The Shasta courier., 1868-09-12
COURIER
CONNOR.


These words you may read any day upon
white slab in q cemetery not many miles
from New York but you might read them
hundred times without guessing at the little
tragedy which they indicate, without know
ing the humble romance which ended with
the placing of that stone above the dust of
one poor and humble man.
In his shabby freize Jacket and mud laden
brogans he was scarcely an attractive object
as he walked into Mr.. Bawn's great tin and
hardware shop, one day, and presented him
self at the counter with an
i've been tould We advertised for hands.
yer honor"
Fully supplied, my man," said Mr..
Bawn, not lifting his head from his account
book
I'D work faithful, sir, and take low wages.
till | could do better, and I'd learn steady-I
would that"
1t was an Irish brogue. and Mr.. Bawn. al
ways declared that he never would employ
an Incompetent hand. Yet the tone attracted
him. He turned briskly, and with his pen
behind his ear, addressed the man, who was
only one of the fifty who had answered his
advertisement for four workman that morn
ing.
" What makes you expect to learn faster
than other folks-are you any smarter ?''
I'll not say that" said the old man,
but I'd be wishing to; that I'D make it
asier"
g Are you used o work ?''
I've done bit of it,"
Much ?'
No, yer honor. I'll tell no lie. Tim
O'Toole hadn't the like of this place but
know bit about tins"
. You are too old for an apprentice, and
you d be in the way, | calculate said Mr.
Bawn, looking at the brawny arms and
bright eyes that promised strength and in
telligence. " Besides, know your country
men-lazy, good -for-nothing fellows who new
er do their best No, I've been taking Irish
hands before, and won't have another"
1.-The Virgin will have to be after bring
ing 'em over in her two arms thin," said the
man, despairingly, "I've tramped all day
for the last fortnight, and niver Job can 1
get; that's the last penny have, yer honor,
and it's but half one."
As he spoke he spread his palm open with
an English half penny upon it.
Bring who over?" asked Mr.. Bawn, ar
rested by the odd speech, as he turned upon
his heel, ana turned back again.
Jist Nora and Jamesey."
" Who are they ?"
" The vans me wife, the other me child"
said the man 80, masther, jist thry me-
How'll bring 'em over to me if no one will
give me job? l want to be airning. and
the whole big city seems against it, and me
with arms like Thin"
He barred bis arms to the shoulder as he
spoke, and Mr.. Bawn looked at them and
then at his face
I'll hire you for week." he said. "and
now as 1T noon, so down into the kitchen
and tell the girl to get you your dinner-a
hungry man can't work"
And with an Irish blessing. the new hand
obeyed, while Mr.. Bawn, untving his apron
went up stairs to his own meal.
Suspicious as be was of the new hands in
tegrlty and ability, he was agreeably disap-
Iolnted. Connor worked hard and actually
learned fast. At the end of the week he
was engaged permanently, and soon was the
best workman in the shop.
lie was great talker, but not fond of
drink or wasting money As his wages grew
he boarded every penny. and wore the same
shabby clothes in which he made his first
appearance. Beer costs money.u he said
one day, and livery cint spind puts me off
the bringing Nora and Jamesy over and as
for clothes, them have must do me-better
no coat to me back than no wife and how
by me tireside, and anyhow it's slow work
saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept at all the
same. Other men, thoughtless and full Of
fun. tried to make him drink-made a lest
of his saving habits, coaxed him to accom-.
pany them to places of amusements or To
share IN their Sunday frolics. All in vain.
Connor liked beer, liked fun, liked compan.
lonship; but be would not delay that long
looked-tor of Nora over, and was not "mane
enough" to accept favors of others. He kent
his way martyr to his great wish-living
on little, working at night on any extra lob
he could earn a few shillings by, running er-
rands In his noontide hours of rest, and talk
ing to any who would listen to his one great
nope, and of Nora and little Jamesy.
AT hrst the men. who prided themselves
on oeing all Americans, and on turning out
ene pest work In the city, made sort of butt
OF Connor, whose wild Irish" ways and
yeruancy were indeed often laughable. But
ne won their hearts at last, and when. one
uay, mounting workbench, he shook his lii
.ie oundie, wrapped it in red handkerchief.
peiofe thelr eyes and shouted" look. bovs.
l We got the whole at last; Pm going TO
nr,ng ,g Nora and Jamesy over at last =
/" horoo! I've got it ''-all felt a svmnatbv
IN his JOY, and each grasped his great hand
IN cordial congratulations. and he proposed
to treat all around and drink GOOD vavaoe
to Nora. sou 'oSase
They parted in a merry mood. most of tho
men going to comfortable homes. Rnt moor
Conner's resting place was poor lodging
house, where he shared crazy garret With
four other men, and in the joy Of his heart
the poor fellow exhibited his handkerchief,
with his hard-earaed savings tied up in a
hard wad in the middle. before he mt II mn.
der his pillow and fell asleep. When he
awakened in the morning he found his treas.
ure gone. Some villain, more contemptible
than most bad men are, had robbed him.
At first Connor could not believe it was lost.
He searched every corner of the room. shook
his quilt and blanket. and begged those about
him to ''quit joking and give it back.r
But at last he realized the truth.