The Irish standard., 1902-03-08
AN IRISH EVICTION.
A Graphic Description of 1t by Father
Sheehan. IL

|
ut was heartrending to witness it
this cold, callous precision of the law.
The quiet disruption of the little house
hold, the removal, bit by bit, Of the
furniture; the Indifference with which
the bailiffs flung out objects con-
secrated by the memories of genera
tions, and broke them and mutilated
them, made this sensitive and impress
sionable people wild with anger. In
every Irish farmers house, the appoint
ments are as exactly identical as if all
had been ordered in some far-off time,
from the same emporium, and under
one invoice. And when the people
saw the rough deal chairs, the settle,
the ware, the little pious pictures, the
beds with their hangings, flung out in
the field each felt that his OWE turn
had come, and that he suffered u per-
sonal and immediate injury. And
Father Cussen had the greatest diff
Guilty in restraining their angry pas.
sions from flaming up into riot, that
would bring the immediate and deadly
conflict with the forces of the Crown.
AS yet, however, the inmates had not
appeared. There was an. interval of
great suspense; and then Will Nc
Namara, splendid, stalwart young
farmer, came forth, the cradle of the
youngest child in his arms. He was
bleeding from the forehead; and the
people, divining what had taken place,
raised shout of anger and defiance,
and rushed toward the house. The
police moved up hastily, and Father
Cussen beat back the people. But
they surged to and fro on the outer
line of the Gordon; and the young Eng
lish officer threw away his cigarette,
and drew in the long, thin line of
soldiers. In few moments Lizzie
came forth, holding one child in her
arms, and a younger at her breast.
Following her was her husband again,
still bleeding from the forehead, and
with two frightened children clinging
to him. Lastly, Luke Delmege ap-
peared. The sight of the old man, so
loved and respected in the parish, as
he came forth from the dark frame
work of the, cottage door, his white
hair tossed wildly down on his face,
and streaming on his neck, and his
once stalwart frame bent and broken
with sorrow, reused the people to abso'
lutte fury. They cursed between their
teeth, the women weeping hysterical-
ly; and a deep, low moan echoed far
down the thick, dark masses that
stretched along the road and filled the
bitches on either hand. For over two
hundred years the Delmeges had own
ed Lisnalee-a grand race, with grand
| traditions of an unstained escutcheon
and an unspotted name. And now, as
the last member of the honored family
came forth, an outcast from his
fathers home, and stood on the thresh-
old he should never cross again, it
seemed as if the dread Angel Of Ire
land, the Fate, that is ever pursuing
her children, stood by him; and, in his
person, drove out his kindred and his
race.
"The old man stood for a moment
hesitating. He then lifted his hands
to God; andskneeling down he kissed
reverentially the sacred threshold, over
which generations Of his dead had
been taken, over which he had passed
to his baptism, over which he had led
his young, trembling bride, over which
he had followed her hallowed remains.
1t was worn and polished with the
friction of the centuries; but so bitter
tear had never fallen on it before:
Then raising himself up to his full
height, he kissed the Intel Of the door,
and then the two doorposts. He ling
cred still; he seemed loath to leave.
And the bailiffs, growing impatient,
pushed him rudely forward. Weak
and exhausted, the old man stumbled
and fell. An angry scream broke
from the people, and few stones
were flung. And Luke, who had been
watching the whole melancholy drama
with a bursting heart, broke away
from Father Martin, and forcing his
way beyond the Gordon of soldiers, he
rushed toward the house, crying in a
voice broken with sobs and emotion,
Father! Fatherv
Gas river bursts through its dam,
sweeping all before it, the crowd
surged after him, breaking through
every obstacle. The police, taken by
surprise, fell away; but a young sub
inspector rode swiftly after Luke, and
getting in front, he wheeled around,
and rudely striking the young priest
across the breast with the broad fiat
Of his naked sword, he shouted:
"'Get back, sir! get back! We must
maintain law and order here!
"For moment Luke hesitated, his
habitual self restraint calculating all
the consequences. Then whirlwind
of Celtic rage, all the greater for hav-
ing been pent up SO long, swept away
every consideration Of prudence; and
with his strong hand tearing the weap.
on from the hands of the young Of.
ticer, he smashed into fragments
across HIS kneQa and f1uney thom h1nod