, 1886-03-16
A TALE OF THE FAMINE.

ht1A0 AN1AA a. hAAN IHtA " " H-AH
inheritance from her husband was tT1
healthy children, girls, Of the respective
ages Of 3 and o. Painfully, and by the Ut
most efforts, she contrived 10 pasg tgQ
yenrs of her sorrowful w%idowhood. I1l
and scanty food obtained only bylnbcr too
great for her delicate frame, had at last
thrown her upon her sick bed, and death
in pity removed her in a few days, and
without great suffering, from all her
earthly troubles.
The poverty OF the parish was so great
thai nothing could be done for the poor
orphans. All the neighbors, with the Mt
most desire to help. were too famine
stricken, and heard their own children 100
often cry in vain for breai, TO assist
others.
III the children could only be got TO XII
burn" a yillnge some miles distant. said
one Of the ~neighbors, after the poor
mother had been buried, n brother u
their father lives there, and he could not
possibly refuse to take care Of them
"But matters are as bad there as hrren,
replied another. and | fear they will be
no better of there
at can not possibly be worse than here,
for nothing but starvation stares them in
the face. II we send them to their relations
we nave done our duty. We cnn not pos
sibly keep them here
All were at last agreed upon this; and as
there was a carrier, who. on the mex dny.
was going near to Kilburn, he was re
quested, as an act Of charity, 10 take the
children with him. The man readily @ N
scented, and the neiohbors felt satisfied
that they had done all hat could be re-
quired of them.
The carrier, as agreed, came the next
day and took the two girls-Lizzie was :
now int Mary 5-in his cart with him.
The timid children kept very quiet and
close together; the carrier hardly looked
Mt them. Toward noon they reached the
spot where the cart would turn of. The
man lifted them out, showed them n road
to the left and babe them go straight for
ward, and II they did not turn from the
high road they would, in about two hours,
come to the place. He then drove of.
The chilren sobbed out Goodbye and
looked out after him as long rs they could
see the last 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;
sect up, Mary; we must not stay here If
we wish to get TO Kilburn. We can not
stop here on the road"
II I'm so hungry" sobbed Mary; 1--WE
have had nothing to eat all day"
And again they began to cry; for Lizzie
was equally hungry. The poor children
had gone TO bed without food the night
before; II was n long time since they had
had a full meal; the neighbors where they
had stayed since the death o. their
mother, had not given them any break
fast, as the poor people really themselves
had nothing to eat. II 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 n little bread or a few pota-
toes. II we stay here we shall starve; no
one will bring Vi anything to cat here
"Ohl II our dear mother were hut alivcl"
exclaimed the little one, getting up with
difficulty.
The children were very weak, and could
only drag themselves slowly along. Hand
in hand they tottered on. Several times
Mary declared that she could not 90 any
further, 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 fan
cied she saw a house and pointed toward
the spot.
Now Mary, we shall soon get some
thing to eat; we shall find kind people
there"
II took them more thar a quarter OF al
hour before they reached the farm house,
for such 1t proved TO be. With hesitating
steps they approached 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 terri
BILE hunger. When n few steps from the
house, they heard the farmer violently
scolding one of his men. Then he went
into the house, fiercely closed the door
after him, so as to make the windows
rattle, continuing his abuse all the tine.
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 the armchair by the fire.
We'll, what do you WANT" he harshly
asked the children, who were too fright
n to utter n word and to tell their
errand. "Can't you speak, he asked,
still more roughly.
Lizzie Mt last took courage, and said,
gently;
sob, II you would be so good aud give
us the least little bit to eat-a small piece
OF bread or a few potatoes"
al thought So shouted the farmer; II
was sure you were nothing hut heggars.
although you do not seem to hclonrto this
neighborhood. We have plenty of those
here, and do not want them 20 come from
other parts. We have not bread for our
selves in these hard times. Nou viii get
nothing here. BE of this molnen
The children, dreadfully frightened.
began both to cry bitterly
That will not do you anv good. ron-
tinued the man, "that kind ~ whininr is
nothing new to me. and won't MOVE no..
Let your parents feed Won; hu tisr 20
doubt prefer idling rather thHn TsttiH-
their living by honest labor
@Our parents are deal. said Lizzie.
Il thought so" replied fhe farmer.
whenever children are sent ont 90 har
their father and mother are nlwnNs
dead, or at least their father Thlris a
mere Reuse for begging. BE OF this
minute
"We have not eaten a morsel the whole
day" pleaded Lizzie; "we are 30 tired that
we can not move n step. II You would
but give us the least little bit to eat, we
are so hungry
Il have told YOU I should not. Beggars
get nothing here"
The farmer got up with a threatening
look. Lizzie quickly opened the door, and
drew her sister along with her. The chill
dron again stood in the farmyard, but
knew not what to do. Suddenly little
Mary drew her hand from her sisters
clasp. and went TO the other side Of the
yard; there was n big fierce dog chSined;
his Inner stood before him IN a wooden
basin. Mary put her hand into the basiu
and began TO eat with the dog. Lizzie
went nearer, and saw that in the basin
there was some liquor, In which a few
pieces of bread and some boiled potatoes
we're floating; she could not resist, she
Not symptoms. but the Disease.
i would seem to be a truth apprcciable