The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-02-11
A TALE OF THE IRISH FAM
me.

The potato Famine in Ireland was no.
where felt more severely than in that
part of the country where the following
story is told as true tale: In small
village in one of the most barren dis
tricts of the west of Ireland there lived
very poor widow whose sole inheritance
was two healthy children-girls of the
respective ages of 3 and 5. Painfully
and by the utmost efforts she contrived
to pass two years of her sorrowful
widowhood. Bad and scanty food, OBJ
tanned only by labor too great for her
upon her sick bed, and death. in pity,
removed her i'll a few days, and with
out great suffering, from all her earthly
troubles. The poverty of the parish was
so great that nothing could be done for
the orphans. All the neighbors, with
the utmost desire to help, were too fam
ine-stricken, and heard their own child
rem too often cry in vain for bread to as
sist others. IF the children could only
be got to Kilburn, village some miles
distant, said one of the neighbors after
the poor mother had been buried, "a
brother of their father lives there, and
he could not possibly refuse to take care
of them"
''But matters are as bad there as
here" replied another, land fear they
will be no better off there"
1T cannot possibly be worse than
here, for nothing but starvation stares
them in the face. If we send them to
their relations we have done our duty.
We cannot possibly keep them here"
All were at last agreed upon this; and
as there was a carrier who on the next
day was going near to kilburn, he was
requested, as an act of charity, to take
the children with him. The man read
ily consented, and the neighbors felt
satisfied that they had done all that
could be required OF them. The carrier,
as agreed, came the next day and took
the two girls-Lizzie was now and
Mary 5-in his cart with him. The
timid children kept very quiet and close
together; the carrier hardly looked at
them. Toward noon they reached the
spot where the cart would turn off. The
man lifted them ont, showed them a
road to the left and bade them go
straight forward, and if they did not
turn from the high road they would. in
about two hours, come to the place. He
then drove off, The children sobbed
out ''good-by," and looked out after him
as long as they could see the least speck
of the cart, and then they both began to
cry. Lizzie ceased her crying first, she
took hold Of her little sisters hand, who
had seated herself on the ground, and
said: Get up, Mary; we must not stay
here, If we wish to get to kilburn. We
cannot stop here on the road"
Il am so hungry" sobbed Mary; "we
have had nothing to eat all day."
And again they began to cry, for
Lizzie was equally as hungry. The poor
children had gone to bed without food
the night before; it was long time since
they had full meal; the neighbors,
where they had stayed since the death
of their mother, had not given them any
breakfast, as the poor people had really
themselves nothing to eat. 1t was now
dinner time, but there was no dinner
for them.
''Come, Mary" at last said Lizzie,
1--WE must try to get to some house, we
may, perhaps, get little bread or some
potatoes. If we stay here we shall
starve; no one will bring us anything to
eat here"
'Oh, if our dear mother were but
alive" exclaimed the little one getting
up with difficulty.
The children were verv weak, and
could only drag themselves slowly along.
Hand in hand they tottered on. Sever
al times Mary declared that she could
not 60 any farther, and sat down on the
high road; and it was with the greatest
difficulty that Lizzie persuaded her to
get up again, and to pursue their way.
At last Lizzie fancied she saw house
and pointed toward the spot.
Now, Mary, we shall soon get some
thing to eat; we shall find kind people
there"
1t took them more than quarter of
an hour before they reached the farm
house, for such it proved to be- With
hesitating steps they entered into the
house, for they had never begged before,
in spite of their former misery. But at
this moment they could think of nothing
else but their terrible hunger. When a
few steps from the house they heard
the farmer violently scolding one of his
men. Then he went into the house,
hercely closed the door after him, so as
to make the windows rattle. continuing
his abuse all the time. The children,
terrified and with beating hearts, stood
still at the door until the voice ceased.
Then Lizzie opened the door and both
the children entered The farmer sat in
an arm-chair by the fire.
well, what do you want?" he harsh
" asked the children, who were too
frightened to utter word and to tell