Year: 1877

Ireland there lived a very poor Wlo-
ow, whose sole inheritance from her
husband were two healthy children,
girls, Of the respective ages of three
and five. Painfully and by the Ut
most effort she had contrived TO pass
two years of her sorrowful widow
hood. Bad and scanty food, obtained
only by labor too great for her deli
cate frame, had at last thrown her
upon her sick bed, and death, in pity,
removed her In few days and with
out great suffering, from her earthly
troubles. The poverty of the whole
parish was so great that nothing could
be doHe for the poor orphans.


IF the children could only be got to
Kilburn'-a village some miles dis
'tant-said one of the neighbors. after
the poor mother had been buried, a
o brother of their father lives there, and
he could not possibly refuse to take
csre.of them


SO carrier, who was going near to
KilbuFn, as an act Of charity, took the
two girls-Lizzie was seven now, and
Mary five-in his cart with him. To-
ward noon they reached the spot
where the cart would turn off. The
man lifted them out, showed them
the road. and bid them go straight
forward.


Il am so hungry sobbed Mary
I'VE have had nothing to eat all day
And again they both began to cry;
for Lizzie was equally hungry.


The children were very weak, and
could only drag themselves slowly
along. Hand In hand they tottered
on. At last Lizzie saw house. With
hesitstiDg steps they entered the yard
for they had never begged before, In
spite oftheir former misery. But at
this moment they could think of no
thing else than their terrible hunger.
The children. terrified, stood still at
the door until an angry voice ceased.
Then Lizzie opened the door and both
children entered. The farmer sat IN
an armchair by the fire.


We'll, what do you want?' he
harshly asked the children who were
too frightened to utter a word and to
tell their errand. Can't you speak p
he asked, more roughly.


Lizzie at last took courage, and said
gently:


oh, II you would be 60 good as to
give us the least bit to eat-a small
pieoe of bread or few. potatoes


Il thought So shouted the farmer;
Il was sure you were nothing but beg
gsrs, although you do not seem to be-
long to this neighborhood. We have
plenty of those here, and we do not
want them to come from other parts
We have not bread for ourselves in
these hard times. You will get moth
ing here. Be off, this momentr


The children, both dreadfully
frightened. began to cry bitterly.


we have not eaten a morsel the
whole day. pleaded Lizzie. we are
so tired that we cannot move a step.
If you would give us the least bit to
eat, we are 80 hungry


Il have told you would not. Beg
.gars get nothing here


The farmer got up with threaten
ing look. Lizzie quickly opened he
door and drew her sister with her,
The children again stood In the barn
yard. but knew not what to do. Sud-
denly little Mary drew her hand from
her sisters clasp and went to the 9TH
er side of the yard ; there was fierce
dog chained, his dinner stood before |
him In a wooden basin. Mary put |
her hand In the basin and began to |
eat with the dog. Lizzie went nearer
and saw that in the basin there was
some liquor in which few pieces
of bread and some boiled potatoes
were floating. She, likewise. could |
not resist; she had but one feeling
that Of the most gnawing hunger she
took some of the bread and potatoes,
and eat them greedily.


The dog, not accustomed to such
guests, looked at the children; he
drew back, then sat down and left |
them his dinner, of which he had
eaten but very little. At this mom-
ent the farmer stepped into the yard
he wished to see IL the children had
really left, and when he saw this sim
gular scence he was amazed. The dog
was noted for his fierceness, and fear
ed alike by old and young. He was
obliged to be constantly chained, and
no one dared to come near him except
bis master. Even the servant put his
food Before him in the most cautious
manner. In the first moment the
man thought of nothing but the fear
ful danger in which the children
were, and walking quickly toward
them, exclaimed:


Don't you see the dog? He will
tear you TO pieces"


But suddenly he stopped as If root
ed to the ground; the dog had got up
again and gone near the children
then he looked at his master and wag-
ged his taiI. Is seemed as IL he wish
ed to say:


Don't drive my guests away"


At that sight great change came
over the man the spectacle before
him acted like an electric shock, and
feelings such as be never had before
seemed to stir within him.


The children had risen, terrified st
the call of the man, and. fearful OF
punishment for having eaten. came
with downcast eyes. At last, after
several minutes silence. the farmer
said: J.