The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-01-12
FlNNEGAN'S DAUGHTER.
Youths COMPANION.

FlNNEGAN'S DAUGHTER.
Youths Companion.
The most important events OF our lives
sometimes occur when We are the least pre-
pa ed Tor them. Eleven years ago, when I,
girl OF nineteen, stood on the doorstep,
waving my handkerchief to my father and
mother as they went down the road, they
were going to camp Meeting; it was one Of
the few pleasures in their simple lives,-I
had no premonition that it was the last time
should see them alive, and that the care
less, happy days OF my girlhood were for
ever ended.
I see them now as they passed out OF
sight, and their faces, beaming with gentle
ness and love, can never be efaced from
my memory. There was an accident on
the railroad train, caused by some mans
ttoughtlessness, and they were brought
home to me dead.
Ny father had never talked with mother
or with me about his affairs. and when the
administrator, appointed by the Judge at
the suggestion of his creditors, came and
told me had only fifty dollars in the world;
that our home, furniture, everything, be-
longed to my fathers creditors, the shock
was as terrible as it wes unexpected.
I had n common school education. and
fortunately my mothers cousin in Green
field, two hundred miles away, wrote me
that through her husbands influence I
school there. So left the old home stead,
poor, friendless and dazed with the sorrow,
and loneliness, end poverty that had fallen
upon me.
Greenfield was like most country villages
where there is no active mercantile or manu-.
featuring business, and where the young
folks 60 to the city to find endowment as
soon Us they arc Of age. There was no
public spirit in the town. Tho schol house
was u weather. beaten. forlorn, little shanty,
with tiny. zicxety windows, a big chimney
that smoked, ana q big stovo that smoked.
When one stopped smoking the other took
dirty aud decked with balls Of chewed pa-
per. and the desks had been hacked by
generations of idle scholars.
Was young and without training, and as
the scholars had been taught by experienced
teachers. they had little respect for mo, and
my term was 3 failure. o. that, however.
will speak by-and-by. want now to in
trodCce tc the reader one Of the schslars in
whom became Interested. Her name was
Bridget Ann.
She appeared IN tho school-room on the
second day Of school. and one or two OF
the scholars gave mo her history. Her
mother WAS dead. She lived with her faith
er. two brothers, and several rough, di s.
sipated rnen with their wives, in an old ru-
ined house just out of the town.
The house went by the name Of the Den
OF Thieves" for it seemed to be filled with
the lowest andv.l sttenants to be found in the
whole region. Several murderers had been
captured here while. hiding from Justice.
Bridget AIMS father, I was told, was
just out Of states prison, and had tn ken her
to 1.-Two with him from the poorhouse, where
she had been since her mothers death. I
believe the town authorities forced him to
send the girl to school.
She came into the school-room with q
oo!d, defiant manner, and threw herself in
to seat. Though it was cold day, she
wore no shawl or cloak; only tattered
straw hat and calico drees. She was thin
and TALL about fourteen years of age, and
she locked half starved.
She had a mass OF coarse. black hair, large
cree black eyes, tawny skin-people SAID
her mother was gypsy-sand large
mouth. Her manner made you think of
wild animal. She had habit of holding
her head down and looking sideways under
her long lashes. and she watched me
all the time. She was like porcupine.
Everyone felt her quilts. They were nj
ways bristlirg.
No martyr ever suffered more than she
suffered, for both boys and girls treated
her cruelty. Yet she was able to defend
herself, as their bruises frequently bore
witness. She fought her battles fiercely.
Occasionally grim despair took possession
Of her and then she let her tolmantors do
hoIF ha foI ~>,k -
Jail for throwing stones, and have no
doubt that she had ample provocation.
l asked her what her name was after the
school had commenced. She gave me a
searching look from under her eyelids.
"Them gals ut the desk told 70 when I
come in, size snapped.
shat makes no difference" said. Il
want you to tell me-"
Bridget Ann Finn eg an" che answered
nurriedly.
The scholars Uttered. She turned very
whito, drawing in her lips. There was an
expression in her eyes that was positively
'aurderous.
swell, said I, looking sternly at the
scholars who had laughed, for + did not then
dare to rebuke them, suppose I enter it
oame is enough, and though Ann is good
old-fash,oned name, we like it better now
adays with ie added to it,
There was no lighting OF the sullen face,
no lifting Of the bowed head. She gave q
sidelong glance, and tho words, whats the
user" caule CURLY from her scornful lips.
found that she was hopelessly dull, and
placed her in the lowest classes with girls
half her size: but she did not seem to care
II said anything to her to excite her am
bltion and encourage her to study, she
covered at me and said, "WAat's the user"
The words chilled me, never could an
sWer them. What was the use when she
was Jailbird Finnegan's daughter2 had been
IN the poorhouse? was from the scum of
the town, and TN object of dislike and sus-
plclon everywhere?
She was always alone, and never had q
friend. She had one pet, O poor. NANCY
kitten. Her brothers threw that into tub
Of hot water and tortured it to death before
her eyes. That made her furious. She at
tackled them with Ratchet, and was only
prevented from mischief by stunning blow
from her father.
OF all sad childhoods, there was none like
hers: One recess was looking out of the
window and saw her coming towards the
school-house. When she got halfway up
the hill. party of boys stopped her, crying
out In taunting, singsong tone,-
bridget Ann
Ia an Irishman,
From Dublin county, Ireland.
She burns her nose
Wherever she goes,
For she is such firebrand
The taunting dogerel had evidently been
often repeated and was Unknown by the
poor girl. She tried to pass them. her eyes
glowing and her hands clenched; but they
would not allow her to do SO. One boy
threw mud on her dress, while another
caught hold Of her hair.
l ran to the door and spoke to them, and
when they were seated after the school had
been called to order, I rebuked them so
severely that they were angry, and went
home aud told their parents that I made
"grent fuss over Jailbird Finnegan's
daughter, aud she was my favorite." One
OF the parents came to my school the next
day, and said that this wasn't the way to
keep my place. Decent folk warn't goln'
ter how their children druv and iawed on
account OF no rlnnesnns, which was cul1cn
OF the town, and would hev been cleared
out long ago iffthe town officers warn't