Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-11-08

crazy garret with four other men,
and in the joy of his heart the poor
fellow exhibited his handkerchief, with
his hard earned savings tied up in
hard wad in the middle, before he put
it under his pillow and fell asleep
When he awoke in the morning, he
found his treasure gone. Some vii
lain, more contemplate than most men
are, had robbed him.
At first Connor could not even be-
lieve it lost. He searched every cor
ner of the room, shook his quilt and
blankets, and begged those about him
to "quit joking and give it back"
But at last he realized the truth.
"Is any man that bad that it's
thaved from me p" he asked, in a
breathless way. "Boys, is any man
that bad ?" .#
And some one answered.
No doubt Off Connor. It's stole"
Then Connor put his head down on
his hands and lifted up his voice and
wept. 1t was one of those sights
which men never forget. 1t seemed
more than he could bear, to have No
ra and his child "put," as he express
ed it, months away from him again"
But when he went to work that day
it seemed to all who saw him that he
had picked up a new determination.
His hands were never idle. His lace
seemed to say, "I'll have Nora with
me yet. At noon he scratched out
a letter, blotted. and very strangely
scrawled, telling Nora what had hap
pened; and those who observed him,
noticed that he had no meat with his
dinner. Indeed, from that moment
he lived on bread, potatoes and cold
water and worked as few men ever
worked before. 1t grew to be the
talk ofthe shop, and now that sympa-
thy was excited, every one wanted to
help Connor. Jobs were thrown in
his way, kind words and friendly
wishes helped him nightly; but no
power could make him share the food
or drink of any other workman.
There seemed a sort of charity to
him. Still he was helped along. A
present from Mr.. Bawn, at pay day,
set Nora, as he said, "a week nearer, "
and this and the other added to the
little hoard. 1t grew faster than the
first, and Connor's burden was so
heavy. At last, before he hoped it, he
was once more able to say, I'm 60
ing to bring them over" and to show
his handkerchief, in which, as before,
he tied up his earnings; this time, how
ever, only to his friends. Cautious
among strangers, he hid his treasure,
and kept his vest buttoncd 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
even he who had coolly hurled his
hammer at an offenders head, missing
him by a hairs breadth, would spend
ten minutes i'll the noon hour in read
ing the Irish news to Connor. There
was Tom Baker, the meanest man
among the number, who had never
been known to give anything to any
one before, absolutely bartered an old
jacket for a pair of gilt vases which a
peddler brought in his basket to the
shop, and presented them to Connor
for his Nora mantlepiece. And here
was idle Dick, the apprentice, who
actually worked on Connor's work,
when illness kept the Irishman at
home one day. Connor felt this KIND
ness. and returned it whenever it was
in his power, and the days flew by
and brought at last letter from his
wife.
"She would start as he desired, and
she was we'll and so was the boy, and
might the Lord bring them safely to
each others arms and bless those
which had been so kind to him. >
That was the substance of the epistle
which Connor proudly assured his
fellow workmen Nora wrote herself
She had lived at service, as a girl, with
certain good old lady, who had Civ.
en- her an education, the items Of
which Connor told upon his fingers
"The radin', that's one, aud the writin'
that's three" and moreover, "she
knows all a woman can." Then he
looked up at his fellow workmen with
tears in his eyes, and asked:
.Do ye wondher the time seems
long between me an her boys ?"
So it was-Nora at the dawn of
day-Nora at noon-Nora at night
until the news came that the Stormy
, Petrol had come to port, and Con
nor, breathless and pale with excite
ment, flung his cap in the air anc
shouted.
1t happened on a holiday afternoon
,, and half a dozen men were ready tt
90 with Connor to the steamer ant
; give his wife a greeting. Her little
! home was ready; Mr.. Bawn's owl
servant had put it in order, and Con
; nor took one peep at it before h
!, started.
"She hadn't the like of that in th'
, ould counthry," he said, "but shell
know how to keep thin tidy"
, Then he led the way towards tn
dock where the steamer lay, at pac
. which made it hard for the rest to fol
q low him. The spot was reached a
|, last: a crowd of vehicles blockadet
o the streets; a troup OF emigrant
1klyr M