I attend regularly at the Young Men's Society; and shall rejoin the classes in the winter. But the Temperance Society is almost broken up. The police made another raid on the place; seized the books, and took the names of some of the members; and though there were no prosecutions, yet most of the members got afraid, and did not come there any more. The cowardly lot! But the men of spirit are leaving the country, because the most peaceful organizations are wantonly suppressed by a tyrannical and unscrupulous Government. I am sending you an ounce of "twist," and a lock of poor mother's hair; and father and mother's photographs, taken together a short time after they were married. They want one of yours in exchange, to fill the vacant space in our album. We have no other photograph of any of the family, and have had no time to get any taken since your letter arrived. About your net, and fishing in the Avonbawn. As you know, netting is against the law; and fearing a capture and consequent prosecution, the "poachers" hid the net, and it was left rot. I had a few shots at it myself; but after I left, the netting stopped. The thought of Miss "Mac's" intended marriage is not a conger.ial subject with any of our family; and I am not much concerned as to the necessity of changing my "digs." But I need not tell you, when that untoward event occurs, Tim Leary would not be agreeable company for your brother Tim. The potatoes are blighted; the weather is so wet that the farmers cannot save the hay, and there is every prospect of a bad harvest. Mother is very grateful for your kind remittance, which she has lodged separately in the Savings Bank, and which she will send back to you, should you at any time require it. We all hope to hear from you soon again; and sincerely trust that you may soon be able to give a more hopeful account of your position and prospects in the New World. And now, with best love from all at home, and kindest wishes from all enquiring friends, I am, dear Felix, Your loving brother, TIM O'FLANAGAN." CHAPTER XVII. FELIX JOINS THE MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA. F "Let Erin remember the days of old, MOORE. ROM the earliest times, aye, long before the historian began to compile his records of the doings of nations and individuals, the Irish were remarkable for their skill in arms, and their bravery on the field of battle. And the names of Irishmen are honorably mentioned in the military records of several countries of Europe, as also in the long roll of military glory of the United States of America. Defeated in their own country, by fraud and chicanery on the part of the usurper, and, alas, too, through lack of unity amongst themselves, they have been compelled to seek refuge abroad. And though Irishmen may be found in almost every habitable part of the globe, yet in no country have they found more hospitable welcome than in the United States of America. And as has been said of some of the early English settlers in Ireland-"They became more Irish than the Irish themselves"-so also might it be said of the Irish in the States; they are, and always have been, thoroughly American, in spirit and in sympathy, and have always loyally and prominently identified themselves with the American laws and institutions. And from the time of the American War of Independence, in which thousands of the "Wild Irish" took an active and successful part, down to the present, Irishmen have been among the foremost of American patriots, soldiers, statesmen, and scholars. In war and peace, on the battlefield and in the Senate, they have helped to establish and perfect the Constitution of the United States of America. They have, by their brains and hands, contributed a people's share in building up and extending her cities, towns, and villages. They have aided in developing her resources, in arts, manufactures, and agriculture; and have also assisted, perhaps more than the emigrants from any other country, in making her railways. And though, from the necessity of circumstances, which may be attributed to the English-made illiteracy, and poverty, from from which large numbers of the Irish settlers in the States had suffered so much and so long at home in Ireland, the Irish have, in a large ratio, been the "hewers of wood and drawers of water" in their adopted country, America, yet their children, who were able to avail of the advantages of education in this free and happy land, became prominent, worthy, and successful citizens of the great American Republic. And if it came to pass that the United States-Columbia the Invincible -should once again find it necessary to defend her rights against the aggression of any foreign power or potentate, from what quarter soever, the sons and descendants of the brave old Clan-na-Gael would be there or thereabouts. And in the battle's din, the first and last shout that should pierce the timorous ear of the fast-retreating foe, would be the old Irish battle-cry of "Faugh a' ballagh !"* Imbued with the martial spirit of his ancestors, some of whom "took a pike for Old Ireland in the year '98," Felix promptly resolved to become a soldier of the United States; and joined the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, the first year he landed. Of course, the young Irishman had never had any opportunity of learning drill, or the use of firearms, at home in Ireland. His father had at one time, when Felix was a small boy, an old fowling-piece, that the old man used for shooting and scaring away crows, to keep these pests from eating up his seed-oats and young potatoes; but, as happened subsequently, in the case of his cottage and farm, Felix's father was deprived of that too, by the Royal Irish Constabulary, who seized the poor man's gun according to (British) law." And so, during the annual training of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, at Melrose, Mass., in the year *Clear the way. '73, the Irish youth was full of the excitement that usually accompanies "war's alarms.". He thought, on hearing the practice-firing, that the troops were engaged in actual warfare. His sergeant first made Felix a "powder monkey"-carrying the powder from the caisson to the gun-which initial part of the militia recruits' duty, would, no doubt inure the unaccustomed ears to the din of cannon and rifle firing, and at which Felix was kept for three days. After that he was put through the usual drill; and before his Company was disbanded, the recruit said he could shoot as straight and as well as an old soldier. 1 F CHAPTER XVIII. FELIX LEAVES MASSACHUSETTS. ELIX'S first working term in the States lasted only three months; as, owing to the financial panic of '73, Mr. Crutch was himself disemployed, and could no longer afford to keep Felix. The employer paid the hired man his first month's wages; and though unable to meet this obligation for the last two months, yet he gave Felix a watch-an extra one, that Mr. Crutch had lain by-to make up for the unpaid balance. His late employer, too, interested himself in Felix's behalf, and procured other employment for him in the neighbourhood. Felix's new employer, a Mr. Sloan, owned a farm of thirty acres, on which he kept four cows and two horses, and three other men, who did the usual farm work. But the new man's term here lasted only two weeks. On the second Sunday evening, while in his new employment, the new-comer visited at the house of an Irish family named Kenny. Adopting one of the traditional customs peculiar to the Irish peasantry in some of the remote rural districts of Ireland, the Kennys sold whiskey on the sly; and when the visitor was taking leave of his Irish friends, the good vanitee* presented her new acquaintance and countryman with "a drop o' the native" in a bottle; telling him to take it next morning, before driving his boss to the depot-Felix's duties in his new employment being similar to those of the last. Next morning he performed his usual work-milked the four cows, and fed and groomed the horses; ate breakfast, hitched the horse to the buggy, and drove round to the front door of the house, to take up his employer, and drive him to the depot. But before harnessing the horse, Felix drank the whiskey that he got from Mrs. Kenny, and which he had carefully concealed in the stable on the previous evening. Mr. Sloan sat in the buggy with Felix; and nothing more than a casual conversation occurred during the drive. But his * Mistress, or woman of the house. |