Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-06

Riding the other day in a stage coach. sill
alone with an Irish gentleman. we became
quite sociable, and he gave me this account of
| his life:
When twenty years of age, L was at school,
| learning surveying and navigation. "And do
| you mean to travel?'' said the master "What
| think You Of America said 1 ; for we were
then in Dungannon, county Tyrone. ireland.
| "America," repeated he; "AmsricsS grow
| ing country--go, John, and behave yourself as
| becomes a true Iri.hman, and You may eat
white bread in your old age
At q little more than twenty one, L sailed
from Cork, in the good ship Queen Dido, and
landed III fifty seven days at Newcastle. 1
| hied me up the city in a trice, and wandered
| through the streets stranger, for a day or
| two, when on the third, who should | happen
| to meet but Ned McCloskey, an old townsman
"Hal!o!' said he, 90 if there isn't our old
| friend, John Varnsm! When did you come
| In what ship, honey? How were all at home
Why, your cheeks look red as a potato,
man. You'll grow white in this country, boy
but Cunning on without waiting fer an an
swer,l what's your motto?"
| that?"
"a short bit of sentence to direct you in
| life. You'll have to take one. See" contin-
| ued he, touching flask which he carried, and
pointing to buxom locking husband that was
just passing, 80 short life and Il merry one
is my motto. Good bye. John, Pll see you
| again ;" and away he few, half-seas OF er,
| bound for snort life, methought, whether for
merry or sad one was matter Of doubt.
Going up Chestnut street, thinks /, Does
| every one take motto ON setting out in life
What shall choose A motto Let me see
when, upon an inner door | saw, in large let
ters-P Ii I" That shall be my motto"
| said l aud on the impulse of the moment my
rivhS ha, a. H.
threshold / found myself in the middle OF al
| Office of some sort. After pausing a mament,
| genteel man stepped up aad inquired my
| business. "TO tell the honest truth" said /,
" none special with any mortal man in par
| ticular, but am an Irish lad, perfect stran-
ger, just come to America to seek my fortune"
"Have you money!" said the gentleman
Notaing but five guineas, the gift Of my
angel mother" said /, common learning,
Irish honor, and grateful heart to any one
| that will put me in way TO be useful
Why" said the man, smiling, g like
your frankness, and really will venture to
| trust something to that face. You can write
very well-then copy that paper"
did so, and found myself in a snug berth,
with plenty TO do for an industrious man,
plenty to eat and drink for q temperate man,
and satisfactory compensation for reason
able man
My employer was q scrivener, and some
times dealt in the purchase Of real estate, on
speculation Hearing him celebrating one
day, doubtfully, about purchase, "Push,"
whispered my good genius.
=" It will not fail, SIR" said l, d" and if l
might be permitted, L would gladly take half
the bargain
"0n your luck and judgment, JOHN sad
my employer
We bought the property, aided by loan,
and in ninety days realized thousand pounds.
L was two and twenty; the bloom of my cheek
had the freshness of youth and health-a Pit
Or two of the small pOx did not mar my good
loOks-my hair twisted about my forehead In
clusters Of curls, which, though | seemed
careless about them, were matters Of n little
vanity, and did not like TO part with them
my skin, under my sleeves as white as
snow, aud except that was little bow kneed,
Il had that from my grandfather, Sir Pho.
lim,) you would not find prOperer person
in a summers day.
Did you ever know an IrishInan that had
not warm heart TO the ladies?
"Not often" said l.
My good fortune, continued he, in several
bargains began to be rumOred around, and as
L went constantly 10 church with my master
| several damsels looked kindly on me; one
more especially, the daughter of a wealthy
merchant over the way and her brow, 1t
| seemed to me relaxed from the pruddsh Sc
verify of an heiresS when her eyes met mine |
| PHSh," said my good genius "And bless
lngs on you, my sweet damsel, said 1, half
whispering, as l took an opportunity TO pass
| by her side half square ON her way home
from meeting one afternoon And church
| Is doubly pleasant when you and the like OF
you attend morning and evening No offence |
in saying so, hope, charming lady " Me, !
sir ~ replied she, but not uninvitingy or very
| angrily. "PuSh,' said my good genius. for |
my heart faltered d little. "WhO else but |
your bOnny self, miss continued /, +" for the. |
speaking eye and tell-tale lip say that it is |
your mothers daug ghter who has kind heart !
and gentle afection-and"- "Fie, Mr. !
Varnham," said she-for it seems she knew |
my name-"1'm sorry if there's anything il |
my countenapce so communicative as to war
rant gentleman, who is almost a stranger to |
address lac in such manner and such a place,
No young woman should listen to that sort of |
address, certainly without a mother leave" |
And metho't that she half fingered, instead of |
qulckenlng her pace, to hear if had any
thing to reply. "Push," said my good ge- |
MUS. "In Ireland, dearest" said I, sour |
fathers often make love going home from |
church, and if you would give me leave to |
ask your mothers appreciation here 1 STAN
mered, in spite of my motto go, as to that
said the smiling girl, you may say anything
to mother you please ="
That same evening, returning from bathing |
4
try-a sudden hustle and cry of distress ar
rested my attention at that hour, in an unf.e
quented place. The cry of fellow man in
trouble Is always, you know, a command to a |
true Irishman to Z" PUSH - My cane was my
shellalah one villain reeled in an instant
with broken head, and the other, though
twice my size. sunk beneath an arm that was
nerved by humanity and duty. Assistance
soon gathered, and on placing my prisoners in
tae hands of an officer, who should lie wound
cd and bleeding before me but the honored
father of -!
"Hah your sweetheart-th pretty dam
sci you had hall cou1ted coming from meet
ing?"
The very same l took him home, when he
introduced ne as the savior of his life from
robbers and murderers In less time than a |
ship could sail to Cork aud home again was
junior partner in a wholesale store, and the
lOveIiest girl that has lived for thousand
years blessed Inc with her heart and hand.
Thank God, have been prosperous in nv
basket and my store Our children are a
l. Ilacof 10 r IL Il