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338
THE IRISH PENNY JOUIINAL.
THE FOSTER BROTHER.
nv WILLIAM CARLETON.
THERE is scarcely a trait of human nature involved in more
mystery, or generall less understood, t an the singular
strength of affection which binds the humble peasant of Irish
life to his foster-brother, and more especially if the latter be
a person of rank or consideration. anomalous attach-
ment, though it may to a certain extent be mutual, is never-
theless very seldom known to be equal in strength between
the parties. Experience has sufficiently proved to us, that
whilst instances of equality in feeling have been known to
characterize it, the predominant power of its 5 mt has always
been found to exist In the person of the humb er party. How
to account for this would certainly require a. more philosophi-
cal acquaintance with human nature than has fallen to our
lot; we must therefore be content to know that the factis pre-
cisely as we have stated it. Irish history and tradition fur-
nish us with sufficient matcri s on w ich to ground clear
and distinct proofs that the attachment of habit and conti-
guity in these instances far transcends that of natural affection
itself. Itis very seldom that one brother will lav own his
life for another, and yet instances of such high an heroic sa-
crifices have occurred in the case of the foster-brother, whose
affection has thus not unfrequently triumphed over dcathitse1f'.
It is certainly impossible to imputo this wild but indomitable
attachment to the force of domestic feeling, because, whilst
we maintain that the domestic affections in Ireland are cer-
tainly stronger than those of any other country in the world,
still instances of this inexplicable devotion have occurred in the
persons of ose in whom the domestic ties were nown to
very feeble. It is true, there are man moral anomalies in the
u wit w ich we are as yet ut imperfectly acquain-
ted; and as the arise from some wayward and irregular com-
bination of its pulses, that operates inde endently of any
known principles of action, it is not ' e at. we shall ever
thoroughly understand them. here is another peculiarity in
Irish feeling, which, as it is analogous to this, we cannot ne-
glect to mcntionit. VVe allude to the Parislzeen, a term which
we must explain at further length to our readers. When the
Dublin Fouudling Hospital was in existence, the poor infants
whom an unhappy destiny consigned to that gloomy aud-wither-
ing institution were transmitted to different arts of the
country, to be nursed by the wives of the lower c asses of the
peasantry-such as day-labourers, cottiers, and small farmers,
who cultivated from three to six or eight acres of land. These
children were generally, indeed almost always, called Parish-
eens-aword which could be properly a lied only to such as,
havingnoknown arcnts, were supporte bythe arish in which
they happened to a born. It was transferred to t e Foundlin gs,
however; although, with the exce tion of the metropolis, which
certainly paid a parish tax for eir maintenance, they were
principally supported by a very moral act 0 Parliament,
whic ,. y t e wise provision of a large grant, held out a. very
liberal bounty to profligac . At all events, the opprobrious
epithet of Parisheen was t at usually fixed upon t em.
> ow, of all classes of our fellow-creatures, one might almost
naturally suppose that those deserte an forsaken beings
would be apt, consigned as they uniformly were to the care of
mcrcena stran ers, to experience neglect, ill-treatment, or
even crue ty itse f ; and yet, honour be to the generous hearts
and affectionate feelings of our humble people, it has een
proved, by the incontestible authority of a Commission ex-
pressly appointed to examine and re ort onthc working of
the very hospital in question, that the care, affection, and ten-
derness with which these ill-fated creatures were treated by
the nurses to whom they were given out, was equal, if not su-
ave been
wn, in innumerable instances, to clope from their masters
d mistresses, and return to their old abodes, preferring the
indulgence of their affection, with poverty and distress, to any
thin else that life could offer. 7 j
A 1 this, however, was very natural and reasonable, for we
know that even the domestic animal will love the hand that
feeds him. ' But that which we have alluded to as constituting
the strong analogy between it and the attachment of the fos-
tcr-brother, is the well-known fact, that the affection of the
children to the nurses, though strong and remarkable, was as
nothing when compared with thatpwhich the nurses felt for
them. This was proved by a force of testimony which no
scepticism could encounter. The parting scenes between them
were affecting, and in in ‘ '
E
E3
(12
:3
Q-
to the moral honesty, generosity, and exquisite kindness (If
heart which characterize our people, than the authentic facts
we have just mentioned. They fell naturally in our wav
when treating of the subject which preceded them, and we
could not, inyustice to circumstances so beautiful and striking,
much less injustice to the people themselves, pass them over in
silence. ,
YVo shall now relate a short story, illustrating the attach.
ment cf a foster-brother; but as we have reason to believe
that the circumstances are true, we shall introduce fictitious
names instead of real ones.
The rebellion of ninety-eight was just at its height when
the incidents we are about to mention tool: lace. A gentle-
man named Moore had a daughter remarka le forher beauty
and accomplishments. Indeed, so celebrated had she become,
that her health was alwa s drunk as the toast of her native
county. Many suitors s e had, of course, but among the
rest two were remarkable for their assiduous attentions to her,
and an intense anxiety to secure her affections. Henry Irwin
was a high loyalist, as was her own father, whose consent to
gain the affections of his dauvvhter had been long given to his
young friend. The other, who in point of fact had already
secured her affections, was unfortunately deeply involved in,
or we should rather say an open leader on, the insurgent si e
His principles had become known to Moore, as republican, for
some time before the breaking out of the insurrection; in con.
sequence he nan forbidden his house, and warned a ainst hold-
ing communication with any member of his family. e had suc-
ceeded, however, beforc this, by the aid ofliliss i loore herself,
who was aware of his principles, in placing as butler in her fa-
ther's family his OWXI foster-brother, Frank Finnegan-an ar-
rangement which never would have been permitted, had Moore
'nown of the p......‘.i..r bond of affection wh ch subsistecl between
them. Of this, however, he was ignorant ; and in admitting
Finnegan into his family, he was not aware of the advantages
he afforded to the proscribed suitor of his daughter. This
interdiction, however, came too late for the’ urposes of pru-
dence. Ere it was issued, Ilewson and his dlau
changed vows of mutual affection ; but the national outbreak
which immediately ensued, by forcing Ilewson to assume his
lace as an insurgent leader, appeared to have placed abarrier
etween him an er. which was naturally considered to be
insurmountable. In the meantime, Moore himself, who was a
local magistrate, and also a captain of. yeomanry, tool: an ex-
tremely active part in quelling the insurrection, and in hunting
down and securing the rebels. 4 Nor was Irwin less zealous in
followin the footste s of the man to whom he wished to re-
commcn himself as is future son-in-law. They acted toge-
her; a d so vigorous were the measures of the young loyal-
ist, that tho other felt it necessary in some instances to check
the exuberance of his lo alty. This,’ however, was not known
to the opposite party ; or as Irwin always seemed to act under
the instructions of his friend Moore, so was it obviously enough
inferred that every harsh act and wanton stretch of authority
which e committed, was either sanctioned or suggested by
the other. The consequence was, that Moore became, if pos-
sible, morc odious than Irwin, who was looked upon as a rash,
hot-headed zealot; whilst the veteran was marked as a cool
and wily old fox, who had ten times the cunning and cruelty
of the senseless uppet he was managing. In t is, it is unne-
t icy were crrrcgiously mistaken. "
o meantime the robe lion went forward, and many acts
of cruelty and atrocity were committed on both sides. ? Moore's
house and faniil would have been attacked, and most proba-
dy ruin might have visited himiand his, were it
not for the influence of Ilewson with the rebels. ' Twice did
the latter succeed, and on each occasion with rcat difficulty,
in preventing him and his household from falling victims to the
vengeance of the insur nts. ore was a man ofgrcat per-
sonal courage, but :1 t to underrate the character and enter-
prize of those who were opposed to him. Indeed, his prudence
was by no means on a par with his bravery or zeal, for he has
often
een known to sally out at the head of a party in quest
