Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-05-21
The Stnrp.Tener.
NORA AND JAMESY
A TOUCHING STORY.

These words you may read any day upon whit
slab in cemetery not many miles from New York
but you might read them hundred times withou
guessing at the little tragedy they Indicate withou
knowing the humble romance which ended witt
the placing of that stone above the dust Of on
poor and humble man.
In his shabby frieze jacket and mud-laden bro
gans, he was scarcely an attractive object as b
walked into Mr.. Bawn's great tin and hardWar
shop, one day and presented himself at the coun
GIVE been towld ye advertised for hands, ye
honor"
s'Fully supplied, my man, said Mr.. Bawn, no
lifting his head from his account book.
'Id work faithful, sir, and take low wages till
could do betther, and I'd Learnt would that"
It was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Bawn alway
declared that he never would employ an incompe
tent 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 has
answered his advertisement for four workmen tha
morning
'What makes you expect to learn faster thar
other folks-are you any smarterF
'I'n not say that" said the man, but Id bt
wishing to and that nd make it easler."
"Are you used to the work?'
GIVE done bit of it ...
sMuch?'' o,u
"No. yer honor. III tell no lie. Tim O'Toole
hadn't the like of this place but l know bit a
bout tins"
be in the way, fear," said MIR. Bawn, looking al
the brawny arms and bright eyes that promised
strength and intelligence. Besides, know your
countrymen-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"
sThe Virgin will have to be afther bringing them
over in her two arms then, said the man despair.
ingly, 'for I've tramped all day for the last fort
night, and niver job can get, and that's the
last penny I have, yer honor, and its but hall
one"
As he spoke he spread his palm open with hall
penny upon it.
s'Bring whom over?" asked Mr.. Bawn, arrest
ed by the odd speech as he turned upon his heel,
and turned back again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy."
."Who are they?'
1.-The vans my wife, the other my chile" said
the man. "Oi masther, jist thry me. How'll |
bring them over to me if no one will give me ajobt
want to be airning, and the whole big city
seems against it, and me with arms like thin"
He barred his arms to the shoulder as he spoke,
and Mr.. Bawn looked at them, and then at his
face.
''TIl hire you forthe next week" he said, 'and
now as it's noon, go down into the kitchen and tel
the girl to get you your dinner-a hungry man
can't work
And with an Irish blessing, the new hand obey
ed, while Mr. Bawn, untying his apron, went up
stairs to get his own meal.
Suspicious as he was of the new hands integri'
ty and ability, he was agreeably disappointed. Con,
nor worked hard and actually learned fast. At the
end of the week he was the best workman in the
shop.
He was great talker, but not fond Of drink OF
wasting money. As his wages grew he boarded
every penny, and wore the same shabby clothes IN
which he had made his first appearance.
'sBeer costs money" he said one day, "and i've,
ry cint spind puts off the bringing of Nora and
Jamesy over; and as for clothes, them l have
must do me-better no coat to me back than nc
wife and boy by my ireside; anyhow it's slow
work saving"
II was slow work, but he kept at it all the same.
Other men, thoughtless and full Of fun, tried to
make him drink-made a jest of his saving habits,
coaxed him to accompany them to places Of amuse,
ment, or to share their Sunday foics. All in vain.
Connor liked beer, liked fun, liked companionship
but he would not delay the long-looked-for bring
ing Nora over and was not ''mane enough to
accept favors of others. He kept his way, mar
tyr to one great wish-iving on little, working al
night, on any extra job by which he could earn 8
few shilings, by running errands in his noontide
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 be-
ing all Americans, and on turning out the best work
in the city, made a sort of butt of Connor, whose
wild Irish ways and verdancy were indeed very
laughable. But it won their hearts at last, and
when, one day, mounting his workbench, he shook
his little bundle wrapped up in red 'kerchief,
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 Whooroo! I have got
itr' All felt a sympathy in his joy, and each
grasped his great hand in cordial coDgratula
tions.
They parted in merry mood most of the mer
going to comfortable homes. But poor Connor's
resting place was poor lodging g-house, where he
shared crazy garret with four other men, and IL
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 il
under his pillow and fell asleep.
When he awakened in the morning he found hi
treasure gone. Some william, more contemplate
than most bad men are, had robbed him.
At first Connor could not believe it lost. He
searched every corner of the room, shook his quill
and blankets, and begged those about himto "qui
joking and give it back
But at last he realized the truth.
SIS any man so bad that he's thaved from me?
he asked in breathless way. 'Boys, is any maj
that bad?''
And some one answered: 'No doubt Of it.
Connor. Its sthole."
Then Connor put his head down on his hands
and lifted up his voice and wept. 1t was one O.
those sights which men never forget. 1t seemed
more than he could bear, to have Nora and hi
child "put," as he expressed 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 new
determination. His hands were never idle. Hi
face seemed to say ''I'l have Nora with me yet
IL kke1