The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-24

for a London newspaper. He tcrote
his NE story and called 10 "Thc
children Of the Dead End" II made
Juror IN London. u. =. Dutton &c
Co. tciI issue IL In America this
1ccek. By their permission some
extracts are here Diren.
by PATRICK MAGILL.
r DID not like school. My father
could neither read nor write, and
he didn't trouble much about my
education.
The priest told him to send me to the
village school, and 1 was sent accord
ingly.
The priest should know what is
best" my father said. The master was
little man with IA very large stomach.
He was short OF breath and II was
very funny to hear him putting on "A
very warm day, when the sweat ran
down his face and wetted his collar.
The people about thought that he was
very wise and said that he could talk
a lot of wisdom IL he were not so short
Of breath. Whenever he sat by the
school fire he fell asleep. Every one
said that though very wise the man
was very lazy. When he got to his
feet after sleep he went about the
school room grunting like sick COW.
For the first six months at school
] felt frightened of him, after that /
dislikod him. He beat me about three
times day. He cut hazel rods on
his way to school and used them every
five minutes when not asleep. Nearly
all the scholars cried whenever they
were beaten, but / never did. 1 think
this was one of his strongest reasons
FOR hating me more thin any of the
rest. l learned very slowly and never
could do my sums correctly, but l
liked to read the poems in the more
advanced books and could recite "Childe
Harolds Farewell" when only in the
ond standard.
When i was 10 years OF age I left
school. being then only in the third
book This was the way OF II. one
day, when pointing out places on the
map of the world, the master came
round. and the weather being hot the
man was in bad temper.
Point out Corsica, Dermod Flynn"
no said.
\ had not the least idea as to what
part of the world Corsica occupied.
aad | stood looking awlSwardly at the
master and the map in turn. I think
that he enjoyed my discounted ex-
preston. for he ga2ed at me in silence
Tor "A long while.
"Dermod Flynn, point out Corsica"
he repeated.
II don't know where 1t U.s." I an
swered sulleniy.
"J'll teach YOU" he roared getting
hold Of my ear and pulling 1t sharply.
The pain annoyed me: | got angry
and hardly was aware OF what l was
doing. l just saw his eyes glowing
into mine. / raised the pointer over
my head and struck him right across
the face. Then "a red streak ran down
the side of his nose and 1t frightened
me 10 SEQ It.
"Dermod Flynn has killed the mas
teri" cried a little girl whose name was
Norah Ryan and who belonged to the
same class as myself.
/ was almost certain that had MUIR
dercd him. for he dropped down on the
form by the wall without speaking a
word and placed both his hands over
bis face. For a wee bit I stood look
Ing at him. then ! caught up my cap
and rushed out of the school.
Next day, had 1t not been for the red
mark on his face, the master was az
we'll rs ever. But l never went back
TO school again. My father did not be-
l!eve much In book learning, so he sent
me OIL; to work for the ne!ghbors who
required help at the seejtime or har-
vest. Sixpcnce a Gay was my wages
and the work In the fields was more to
my liking than the work ct tho school,
Whenever l passed the scholars on
the road afterward they said to one
another: Just think Of 1t! Dermod
Flynn struck the master across the face
when he was at the school"
l was nearly IL years old when Dan,
my youngest brother. died. II was In
the middle OF winter and he was build
Ing a snow man in front of the half
door when he suddenly complained of a
pain in his throat. Mother put him to
bed and gave him a drink OF hot milk
She did not send for the doctor because
there vas no money in the house to pay
the bill. Dan lay in bed all the evening
and many of the neighbors came in to
see him. Toward midnight ! was sent
TO bed, but before going / heard my
father ask mother IL she thought that
Dan would live till morning. I could not
sleep. but kept turning over in the bed
and praying to the Blessed Virgin to
save my little brother. The new moon,
sharp rs a ecythe, was peeping through
tho window Of ny room when my
mother came to my bed and told me to
rise and kiss Dan for the last time.
She turned her face away as she spoke
and ! knew that she was weeping My
brother was lying on the bed gazing up
at the ceiling with wide staring eyes.
a crimson flush was or his face and his
breath panied him. l bent down and
pressed his cheek. ] was afraid and
the kiss made my lips burn like fire.
/, The three OF US then stood together and
my father shook the holy water all over
the room. All Mt once Dan sat up in
the bed and gripped a tight hold of the
blankets. ! wanted to run out of the
room, but my mother would not let me.
"Are we wantin' anything?" asked my
father, bending over the bed, but there
was no answer. My brother fell back on
the bed md his face got very white.
Poor Dan Is no more" said my
father, the tears coming out OF his
eyes. Twas the first time I ever saw
him weeping, and 1 thought 1t very
strange. My mother went to the win
dow and opened it I'm order TO let the
soul of my brother go away TO heaven
"1t is all in the hands of God" she
said. "He is only taking back what