The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-02

reason to doubt the girls word.
Now" said, 81 want to speak with
your sister. You may 60"
The little one held on to her sisters
hand and cried bitterly.
When the other was gone, l drew the
child toward me and questioned her
but could not get word in reply.
For the next day or two was bothered
somewhat by big Irishm an named
ODonnell, who was firebrand among
the steerage passengers. AS we had
many English and German passengers,
as we'll as many peaceable 1rishmen, who
complained of the constant ructions
O'Donnell was kicking up, was forced
to ask him to keep quiet. He became
very abusive one day and tried to strike
me. had him locked up until he came
to his senses.
While | was in my room, after this
little excitement, Mrs. O'Donnell came
to and pleaded for her rascally husband.
l had noticed her before. She was
poor, weak, broken-hearted woman
whom her husband made slave of, and
l have no doubt beat her when he had
the chance. She was evidently mortally
afraid of him, and look from him
seemed enough to take the life out of
her.
"Well, Mrs. O'Donnell," said, ssrn
let your husband go, but he will have to
keep civil tongue in his head and keep
his hands off people. I've seen men
for less put in irons during voyage
and handed over to the authorities
when they landed. And now l want
you to do me a favor. There are two
children on board without tickets
don't believe they ever had tickets. and
want to find out. You're kind hearted
woman, Mrs. O'Donnell, and perhaps the
children will answer YOU"
had the two called in, and they came
hand in hand as usual TIL elder looked
at me as if she couldn't take her eyes off
my face.
"Look at this woman" l said to her;
''shc wants to speak to you. Ask her
some questions about herself" l whis-
pered to Mrs. O'Dounell.
"Acushla, +" said Mrs. O'Donnell with
%infnitc tenderness, taking the disengaged
hand of the elder girl Tell me, dar-
lint, where zee are FROM"
suppose had spoken rather harsh
ly to them before, although l had not
intended to do so. but however that may
be at the first word of kindness fro M
the lips of their cnuntrywoman both
girls broke down and cried as if their
hearts would break. The poor woman
drew them toward her, and stroking the
fair hair of the elder girl, tried to COM
fort her while the tears streamed down
her own cheeks. "Hush, acushla, hush,
darlints, shure the gentlemin's s not goin'
to be hard wild two poor childher going
to strange country"
Of course it would never do to admi-
that the company could carry emigrants
free through any matter of sympathy,
and l must have appeared rather hard
hearted when told Mrs. O'Donnell that
l would have to take them back with me
to Cork. sent the children away, and
then arranged with Mrs. O'Donnell to
see after them during the vayage, to
which she agreed if her husband would
let her.
could get nothing from the girl cx-
cept that she had lost her ticket, and
when we sighted New York 1 took them
to the storage and asked the passengers
if any one would assume charge of the
children and pay their passage. No one
would do so.
Then" said, sthese children will
go back with me to Cork, and if 1 find
they never bought tickets they will have
to go to jail"
There were groans and Kisses at that,
and / gave the children in charge of the
cabin stewardess with orders to see that
they did not leave the ship. l was at
last convinced that they had no friends
among the steerage passengers. l in
tended to take them ashore myself be-
fore we sailed, and knew of good hands
lin New York who would see to the little
waits, although did not propose that
any of the emigrants should know that
an old bachelor purser was fool enough
to pay for the passage of a couple of un-
known Irish children.
We landed our cabin passengers and
the tender came alongside to take the
steerage passengers to Castle Garden.
got the stewardess to bring out the
children, and the two stood and watched
everyone get aboard the tender.
just as the tender moved away there
was wild shrek among the crowded
passengers, and Mrs. O'Donneli flung hel
arms above her head and cried in the
most heart-rending tone l ever heard:
"Oh, my babies, my babies. .
"Kape quiet, hissed O'Donnell. grasp
ing her by the arm. The terrible ten
days strain had given way at last, and
the poor woman sank in a heap at hi:
feet.
[ sBring back that boat" 1 shouted
and the tender came back.
"Come aboard here, O'Donnell."
'I'l notr' he yelled, shaking his fis
at me.
, "Bring that man aboard"
They soon brought him back and
gave his wife over to the care of th'
stewarless. She speedily rallied, ant
Rugged and kissed her children as If sh
would never part with them.
$50. O'Donnell, these arc your chill
dren2"
"Yis, they are; an I'd have ye know
Pm in a frae country, bedad, and dar
I We to 'ay finger on me-"
Don't dare too much, I said, cor II
, show you what eau be done in fire
v country Now if / let the children &
D will you send their passage money to tn
/. company when you get itf'
a 81 will, he answered, although I kne,
a he lied.
: "Well," I said, "for Mrs. O'Donnell'
3 sake Eli let them go, and I must cor
' graduate any free country that gets
g citizen like YOU"
r OF course I never heard from O'Donne
) since.-Detr0t Free Press.