Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-06
CHAPTER II.
A CRUEL JOKE. H1HE hnT1rs passed slowly bV.

THE hours passed slowly by.
 The children moaned from actual hunger; and if ever starvation stared family in the face, the wolf had surely entered Cris O'Mara's cabin door.
 Every chance had passed.
 One or two of the neighbors had come in, but, alas they had no consolation to offer :; half of them were as hungry and as near star vation as the O'Maras.
 Again the father leaped to his feet, and n ov- ed toward the door.
 Delirium was in his eyes, and mad purpose in his heart.
 Once again the beautiful daughter sprang to her fathers side.
 This time the father would not be restrain ed
 Perfect madness gleamed in his blood-shot eyes. He cared not for himself, but he could stand no longer the cries and meanings of his mothsrlsss babes.
 'EMaggie, lay not 8 hand on me !''
 ''Father, father, dear, don't go out!"
 ''Would ye have me sit here. child, and see me children starving aforS my eyes, whin Richard McMann owes me hundred pounds? Nivsr, child, niver!"
 The father dashed his poor weak, half-fam- ished daughter from him.
 Maggie fell to the floor, overcome by hunger, fatigue and excitement.
 The girl had tainted, and whils she lay unconscious her maddsned father dashed away.
 A few moments later and the father rsturn- ed in charge of two neighbors who had met him, and fearing that he was, in his madness, going to do something rash, brought him back.
 Night set in and the storm increased.
 The wind fairly howled in madness in his fury mocking the misery of starving family.
 The cabin door had been closed, and the poor family were preparing to pass third night in misery and hunger, when there came 8 rap.
 "Good-evenin', MT. OMara, said couple of neighbors, as they crossed the threshold. c
 Irish hospitality did not fail even though dire hunger and misery reigned in that house.
 ''Walk in, friends" said the O'Mara in husky voice.
 The first two neighbors had hardly crossed the threshold, and the door closed behind them, when there came second rap at the cabin door.
 And so the neighbors came Hooking in, until at least twenty poor, half starved people were gathered under Cris O'Maras roof
 Maggie was amazed at the presencs of their friends, still she moved around among them in 6 cheery manner, making all welcome.
 At length the O'Mara arose, and said
 My friends, am right glad to meet yees all and were there sup in the house or bit of bread, I'd make yees alI welcome indade."
 Faith. was it cruel joke ye were playin' on us, Mister OMara ?" asked one of the wo- men.
 'Joke, is it, Mrs. Martin Faith, it's no time to he jokin' wid yer family starvin' around vel If it's a wake yer wantin', faith yell not hev long to wait. Sure an it's bread or death in this poor cabin nowl''
 The neighbors looked strangely into each others facss, and at length one \ventured to say:
 ''Sure the man has lost his mind wid trouble and hunger!"
 Maggie now asked what had brought them all to the cabin at that especial time.
 ''Sure and wasn't it an invitation ye sint out for us to come and hev one good meal at yer board, even if we niyer had another?''
 "There was no invitation sint from this house. Sure an it's not mouthful we've had for these eight-and-thirty hoursl"
 ''Be the powers, thin. but there's one has been playin' cruel joke in yer name. thin '"
 'tAnd who could hev been so mane ?''
 ''Sure, it's not an hour ago that Happy