The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-10-19

"To the memory of Patrick Con-
nor, this simple stone was erected
by his Fellow Workmen."
These words you may read any
day upon a white slab in a cemetery
not MANY miles from New York
but you might read them a hundred
times without guessing at the little
tragedy they indicate, without know
ing the humble romance which end
ed with the placing of that stone
above the dust of one poor and hum
BILE man.
In his shabby 'friezo jacket and
mud-laden brogans, he was scarcely
an attractive object as he walked
into Mr.. Bawn's great tin and hard
ware shop, one day, and presented
himself at the counter with
"I've been tOuld ye advertised fol
hands, yer honor"
"FulIy supplied, my man." said
Mr.. Bawn, not lifting his head from
his account book.
"I'd work faithful, sir, and take
low wages till I could do better, and
I'd learn-I Would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr..
Bawn always declared that he
would never employ an incompetent
hand. Yet the tones attracted him
He turned briskly, and with his pen
behind his ear, addressed the nan,
who was only one of the fifty who
had answered his advertisement for
four workmen that morning.
"What makes you expect to learn
faster than other folks-are you
any smarter? ?"
"I'lI not say that" said the man,
"btt I'd be wishing to; that 'ud
make it aisier." .
care you used to work ?"
give done bit Of it,"
"Much ?"
'tNo, yer honor. I'll tell no lie
Tim O'Toole hadn't the like of this
place ; but 1 know a bit about tins"
"You are too old for an appren
tice, and you'd be in the way, I cal,
culate," said Mr.. Bawn, looking at
the brawny arms and bright eyes
that promised strength and intelli'
genee. "Besides I know your coun'
trymen-lazy, good-for nothing fel.
Ilowa, who never do their best. No
Pve been taken in by Irish hands
before, and I wouldn't have an0th
er."
"The Virgin will have 10 be after
bringing 'em over in her two arms
thin," said the man, despairingIy,
''for I've tramped all day for the last
fortnight, and niver job can I get
and that's the last penny l have
yer honor, and 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 turn
ed back again.
"Just Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are they2"
"The vans me wife, the others
me child" said the man. "Oh
mastber, iist thri me. How'll !
bring 'em over to me if no one viii
give me job? I want to be airn.
ing, and the whole big city seems
against it, and me with arms like
Thin"
He barred his arms to the shoul
ders as he spoke, and Mr.. Bawr
looked at them, and then at hii
face.
"TlI hire you for week." he said
"and now it's noon, go down into
the kitchen and tell the girl to gel
you your dinner-a hungry mar
cant work"
And with an Irish blessing tht
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 wal
agreeably disappointed. COnnol
worked hard, and actually learneC
fast. At the end Of the week hI
was the best workman in the shop
He was a great talker, but no
fond of drink or wasting money
As his wages grew he boarded every
pennv and wore the same shabby
clothes in which be had first mad,
his appearance. "Beer costs mon
ey," be said one day, and every
cint I spind puts off the bringing
Nora and Jamesy over and as 70
clothes, them 1 have must do me-
better no coat to me back, than n
wife and boy by me freside; any
how, it's slow work saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept a
work all the same. Other men
thoughtIess and full of fun, tried t.
make him drink-mado a jest of bi
saving habits, coaxed him to accom-
pany them 10 places of amusemen
or share their Sunday froIics. Al
in vain. Connor liked beer, like,
fun, liked companiOnship; but h
would not delay the long looked 70
bringing of Nora over, and was no
not "mane enough" to accept ia
vors of others. He kept his way,
martyr to his one great wish-livini
on little, working at night on an.
extra job by which be could earn
f few shilliDgs, by running errand
in his noontide hours of rest, an,
talking to any one who would listen
Of hip Opn opaof bOrn and Of Nor,