Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-20

souls leave Ireland for foreign shores
every working.day in the year, there are
hear, and hand wrlngings innumerable,
and dolorous mists from the region OF
tears. Few families are fortunate
enough to get away all together. IL
help has come rom America or the
colonies; Il the passage money has been
saved in secret through years Of depriv'
alton by a single person; II an lrlsh
family has after every manner OF sacrihce
provided for one who Is to so to blessed
foreign lands that the remainder may,
one by one, eventually follow; however
the going OF all these people may have
come about in every instance there is
struggle in tearing away from the things
10 which the heart Is rooted which we of
better fortune and conditions literally
know nothing.
So many of these scenes have wit
messed that have perhaps some little
conception of the real bravery Of this
act OF illitera,e, unframed men aud
women pushing boldly across oceans
into untried, unknown walks and ways,
with love, hope and determination for
ones own at the bottom OF II all that
have more real heroism in them than the
average American is ever called upon to
exercise throughout his entire life.
However lowly, poor and desperately
good for-naught the prospective emf.
grant may all his life have been regarded
among his fellows, the great and gen
crous heart In those around him melts
into surprising interest and tenderness
when he comes to leave his neighbor.
hood, and those whom he has been
never so little a part Of through the
utter days that have encompassed all.
For every departure reawakens the
eart.aching memories OF other depar-
lures; and in every Irish home ] ever
shared there Is an empty chair whose
iormer occupant Is somewhere beyond
the sea.
II II be family which Is to 20, or
some elderly man or woman, for days
previous to the departure the whole
countryside swarms to the cabin; and
every man, woman or child of the town
land ut some time or another has come
10 mourn At the leaving and bid God
speed Mt the going. II II be a youth or
Ass, or young man or woman, as II often.
er Is, for few but the very old and very
young are left, then, ON the evening pre-
vious to the departure every companion,
friend or acquaintance " certain to
appear; and the whole night is passed
in what is called rising the heart" OF
the departing one.
The custom springs from the same
kindly quality Of extending cheer 10
those who mourn that originally cs,ab-
lished the custom Of the Irish wake,
which many good people choose to per-
sistcntly misunderstood and condemn.
At this gathering for rising the heart"
of the emigrant the Irish peasants
character Is in a most tenderly interest
ing state for study. Every one arrives in
a hushed. embarrassed mood; aud every
one brings some little token OF affection
and regard. The poverty OF these folk
alone prevents outlandish generosity
One stealthily appears with yards OF
seed-cake; many with thimblesful Of tea
some with gewgaws and trihes OF
jewelry; the coat.tail pockets OF another
will bulge with heartsome potatoes;
housewives arrive with great methers OF
milk, others with schowdefs, or oatcn-
cakes, crisp and toothsome, still others
with schrahags OF shilk, hearty mix
some with apronsful OF peat, for the
slender resources of the family must
never under these trying circumstances
be drained. And the lads and lLsses
who come with pressed Irish flowers and
ferns, and sprigs OF hawthorn and bun.
ches Of the dear shamrock; with gifts OF
ribbons, and bits OF this or that priced
possession; are not to be counted at all.
So, to, come those with looks OF
triumph and secreted bottles OF poteen,
that never got a touch" that is, are
guiltless OF the CHEESEMAN'S desccrating
seal; for grief is ever droothy" surely.
Then the night is passed In eating,
feasiing and drinking. Loads of hum.
BILE fare are there, oceans OF tea; and
timely drops Of the ''rale mountain
dew" Tales are told songs are sung;
sometimes they dance to the music of an
old tramp fiddler who has been i'm.
pressed into service. But the chords OF
mirth are minor enough the night long;
and smiles, laughter and brave pro-
phecies are all touched and chastcned
by honest Irish tears.
When morning comes, and those
whose imperative duties call them TO
their homes have said goodbye with
almost the same dread, reverence and
pathetic forlorness as when lowering the
dead into the grave, the rustic ceremony
OF conveying" is begun. The subject
of all this attention becomes for the
once, II for only this once in lifetime,
the hero or heroine Of the hour. The
chests. or pleihoric bags, or whatever
constitutes the luggage Of the emgrani,
- sent on ahead in some neighbours
prollered cart, friendly riots Tor the
honor of the mournful privilege often
occurring, or are slung over the backs Of
sNAggy donkeys, a score more than
necessary always being in readiness for
this friendly mission.
II a whole family are to 20, the fare
wells TO the wretched old hut which has
Housed them is something ptiable be-
You'd description. II it be but single
member of the household, the good.byes
10 the old, old folk to feeble for the
journey OF Convoy" are more pitable
SUI. These separations are often too
great load for such, and many a
wllhered branch of The Impoverished
family. tree breaks and falls into the
earth from the keen, sharp sorrow. But
y girsha or bouchal, the pride Of the
loved nome, are departing, the mael-
Mtom oil emotion as the convoy" or
accompanying procession, sets forth is
beyond the power OF man TO reveal.
On many occasions during my wander.
ings aioot In Ireland have come upon
these excited crowds. as thev were
starting from the home; as they struggled |
and walled along the great stone high. |
way; or as they neared some railway
station whence the emigrant must de- |
part to the seaport CITY; and making INV.
self one of the tnotIev ti,on,,e,,..,-Sp |