The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-01-13

stood before a portly, rubieund man.
who nodded to him kindly.
Il am looking for my wife, yer
honor" said Conner, '.and I can't
fad hers
aPerhaps she's gone ashere," said
the Captain.
Il bade her wait" said Conner.
eWomen don't always do as they
are bid, you know said he.
Mora would, said Connor; ''but
maybe she was left behind. Maybe
she didn't come; I Isomehow think
she didn't"
At the name Of Nora the captain
started. In a moment he asked:
"What's your nameY'
"Pat Connor," said the man.
eAnd your wife's was Nora2'
"That's her name, and the boy
with her is Jamesy, your honor"
said Connor.
The captain looked at COnnor's
friends; they looked at the captain.
Then he said huskily:
"Sit down, my man; I've some
thing to tell you.~
"She's left behind" said Connor.
''She sailed with US, said he.
"Where is she?" asked Connor.
The captain made no answer.
'AIy man" we said, I'VE all have
our trials; God sends them. Yes
Nora started with u.s.
COnnor said nothing. He was
looking at the captain now, white
to the lips.
Its. been a sickly- season., said
the captain. ''We had illness on
board-the cholera. You knew
that.
4 didn't" said Connor, q can't
read, they kept it from me.
1--WE didn't want to fnghten him."
said one man, in half whisper.
''You know how long we lay at
quarantine"
"The ship / came in did that,
said Connor,
'EDid YOU say Nora went ashore?
Ought to be lookin' for her, cap'n."
''NIany died." went on the cap
tain-''many children. sWhen we
were half the way here your boy
was taken sick"
'Jamesy,,' gasped Connor,
'His mother watched him night
and day." said the captain, "and we
did all we could, but at last he died;
only one of the many. There were
five buried that day. But it broke
my heart to see the mOOther look
ing out upon the water. It's his
fatherI think Of said she, hes
longing to see poor Jamesy.
& Connor groaned.
'Keep up if you can, my man, y
said the captain. Il wish any one
else had it to tell rather than l.
That night Fora was taken i'll also,
very suddenly. She grew worse
fast. In the morning she called me
to her; Tell Connor died think
ing of him. said she, 'and tell him
to meet me'--and, my man, God
help you, she never said anything
more--in an hour she was gone
Connor had risen. He stood up
trying to steady himself, looking at
the captain with his eyes as dry as
two stones. Then he turned to his
friends:
1--WE got myl death, boys" said
he, and then dropped to the floor
like a log.
They raised him and bore him
away. In an hour he was at home
on the little bed which had been
made ready for Nora, weary with
her long voyage. There, at last, he
opened his eyes. Old Bawn bent
over him; he had been summoned
by the news, and the room was full
of Connor's fellow-wOrl1men.
"Better, Connor? asked he.
"a dale" said Connor. cts al
sy now, I'll be with her soon. And
look We, masther, I've learnt one
thing-God is good. He would not
bring Nora over to me, but He's tax
ing me over to her and Jamesy-
over the river ;don't you see it, and
lEer standing on the other side to
welcome meT'
And with these words Connor
stretched out his arms. Perhaps
he did see Nora-Heaven only
knows-and so he died.