The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-12-25
AN AFFECTING TALE.

laden brogans, Patrick Conner was scarcely
an attractive object as he walked into Mr.
Rawn's great tin and hardware shop one day,
and presented himself at the counter with
! sI,+e been told ys Advertised for hands,
yer honor"
"Faily. supplied, my man. ssaid Mr.. Bawn,
not lifting his head from his account book.
"I'd work faithful sir, and take low wages,
till I could do betther, and I'd learn would
that" - 80
. 1t was an Irish brogue, and Bawn always
declared. that he never would employ an in.
competent hand. He turned briskly, and
wish his pen behind his ear, addressed the
man. who was only one Of the fifty who had
answered his advertisement for four work
men that morning.
"What makes you expect to learn faster
than other folks-are you any smarter I" ::
"rnnot say that: said the man, "but I'D
be wishing to thst'ud make it. aisiers
care you used to the work p, {
"I've done O bit Of il"
"Much ?" =.
aNo yer homer. I'll tell no lie Tim
OTools hadn't the like of this place but I
know bit about this" ~ =
"You are too old for an apprentice, and
you'd be in the way. calculate," said Mr..
Bawn, looking at the brawns arms snd bright
ewes, that promised strength and intelligence.
"Besides, I knew 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" =.
.The Virgin will have to be afther bring
ing 'em over in her two arms, thin," said
the man iespairingly, "for I've tramped all
day for the last fortnight, and niver q job
eau get, and that's the last penny I have,
yer homer, and it's but a 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 back
again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy.", .,r.1,!s
I4Who are jtheyio ;, ,252AzSs,sg "A
'The ones my wife,the other me child
said the man. "Oh, masthsr, jiat thry me-"
"How'll bring 'em over to me if no one
will give me job? I want to be airning,
and the whole big city seems against me, and
me with arms like thim."s -.zs.Y
He barred his arm to the shoulder as he
spoke, and Mr.. Bawn looked at them and
then at his face.
oIll hire you. for the week" he said,
"and now, as it's noon, go down into: the
kitchen and tell the girl to get you your din
ner-a hungry man cant work." s-,j 9
And with an Irish blessing, the new hand
obeyed, while Mr.. BawD, untying his apron
went up stairs to his own meal.
SUSPICIOUS as he was of the new hands
integrity and ability, he was agreeably disap-
pointed. Conuors worked hard and actually
learned. And at the end of the week he was
engaged permanently, and soon was the best
workman in the shop. -.
-. He 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 had made
his first appearance, "Beer costs money!"
he said one day, end livery clint spind puts
off the bringing Nora and Jamesy over and
as for clothes, them I have must do me
betther no coat to my back than no wife and
boy by me freside; and anyhow, its slow
work saving" ..-
=. 1t was slow work, but he kept at it all the
same. Other men. thoughtless and full Of
fur, tried to make him drink-made q jest
fhis saving habits, coa1ed him to- accom-
pany them to places Of amusements. or to
share in their Sunday frolics All in vain.
Conner liked beer, liked fun, liked compan-
ionship; but he would not delay that long
looked for bringing of Nora over, and was
and was not 'mane enough" to accept favors
of others. He kepthis way, q martyr to his
one.great wish-iiving on little, working at
night 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 to his one great hope, and
of Nora and little Jamcsy.
At first the men who prided themselves
on being all Americans, and on turning out
the best work in the city, made a sort of "a
butt of -Connor, whose "wild Irish" ways
and verdancy were indeed laughsble. But
he won their hearts at last, and when one
day mounting workbench, he shook his
little bundle, wrapped in red hankerchief,
before their eyes, and shonted, Look boys,
I've got the whole at last I'm going to
bring Nora and Jamesy over at last! Who
roo!. I've got itP' ail felt asympath in his
joy, and each graspsd his great hand in
cordial congratulations, and one proposed to
treat all round and drink good voyage to
Nora. - -
They parted, in merry mood, most Of
the men going to comfortable homes. But
poor Conuor's resting place Was poor lodg-
ing house, where he shared crazy gsrret
With four other men, and in che joy of his
heart, the poor fellow exhited bis handker.
chief, with his hard earnings tied up in a
hard wad in the middle, before he put it
under his pillow and fell asleep.
When he awakened IN the morning he found
his treasure gone. Some villain, more con-
temptible than most bad men are, had rob
bed him. i1095f.gi :. iii, :.
At FIRST. Connor could even believe it lost
He searched every corner of the room shook