Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-02-18
WHOLE NO. 80.

scz snes Nv nat do you think OF goin 10
California; Says she. Say the worl and
I'll sind ye there, and thin ye can take n
fair start. and yell see. if ye only strive
to do well. heaven will prosper ye.' We
came away from New Yprk. thin. and
lande,i in San Francisco We had ha-
cint outfit and little money. and we wero
to repay the good lady whin we conld.
and 'kape a good heart and always let her
know how we were doin' SO she told Us
at partin' from as. wild her blessin'; but
even that couldn't brig Us luck, for there
was no luck for u.s.
We were here but day or two when
Mike met some old friends, who were ka.
pin saloon, and nothin' would do but
he must go and lodge there. | was NJ.
overjoyed at 6ndin' Brxdy's-that was
their name. The sight of them seemed to
make Mickey dry. for maDy's the cool
spree they had at heme together; but Mikes
bad luck drove him to their house, and il
wasn't till goin' out to work wild Tim
Brady brought us to our last pinny, and I
was forced TO 60 out till q place meself,
LAWN littlesAlick at the Bradys, and q
poor place know it was for him. was
good worker anI could drive through
viii nay work, so got gool wages, and
Mike told me Tim Brady would give him
his board for helping him wild the bar till
he could do better. My heart was broken
at this, for knew it was Mikes luck to
be open to timptation, and | saw little
good could come to him whin he had
whisky at head and feet. Thiaks |, his
luck's in it, so | got daccnt woman to
take care Of little Alick, and worked on as
best could. When | could get time to
run ronnd to Brady's and see Mike. it was
weight on my heart to see the road he
was takin, drinkin' late and early, and
coming to no good; but l spint nothing
and worked hard, hopin' to have home
to take him to and kape him from bad
company. hadn't tine luck. We rec. to
do il; Alick was so sick that had no pace
workin' away from him, and tho lady
lived wild gave me lave to 60 to him for
week. and promised to kape me the place.
Well, wint, and the poor boy was bad
enough; it was sore throat he had, and L
nearly gave up all hope ov him; but he got
through wild it, and brought his life wild
/
little money-for you see l had left all L
made in the lady's hands, except what
Alick cost, and dollar or two to poor Mike
when, would ye think what my luck
was! Mike. the poor. unfortunate thafe.
had been before me. and got all wild sn or
der he had sint, and | can't write blessed
word but my own name, and that cross.
But Pm a very nate reader, and can spell
. equal to the priest. Well, he had gone.
his bad luck wint wild him, for eight
months afterwards workin' man comes
to the place l was livin' at, and sez he.
Are yeu Mrs Riley?. Il am sez /; and
as sed it felt cold shiver go through
nv heart, for | knew what was COMM
Well, he sets down, and out of the crown
of bis hat be takes letter AMI gives it to
me. lis from your husband scz he; Il
was wild him when he wrete it. Where
is he now,' sez |, holdin' it in my baud
and trimblin.' He shook his head. Sez
be. poor Mickey is at his rest.' | felt
wake and dizzy and my mind wander for
a moment or two; l could see Mickey
young boy on our milkin' green at home
in ould Ireland, and then / saw him lyin'
in the fayer in New York; it seemed as if
some one was drawin' pictures Of him. one
by one, before me in flashes, they were SO
quick and faded SO soon. till | looked up
and saw the strange man and felt the letter
in nv hand. l began to cry, and it was
great relief to me. l held the letter;
couldn't read writin' meself. but l knew
what was in it; for when the lady was
livin' wild read it to me, it was just So
He was dyin' man. he wrote, and would
l forgive him for bringin' me nothin' but
ill luck?. (God help him. it was his luck.
and he couldn't help it!) And he gave
, me his blessin', and said l had been
Igood wifeto him---too good for an un-
Il lucky crature. He was but young man
to die SO; but it was his luck to take my
earnin's and there was no luck in the
money, for he had drunk livery pinney Of
it. am willow woman going on four
years. said Mrs. Riley, rising, as Cathe-
rine appeared to say dinner was ready
L have my health and strength wonderful
ly. ! am paid well for my work. and my
boy Alck is receivin' the eddication OF a
gintleman at primary school; but it
breaks my heart to think in ali my life
wild poor Mickey Riley there was no luck
m