nly felt it as
a more forcible incentive to outrage. Darby's residence was now quite at
hand, and in a few minutes it was surrounded by such a multitude, both
of men and women, as no other occasion could ever bring together. The
people were, in fact, almost lost in their own garments; some were
without coats or waistcoats to protect them from the elements, having
been forced, poor wretches, to part with them for food; others had
nightcaps or handkerchiefs upon their heads instead of hats; a certain
proof that they were only in a state of convalescence from fever--the
women stood with dishevelled hair--some of them half naked, and others
leading their children about, or bearing them in their arms; altogether
they presented such an appearance as was enough to wring the benevolent
heart with compassion and. sorrow for their sufferings.

On arriving at Darby's house, they found it closed, but not deserted.
At first, Tom Dalton knocked, and desired the door to be opened, but the
women who were present, whether with shame or with honor to the sex, we
are at a loss to say, felt so eager on the occasion, probably for
the purpose of avenging Peggy Murtagh, that they lost not a moment
in shivering in the windows, and attacking the house with stones and
missiles of every description. In a few minutes the movement became so
general and simultaneous that the premises were a perfect wreck,
and nothing was to be seen but meal and flour, and food of every
description, either borne off by the hungry crowd, or scattered most
wickedly and wantonly through the streets, while, in the very midst of
the tumult, Tom Dalton was seen dragging poor Darby out by the throat,
and over to the centre of the street.

"Now," said he, "here I have you at last--ha, ha, ha!"--his voice,
by the way, as he spoke and laughed, had become fearfully deep and
hollow--"now, Peggy dear, didn't I swear it--by the broken heart
you died of, I said, an' I'll keep that sacred oath, darlin'." While
speaking, the thin fleshless face of the miser was becoming black--his
eyes were getting blood-shot, and, in a very short time, strangulation
must have closed his wretched existence, when a young and tall female
threw herself by a bound upon Dalton, whom she caught by the throat,
precisely as he himself had caught Darby. It was Sarah, who saw that there
was but little time to lose in order to save the wretch's life. Her grip
was so effectual, that Dalton was obliged to relax