The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-07-10

not penal ex1les.
The exiles to whom I allude were
those whom Stepdame Fortune had
driven from their Fatherland, or whom
the hope of winning her favor had al
lured from it.
All these had left their loves and
dearest interests behind them, and all
their dreams and wishes were directed
to the fair fields and bright firesides of
their childhood.
1t is now far otherwise. Van Die
mans Land, like other lands, has
grown national, with the usual exclus-
i've prejudices and partialities.
Beautiful girls and gallant youths,
in it's sweet valleys, have ripened into
womanhood and manhood, have. be-
come surrounded by a young progeny,
and they love the land of their birth.
If the approaching bark was antici
pated by many a beating heart in Ho-
bart Town and its vicinity, what were
the feelings OF those on board the Dart,
the gallant ship that had now been
nearly five months from England?
It carried a miscellaneous assem-
blage of passengers, and had touched
at Cork to take in some m and
children, who were going to join their
husbands and fathers in the colony.
In all this freight of humanity there
were two women singularly remarka-
ble-the one. Dora Callan, for beauty;
the other, Bridget Ryan, for extreme
ugliness, which would have been re-
pulsive had it not been redeemed by
honesty, simplicity and good nature.
She had an infant a few weeks old,
to which she was a tender, watchful
mother; but it did not engross her
genial heart.
She had a kind word for every one
and a helping hand for all who needed
her aid. The sick found her ready to
forego her rest to soothe their suffer-
ings, and the sorrowing never called
upon her sympathy in vain, and it was
soon the feeling of all on board to seek
Bridget Ryan under any emergency or,
annoyance or distress.
. But, above all, she became to Dora
Callan the very stay and prop of her
existence. The young creature had
come on board in bad health, and with
the prospect of becoming a mother, a
prospect realized before they were
many weeks at sea.
In her hour of trial who was beside
her? Bridget Ryan.
When the newborn made its feeble
appeal to its feeble mother, who took
it to a cherishing breast? Bridget
Ryan.
Amid all her own and her infants
wants she found means to administer
to the wants of the young mother and
her nursing; amid all the claims upon
her time and toll, she found hours to
devote to them.
"Briget Ryan," said Dora, II shall
never see the far land we are seeking,
and one is waiting me there to whom
it will be a sore sorrow. Here is his
last letter, which l have read every
night after my prayers, and every
morning as soo as it was light. He
will be- on the watch for ship and
among the first on board"
Heaven speed him, my woman"
exclaimed the cheerful Bridget.
"And won't he be proud of the gift
you have for him." she added, looking
at the sleeping child. "Oh, sure, and
it is I must be at the merry meeting"
"Who has such a right, Bridget?
But 1t will never be-"
flush, woman. dear. Tush! Don't
talk such nonsense, child. It is the
wakeness that has come over you. Wait
awhile, and a blithe christening we'll
have when we are once on shore"
The young mother bowed her beauti-
full face upon her pillow, and the heav-
ing of her breast revealed the emotion
that convulsed her.
After an effort of composure, she
raised herself in her bed and flung her
arms around the neck of her friend.
"Oh, on this wide, wide sea, whese
I thought. to find only danger and so:-
row, I have found a friend like un.o
the mother 1 have left. You will have
her blessing, Bridget, and his. oh, that
I might live to tell him all I owe you."
"Now, Dora dear, If you 90 on in this
manner" said Bridget, struggling with
emotion, and gently trying to Disco
gage herself, what will I do? Sure,
I shall be At for nothing this blessed
day-and the babies, too-why, we are
changing places with them and crying
as If they could not do 1t much better
that we. Take heart, woman. des1,
the boy will need all your care"
"All yours, Bridget, all yours. Oh,
tell me that you will w torsaxe
him! I know 1t. I feel it, he will soon be
alone with you-have only you. Oh, let
him creep to your heart when the sslt
seas cover his mother. Nay, Bridget.
you shall not dnclasp my hands unldl
have your promise; say that in dan.
ger, In distress, in sickness. he shall ke
to you as your own"
holy Mother. be my witness" faint
" calculated Bridget. HE shall hare
half Of my heart. half of my strength
When I forego my hold Of him. sor
row be my portion. BUT you will live,
Dora Callan, and my child may call
you mother by means Of this boy Of
ours, TOR now he 10 mine, you see. and
I meanato dispose Of him" @