The Cross and the Shamrock | Page 7

tears; but we think the condition of the
orphan, deprived of both parents, and thrown for support or existence
on a strange and selfish world, the most desolate of all. A policeman
was the first who was attracted to the house of mourning by the wailing
and cries of those whom this night saw alone and desolate. Mrs.
Doherty, attended by an Irish servant maid from a neighboring house,
were the next visitors; and, after piously kneeling around the corpse to
offer their fervent prayers for the soul, they prepared to "lay out" the

body. This consists, as all are probably aware, of washing the corpse,
clothing it in clean linen, extending it on a table or bed, and putting up
such temporary fixtures as would deprive the room in which it lies of
the gloom and repulsiveness attendant on such an event. After
arranging all things so that she looked "a decent corpse," with the
religious habit around her, Mrs. Doherty hung up the crucifix, pinned
to a white linen sheet at the head of where she lay, placed her "Ursuline
Manual" on her breast, and her beads on her arms, crossed on the body.
"She was a handsome, fine woman, in her day, God bless her," said
Mrs. Doherty.
"Yes, any body can tell that," answered Norry. "I wonder how they
came here at all."
"I know it well," answered old Peggy Doherty. "She telled me all about
it afore she took bad entirely. Her man was well off, and had a brother
next to the bishop in the church, in the county of C----. When landlords
began to root out the people from their homes, the brother of Mr.
O'Clery, her husband, wrote letters in the newspapers about the cruelty
of the landlord, who was called 'Lord Mandemon;' and on that account,
and because the priest took part with the poor,--as they always do, God
bless 'em!--the landlord came down on Mr. O'Clery, sold out his sixty
milch cows, after being twenty-one days in pound; and though the cows
were worth ten pounds each, Lord Mandemon's agent sold them by
auction, and he bought them back himself for two pounds each; and so
the poor family was ruined. After that, O'Clery sold out another farm he
had; and, collecting all that was due to him, he came to America,
against the advice of the priest, his brother. He thought, he said, to live
with his family in 'a free country,' where there were no landlords or
tyrants, and, while he had some means, to buy a farm which he could
call his own. But he took the cholera when within sight of land, and he
only lived a few days. God rest his soul, and the souls of all the faithful
departed. And God help those poor orphans," she said, piously, looking
to where the little group, wearied from grief and crying, lay asleep on a
straw bed.
"I do really pity the poor creatures," said Norry. "I suppose they will

have to go to the poorhouse."
"I hope not; God forbid, asthore, the poorhouse is such a dangerous
place for Catholics. I heard the priest say he would call to-morrow; and
may be he will do for the little dears."
"'Tis hard for him to provide for all that are in distress," said Norry.
"I know it; but it would be a murther to let such well-reared and decent
children into the hands of those poormasters, but especially that Van
Stingey, whose great delight is, they say, to convart the children of
Catholics to his own sect. See what he done to the little Cronin children,
whose father and mother died lately."
"I heard of that; but I am afraid the priest won't be able to call on
to-morrow, as he promised, if it continue to snow so."
"O yea, God forbid; but it is a terrible night. Do ye hear how it blows?
_O Heirna Dioa._"
"Yes, and the snow is falling in mountains; the roads will be blocked up,
and hills and hollows will be on a level in the morning."
"God help every poor Christian that is out to-night," said Mrs. Doherty.
"I hope the Lord will save his reverence from all harm."
"Amen!" answered Norry. "He will have a hard night of it. Had he far
to go?"
"He had, agra, forty miles out in Vermont; but sure he could not refuse
going. The woman is just dying; and besides, she is a Protestant, who
wants to die in the faith."
"Happy for her," said Norry, "if he overtakes her alive. How good the
priests are to these Yankees, although they are always ridiculing the
clergy; yet, if one of them is going to die, the priest not only forgives
them, but is willing