy being, of course, our
father.
"In the midst Of the hur'y-burly the
door opened, and who should appear but
the original Bridgetl But with her
quick Irish wit she took in the situation
instantly, and saved us.
"Sure, Biddy,' she said, looking at
her master, what's all this hallabaloo?
If they're after the old lord, they can't
find him here, and the t'other's too
sharp for them. Besides, yell have to
lave onyhow, for the mother ov US is in
sore throuble. I've iist come from there
to tell ye that Larry's took down, an
the docther says it's case Of the small
pox sure, and that of the baddest kindn
You should have seen that. crowd
break and scatter! The Irish have
more dread of the SMALLPOX than they
have of the gallows. In few minutes
the house was cleared.
"The night passed without further
molestation to our household. Thenext
day before dawn father left the house in
disguise, and we did not see him again
until the country wa. quiet.
"You may be sure that the memory
of Bridget was always held sacred in our