A HARD CASE,

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 10 July 1885, Page 9

A HARD CASE.

lir a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Tipperary Board of -Guardians, and xead at a recent meeting of that boar, Father O'Donnell, CO., gives a graphic and thrilling narrative of a scene at tae eviction of Mrs. Mary Ryan and hex family from a farm in ♦ Carrigbeg, county Limerick, on the estate of Major Hare, formerly of Aldershot. The rev. gentleman bad been summoned to attend at the bedside of Mrs. Ryan, in the discharge of his clerical functions. She is about ninety years of age, and an invalid. When Father • O'Donnell reached the place the bailiffs were there, with a number i of policemen and the representative of ths agent, and the work of eviction was proceeding. The rev. gentleman says — " I found the poor old invalid lying on her bed, a perfect Skeleton, extremely weak, and suffering, she alleged, from the effects of a fall. On the hearth there was scarcely as much fire as would light the candle which I required in the discharge of my priestly functions. I administered the Sacrament of the Dying to the poor , patient, and gave her such consolation as I felt capable. My administrations were constantly interrupted by the crash of the falling timber in all directions." At last it came to the removal of the poor old woman herself, and after some little paltering, and despite the strongest protest of the rev. gentlemen, the bed coutaiaing the nonagenarian was deposited outside the door, in the yard. Father O'Donnell concludes — "It was extremely distressing. The poor creature, with a look of t inexpressible anguish, and with tears falling from her eyes, put out her wasted hand to cover her head from the biting north-east wind, blowing at the time. The little children flocked round their grandmother's bed, bewildered and crying loudly. Alas 1 it was truly ■pitiable. It was a scene I shall never forget, and I trust in God the like of which I shall never again witness. Those evicted are .apparently without any visible means of subsistence, and must apply to your Board for assistance. lam csnfident your board will v extend to them the fullest justice which, in their case, the law allows." We are happy to say that the Board responded by allowing Daniel Ryan (son of the old woman), his wife and ten children £2 , per week for a month, and the old creature herself 15s per week for a month. A relieving-officer said the old worn in is located in a aeighbonr's house, and has good nourishment and the attendance of -a nurse. — Dublin Freeman.