North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-01-01
Patrick COAnOr.
"To THE MEMORY OF PATRICK CoNNoE,
This simple Stone erected by his Fellow
Wcrkmeu.

Patrick CohnOr.
To THE MEMORY OF PATRICK CoNNoE,
This simple Stone was erected by his Fellow
Wcrkmen.
These words you may read any day
on Il white slab in cemetry not many
miles from New York; but you might read
them thousand times without guessing
at the little tragedy they indicate, without
knowing the humble romance which end
ed with the placing of that stone above the
dust Of one poor and humble man.
In his shabby frieze jacket and mud-la-
den brogans he was scarcely an attractive
object as he walked into Mr.. Bawn's great
tin and hardware shop, one day, and pre-
sented himself at the counter with an,-
"fve 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 betther, an I'd learn
ready would that"
1t was an Irish brogne, and Mr.. Bawn
always declared that he never would en-
ploy an incompetent hand. Yet the man
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
workmen that morning.
"What makes you expect to learn fast
er than other folks-are you any smart
er ?''
'!I'll not say that" said the man, Shut
I'd be wishing to /; that 'ud make it aisi-
err
q Are you used to the work p
ssive done bit of it,
'.Much ?n
g No. yer honor. I'll tell you 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
teligence, Besides, know your country
men-lazy, good-for-nothing fellows who
never do their best No, I've been taken
in by Irish hands before, and won't have
another
"The Vargin'will have to be afther bring
ing 'em over in her too arums, thin," said
the man, desparingly, "for I've tramped
all day for the last fortni ght, and niver
IUD Cdil SCt, I'LL tuut tHC luSt pCuuy L
have, yer honor, an its but half one"
AS he spoke he spread his palm open with
an English half-penny upon it.
" Bring whom over ?' asked Mr.. Bawn,
arrested by the odd speech as he turned
upon his heel, and turned back again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy.'
Who are they p
:' The vans me wife, the other me child,
SIR" said the man. "Oh, masther, jist
thry me. How'll bring 'em over to me
if no one will give me job? l want to
be airning, an the whole big city seems
agin it, an me wild arums like thim."
He barred his arms to the shoulder as he
spoke, and Mr.. Bawn looked at them, and
then ut the face.
"I'll hire you for a week." he said "and
now as it's noon, go 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, untying
his apron, went up stairs to his own meal.
Suspicious as he was of the new hands
integrity and ability, he was agreeably
disappointed. Connor worked hard and
actually learned fast. At the end Of the
Nctk Hc Was CHSuSCu pClihoiChtys uuo
soon was the best workman in the shop.
He was great talker, but not fond of
drink or wasting his money. AS his wag-
es grew he boarded every penny, and wore
the same shabby clothes in which he had
made his first appearance. Beer costs
money!" he said one day, ''and livery cint
l spind puts aft the bringin' of Nora and
Jamesy over an as for the clothes, thin
| have must do me-better no coat to me
back thin no wife an boy at me fireside
anyhow, it's slow work saving.
1t was slow work, but he kept at it all
the same. Other men, thoughtiess and
full of fun, tried to make him drink. and
made Jest of his saving habits, coaxing
him to accompany them to places of anus
ment or to share in their Sunday frolics.-
All in vain. Connor liked beer, liked fun,
liked companionship but he would not
delay that long looked-for bringing OF No
ra over, and was not .'mane enough to ac
cept favors of Others" He kept his way, a
martyr to his one great wish-liying on
little working at nights on any extra job
he could earn few shillings by running
errands in his noon-tide hours Of rest, and
talking to any one who would listen of his
one great hope, and Of Nora and little
Jamesy.
AT first the men, who prided themselves
on being all Americans, and on turning
out the best work in the city, made sort
Of butt of Connor, whose "wild Irish
ways and verdancy were indeed often very
laughable. But he won their hearts at
last, and when, one day, mounting his
workbench, he shook his little bundle,
wrapped in red handkerchief, before
their eyes, and shouted, "Look, boys, I've
got the whole at last I'm going to bring
Nora and Jamesy over at last Whoroo
I've got it /" Ali felt sympathy in his JOY,
and each grasped his great hand in cordial
congratulations, and one proposed to treat
all round, and drink good voyage to
Nora.
They parted in a merry mood, most of
the men going to comfortable homes. But
poor Connor's resting place was o poor
- Il cIs OAA