Part 2 (1/2)
The shriek of the famine-stricken mother and the helpless infant, as well as the centuries of eance God is slow, but just! The blood of Tone, Fitzgerald, Eood has it done the tyrant and the robber? None Smith O'Brien, McManus, and Mitchel suffered for Ireland, yet not their sufferings, nor those of O'Donovan (Bossa) and his companions, deterred Burke, McAfferty, and their friends fros oftheir part in the inevitable struggle, but rather nerve their arth, but I hope that I have written enough to show you that if a man dies for liberty, his ood and virtuous You will also see that there is no necessity forabout me When I leave this world it will be (with God's help) to go to a better, to join the angels and saints of God, and sing His praises for all eternity I leave a world of suffering for one of eternal joy and happiness I have been to Holy Coain I aood priest is not allowed to say it in this prison
Give my love to my father and mother, to Mary, Ellen, John Phillips, Tim, Catherine, uncles, aunts, and cousins
Farewell
From your affectionate brother,
MICHAEL O'BRIEN (_alias_ Willia is one of Allen's letters to his relatives, written the day before his execution:--
Salford, New Bailey Prison, Nov 23rd, 1867
TO YOU, MY LOVING AND SINCERE DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT HOGAN,
I suppose this is rave Oh, dear uncle and aunt, if you reflect on it, it is nothing I a for the land that gavefor liberty Every generation of our countrymen has suffered; and where is the Irish heart could stand by unmoved? I should like to knohat trouble, what passion, what mischief could separate the true Irish heart from its own native isle Dear uncle and aunt, it is sad to be parting you all, at e; but we must all die some day or another A few hours lish soil Oh, that I could be buried in Ireland! What a happiness it would be to all my friends, and to rave I cannot express what joy it afforded me, when I found Aunt Sarah and you were admitted Dear uncle, I am sure it was not a very pleasant place I had to receive you and my aunt; but we must put up with all trials until we depart this life I arieve you very much to leave me in such a place, on the evidence of such characters as the witnesses were that swore ive the, thank God! an Irishman and a Christian
Give my love to all friends; same from your ever affectionate nephew,
WP ALLEN
Pray for us Good bye, and remember me Good bye, andnephew,
WP ALLEN
Larkin was the only one of the condemned four as ed parents, a devoted wife and three little children--all young; and it redounds rather to his honour, that though flinching in nowise, lacking nought in courageous fir around his heart With hiuish indeed to part for ever the faithful wife and the little ones who used to nestle in his boso round his neck--neverinto his own--never more to part the flaxen curls over each unfurrowed brow! Henceforth they would look for his co and hearken for his footfall in vain! They would call upon him, and be answered only by the convulsive sobs of their ed mother And ould now fill his place for therave, these cherished little ones, for whom he would draw the life-blood froe in squalid ht approached Larkin's heart, it was at once repelled assuredly, he had enerosity of his race--than to believe they would suffer one of those orphans to want loving, helping, guiding hands As he hi the them to Ireland and to God
And the Father of the Fatherless, even on the instant, raised up a friend for theive poor Larkin, even on the brink of the grave, assurance that no pang of poverty should ever wound those little ones thus awfully bereaved One day the confessorin his hand a letter It was froer Marchioness of Queensbury, to the condeaol, and ran as follows:--
MY DEAR FRIENDS--
It may be that those few linesdeparture froer some help for your wife, or wives, and children, in their approaching irreparable loss, and with the assurance that so long as I live they shall be cared for to the utmost of my power
Mr M'Donnell, the bearer of this forme their address, and the address of the priest who attends you
It will also be a comfort for your precious souls, to know that we remember you here at the altar of God where the daily relorious sacrifice on Calvary, for you all, is not neglected
We have daily Mass for you here; and if it be so that it please the good God to per, the precious body and blood of our Lord and Saviour and our Friend will be presented for you before God, at eight o'clock, on that day--that blood so precious, that cleanses frohts be Jesus Rest on Hi and all-powerful to save Rest on Him, and on His sacrifice on that Cross for you, instead of you, and hear Him say, ”_To-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise_” Yet e remember your souls constantly at the altar of God, after your departure, as well as those whom you leave in life
Farewell! and ive you His last blessing upon earth, and an eternal continuance of it in heaven
CAROLINE QUEENSBURY
This letter enclosed 100 On hearing it read, poor Larkin burst into tears; the other prisoners also were deeply affected Surely, never was act more noble! Never oman's sex more exalted--never olorious act of bravery, tenderness, and generosity
Two days before the fatal 23rd, the calnation which the condemned by this time enjoyed was once overn hope, if not, indeed, the strong conviction, that after all, even though it should be at the foot of the gallows, they would one and all be reprieved _Another man of the five included in the vitiated verdict was reprieved_--Shore was to have his sentence commuted
This second reprieve was the most refined and subtle torture to men who had thening gracs, had already become, as it were, dead to the world It rendered the execution of the reuire notoriously was innocent even of complicity in the rescue--the verdict of the sworn jury, concurred in by the ”learned judge,” to the contrary notwithstanding But _Shore_ was _avowedly a full participator in the rescue_ He was no uilty than Allen, Larkin, O'Brien In the dock he proudly gloried in the fact What wonder if the hapless three, as yet unrespited, found the wild hope of life surging irresistibly through heart and brain!