Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-11-14

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some, and, Notwithstanding the horrors
of their situation, they were compara-
lively cheerful. But it was an unnatu-
raj cheerfulness, for it was noticeable
that there were lines about the mouth
and around the eyes that told too plain
ly their story of want and suffering.
Even with these living evidences. we
could hardly believe the stories of cru
elites committed by landlords and their
agents, which our driver kept pouring
into our ears. We could not realize
that they could be true. They seemed
so absolutely barbarous that we utterly
refused to accept them, and did not, till
having gone about nine miles from
Mitcballstown, we stopped at a little
roadside cabin, as they called it, al
though we would have more properly
denominated it howell.
MICHAEL DUGGAN's CABIN.
/ nv InC An'Aso0iou VI Uur SulUo we
alighted, shook the rain from off our
great coats and entered the place to en-
quire for the man who worked the little
holding back of it. He was not at home
but his wife, comely buxom woman of
some 40 years, asked us to be seated, at
the same time offering small stool on
which one of the girls of the family had
been sitting near the fire taking care of
an infant.
While our guide was enquiring for
Mr.. Duggan, we made an inspection of
the house, where man, his wife and
their seven children lived. There was
the one principal room, in which we
were standing. which was about 10 by
II feet, and eight feet high. There
was no floor, but the original earth.
There was only one window and that
had never known pane of glass. In
one end of the room there was a dingy,
smoky fireplace, around which were hud-
died three or four children, scantily
dressed in loose cotton slips that came
to just below the knee. At the other
end of the room, a brood of chickens
disported themselves in pile of furze,
while every few minutes huge porker
would push his nose in at the open door,
only to be driven away by one of the
children.
The family was very interesting. The
mother was tall, we'll formed, and of an
exceedingly pleasant appearance, while
the children, shy at the sight of so many
strangers. were sturdy, healthful and
clean. They were bright and intelli-
gent, and under any other circumstances
and mode of life, would grow up to be
eminently representative citizens.
WHAT DUGGAN SAID.
On the return of Mr.. Duggan from
: the fields, we went with him up the Gal
tee mountains, he explaining on the way
that he was very comfortably fixed COM
pared with his neighbors. He said
that his grandfather had taken the little
holding he occupied, when it was full of
stones and rocks, and was next to worth
less. He paid rent of three shillings
an acre for it. During his lifetime the
land was partially reclaimed, the rocks
and boulders were taken out of one field
and the rent was advanced to seven shil-
lings. His father further improved it,
and raised some little crops, and the
rent went up to 20 shillings. When
the present tenant succeeded to it, il
was in comparatively good shape. and
D with the improvements he had made,
, building the house, or rather hovel, the
t value of the land had increased enough
7 in the mind of the landlord to Justify
him in placing the rent at two pounds,
:. or 40 shillings.
: That tract of land in America, if one
u were to 90 to the few districts where
such abominably bad land can be found
r would be thought extremely high if il
d were sold at dollar, or four shillings
t an acre.
t "Well, how in the world can you
t raise enough on such a holding to pay
such an exorbitant rent?'
e 81 can't do it. l have tried my best
Q but it is absolutely impossible"
e Suppose you don't pay the rent. ther
e what ?"
r "I'll be thrown out in the road, with
g all my family and the little furniture
d we have gotten together"
r "1n case you refuse to be thrown ou
: of the house you have built, and off tht
e land you and your fathers before yol
d have made from utterly worthless fields
y of rocks ?"
l. "Then those fellows would come dowr
IS upon me-" o
% AS he spoke he pointed to flying
e squadron of hundred and fifty mel
e. who were riding back to Mitchellstown
W after having evicted number of tenant
If who we're unable to pay the back rent
Is They were fine looking body of men
'r we'll mounted and we'll armed, each mai
!, carrying loaded carbine, while at hi
lie side dangled sword bayonet.
is Rut our business in hand was no