The Irish standard., 1888-02-11
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY. FERRuARY IL

arose and donned my hat and sacque. and,
taking my bundle, stole noislessly as
shadow along the hall and out at a side en-
trance Iunfastenedthe door and gained the
grounds, through which I sped and reached
the gate unseen by the watchdog that !
greatly feared. The gate was fastened,
but I managed to creep through the bars
and then I stood upon the highway. !
turned and gave one long, last look at the
house had known for five long weary
years and which 1 presumed was leaving
forever.
What massive pile of masonry it was,
standing out dimly IN the gray light HOW
proudly did it seem to stare at me with It's
many -windowed eyes, as if scorning the
humble waif who stood alone III the dusty
road, gazing up at it with mixed feelings OF
awe and regret, But it had been naoght TO
me but hateful prison house, I said, as
hurried away. Why should regret leaving
it2 So trudged on, little dreaming how /
should again enter the gates of Caledon
Heights, or what strange, new life Lay be-
fore me.
My intention was to go to the city, and
there, I, like all people, especially young
and ignorant ones, imagined could lind
employment. Maggie had often told me OF
niece Of hers who earned good wages as
a nursery girl, and certain cousin who
had nothing at all to do but attend one little
fellow, or child rather, and received the
sum of two dollars week and board, be-
sides many of her mistress cast-of gar
ments, which, Maggie declared, were as
good as new Hearing this, did not
doubt but should soon find d place where
my services would be gratefully received.
( did not stop to think that these people
would be very likely to inquire from
whence came and what recommendation
I had. But was very ignorant of the
world, the reader mast remember, having
never been outside the gates OF Caledon,
scarcely, nor into a town or village OF. any
sort, since was ten years old. Think OF
this, you children, to whom journey OF
hundreds of miles is never thought Of ex-
cent as a trifling occurrence.
l had with me small sum of money which
/ had saved by doing odd jobs for the serv-
ants at Caledon; yet the whole sum did not
exceed two dollars But I was free: said,
as I walked on; better starvo in freedom
than live in bondage.
had calculated that the distance to the
city could not be over five miles, but in my
confusion I must have taken 6, longer route,
for walked briskly nearly tho whole fore
noon, and still saw no sign that was
nearing it. The read, too, grew narrow,
and had an untraveled lock that alarmed
me. I was faint and thirsty, too, from hay
ing Travelled so far, but disliEed to stop at
any of the farn,-hopses I passed, for people,
though knd-hearted in the main, would be
apt to look with suspicion on s. stranger
plodding alone on the public highway.
But toward noon, unable to endure longer
the pangs of hunger and thirst, / stopped at
small house on the edge Of a field where
woman was drawing water from q well, and
timidly asked for q drink, and Il, stop and
rest for little while. She sourly complied
with my request glancing suspiciously at
lny bundle the while.
entered the house and sank down on the
chair she pushed toward me, almost too tired
to do more than breathe. She was prepar-
ing dinner, and the smell Of the vict1aals
made me ravenous. J. had not tasted food
since dinner tho previous day, and it was
small wonder was faint and hungry. l
could not starve, and I asked the woman for
breakfast. She had not spoken since had
entered the house, evidently being in fit
of sulks about something. She spoke now,
though, wondering viciously what was
tramping about the country asking break
fast at this hour for. I did not answer her,
and she, seeing how pale and yyan looked,
perhaps relented, for she placed some vic
uals and q glass of milk on the table, and
bade me sit np and eat I did so, and hay
ing finished I offered the woman q bit OF
silver in payment, half hoping she would not
take it; but inthis was mistaken, her small
gray eyes glittered as she clutched it eager
", and she asked, quickly:
ssYe've plenty of this suppose, girl?' at
the same time laying her large hand Oh my
shoulder.
"Only very httle,' answered steadily,
though my heart beat nearly to suffocation
80 frightened was I, for ! judged from the
woman's looks she would not hesitate to do
me an injury. But al that instant horse
man passed, seeing which 1 grasped my
bundle and fled hastily down the road be-
hind him, only too glad to escape my vicious
looking hostess, but greatly refreshed by
the nourishment J. had taken.
I had intended to have made come In
qaires i'll regard to the road must take to
reach Baltimore; but in my fright had for
gotten it. So wandered on, only pausing
to rest short time in q wooded dell where