The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-18
McGRATH'S BAD NIGHT.
Youths Companion.

llOSlUA LII ~ DI1O NAAAAA -
Youths Companion.
"Come, then, childer," said Mrs.
McGrath, and took the big iron pot
off. They crowded around her, nine
OF them, the eldest not more than
thirteen, the youngest just big enough
to hold out his yellow crockery bowl.
1.-THE younsest fist, remarked Mrs.
McGrath, and ladled out a portion OF
the boiled cornmeal to each OF the de-
plorable boys and girls. Before they
reached the stools from which they
had sprung up, or squatted again on
the rough floor, taey all burned their
mouths in tasting the mush too eager
ly. Then there they sat, blowing in
to their bowls, gIaring into them, lift
ing their loaded iron spoons occasion
ally to taste cautiously, till the mush
had somewhat cooled.
Then, gobble- de-gobble. -gobble, it
it was all gone! Though they had
neither sugar, nor milk. nor butter to
. it, they found it d remarkable excel
lent sample OF mush, and wished only
that, in quantity, it had been some
thing more. 80
Peter McGrath sat close beside the
cooking stove holding Number Ten, a
girl-baby, who was asleep and rocking
Number Eleven, who was trying to
wake up, in the low, implanted wood
en- cradle. He never took his eyes of
Number Eleven; he could not bear to
look around and see the nine devouring
the corn-meal so hungrily. Perhaps
McGrath could not, and certainly he
would nct,-he was SO obstinate,-
have told why he felt so reproaehed
by the scene. He had felt very guilty
for many weeks.
Twenty, yes, a hundred, times a
day he looked in a. dazed way at his
big hands, and they reproached him
too that they had no work.
"Where is our smooth, broad axe
handle?' asked the fingers, 'and why
do not the wide chips Hy?"
tie was ashamed too, every time he
rose up, so tall and strong, with moth
ing to do, and eleven children and his
wife next door to starvation, but if
he had been asked to describe his feel
lngs, he would merely have growled
out angrily something against old
John Pontiac.
you'll take your sup now, Peter?"
asked Mrs. McGrath, Offering him the
biggest OF the yellow bowls. He look
ed up then, first at her forlorn face.
then at the pot. Number Nine was
diligently scraping off some streaks OF
mush that had run down the outside:
Numbers Eight, Seven, Six and Five
were looking respectfully into the pot;
Numbers Four, Three, Two and One
were watching the pot, the steaming
bowl, and their father at the same
time. Peter McGrath was very hun
cry,
"Yourself had better eat, Mary
Ann" he said. "I'll De having mine
after it's cooler"
Mrs. McGrath dipped more than q
third OF the bowlful back into the pot,
and ate the rest with much satisfac
tlon. The numerals watched her any
lously but resignedly.
"sure It'll be cold entirely, Peter
DEAR she said, land the warmth IS
so comforting. Give me little Norah
now, the darlint! and be after eating
your supper"
She had ladled out the last of the
mush, and the pot was being scraped
inside earnestly by Nine, Eight, Seven
and Six. Peter took the bowl, and
looked at his children.
The earlier number were observino
linn with peculiar sympathy, putting
themselves in his place, as it were,
possessing the bowlful in Imagination;
the others now moved their spoons
absent-mindedly around in the pot.
brought them empty to their mouths,
mechanically, now and again, sucked
them more or less, and still stared
steadily at their father.
His inner walls felt glued together.
yet indescribably hollow; the smell Of
the mush went up into his nostrils,
and pungently provoked his palate
and throat. He was furnishing.
,'Troth, then, Mary Ann" he said,
there's no hunger in me tonight.
Sure, | wish the childer wouldn't lellye
me the trouble OF eating it. Come
then, all of ye."
= The nine came promptly to his call.
Inere were just twenty-five large
spoonfuls IN the bowl; each child re-
celyed two; the remaining four went
TO the four youngest. Then the bowl
was skilfullv scraped by Number Nine.
after which Number Seven took It.
Whlrled q cup OF water artfully round
It's interior, and with this put q fne
finish on his meal. M l,# 8 -,
Peter McGrath then searched