The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-12-06

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At first Connor could not believe It wa'
lost. Hc searched every corner OF the
room, shook his quilt and blankets, and
begged those about him TO ''quit joking and
give il back.
At last he realized tho truth.
"ls any man that bad that it's ,l'aved
from moi he asked, In brcathless way
"Boys, Is any man that bad ~
i And some answered.
"No doubt of 1t, Conner It's shtolc.'
Then Connor put his head down on hls
hands and lifted up his voice md wept., II
was Que of those sights which men never
forget. It seemed moro than he could
bear. TO have Nora and his child "put'' as
he expressed il, "mon,hs away from him
again.
Fut when he went to work that day it
seemed to all who saw him that he picked
IN new determination. His hunds were
never idle. His faco seemed to say, III
have Nora with mo yet. At noon nc
scratched out letter, blotted and very
strangely scrawled, telling Nora what had
happened; and those who observed him.
noticed that he had no meat with his din.
ncr. Indeed from that moment he lived on
bread, potatoes and cold water, and worked
M few men ever worked before. II grew
TO be the talk Of the shop, aud now That
sympathy was excited, every one wanted to
beIp Connor.i Jobs were thrown In his
way, kind words and friendly wishes help
cd him nightly but no power could make
him share the food or drink Of nny other
workman.
That seemed sort Of charity to him.
Still he was helped along. A prcscn, from
Mr.. Bawn. ut pay day, set Nora, rs he sad,
"a week nearer" and this, that and The
other added to the little hoard. 1t grew
faster than the frsr. and Connor's burden
was not SO heavy. At last, before he
hoped, he was once more able to say, am
going to bring them over" and to show
his handkerchief, in which, as before, no
tied up his earnings; this time, however,
only 10 his friends. Cautious among
strangers, he hid tho treasure, and kept his
vest bu,toncd over it night and day until
the tickets were bought. and sent Then
every man, woman and child, capable OF
hearing or understanding, knew that Nora
and her baby were coming.
There was John Jones, who had more OF
the brute in his composition than usually
falls TO the lot Of man--oven he who l'nd
coolly hurled his hammer ut an offenders
head, missing him by hairs breadth,
would spend ten minutes In the noon hour
| in reading the Irish news to Common. There
was Tom Barker. the meanest man among
the number, who had never been known
to give anything to any one before, abso.
lu,ely bartered an old jacket for pair of
gil, vases which pcddler brought IN his
basket to the shop, aud presented them to
. Connor for his Nora's mantelpicce. And
there was idle Dick, the apprentice, who
actually kept the lrishman at home one day.
Connor felt this kindness, and returned 1t
whenever Il was in his power, and the days
flew by and brought at last letter from his
wife.
"Shc should start rs he desired, and she
was well and so was the boy, and might
the Lord bring them safely to each others
arms, and bless those who had been SO kind
to him." This was the substance of the
epis,le which Connor proudly assured his
fellow.workmen that Nora wrote herself.
She had lived at service, as u girl, with u
certain good old lady, who had given her
an education, the items Of which Connor
told upon his fingers. "Tho radin', that's
one, and tho wri,in', that's three, and
moreover, she knows nll woman cnn."
Then he looked up a, his fellow workmen
with tears in his eyes, and asked
"Do yo wondl,cr the time seems long be-
tween me an her, boys'"
So it was, Nora ut the dawn of day. No.
ra Mt night, until the news came that the
Stormy Petrcl had come to port, and Con
nor, breathless and pale with excitement,
flung his cap in the air and shouted.
!, happened on holiday afternoon, aud
half dozen men were ready to 30 with
Connor to tho steamer and give his wife a
greeting. Her little home was ready; MIR.
Bawn's own servant had put il in order,
and Connor took one peep at 1t before he
started.
"She hadn't the like o. that in the onld
co,,nthry," he said. '.But she'll know how
to kape thin tidy"
Then he lcd the way towards tho dock
where the steamer lay, at q pace which
made il hard for the rest TO follow him.
The spot was reached ut last; a crowd OF
vehicles blocka,lcd the street; q troop OF
clnigran,s came thronging up; fine cabin
passengers were stepping into cabs, and
drivers. portcrs, and all manner Of employ
ees were yelling and shouting in the usual
manner. Nora would wait on hoard for
her hlsl,and-he knew that.
The lille group made their way into the
vessel at last, and there, amidst those who
sat watching for coming friends, Connor
searched for tue two so dear to him pa.
,iently a, first, eagerly but patiently but
by .and.by growing anxious aud excited.
"Shc would niver 80 alonc," he Said.
''ShcI bc lost in,hirrly; bads her whit.
bu, don sec her, boys; think she's mo-,
in it,"
II -..l.- T. ,I