The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-03-20

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agreeablydisappointed. Connor worked
hard and actually learned fast. At the
end of the week he was engaged per
manently, and soon was the best work
man in the shop.
He was a 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 first made his appearance.
"Beer costs money" he said n day,
~"ivery clint I spind puts off the bring
ing of Nora and Janlesy over; and as
for me clothes. themI have must do me
better no coat to me back han no
wife and boy by me tireside !; and any
how, its slow work saving"
1t 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,
ceaxed him to accompany them to
places of amusement, or to share in
their Sunday %frolics. All in vain.
Common liked beer, liked fun, liked COM
panionship; but he would not delay
that long-looked-for bringing of Nora
over, and was not "mane enough" to
accept favors of others. He kept his
way, a martyr to his own great wish
living on little, working at night on any
extra job he could earn a few shillings
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 Jamesy.
At first the men. who prided them
selves i'll being all Americans, and of
turning out the best work in the city,
made n sort of butt of Connor, whose
wild Irish" ways and verdancy were
indeed often Imaginable. But he won
their hearts at last, and one day, mount
ing a workbench, he shook his little
bundle wrapped in a red handkerchief,
before their eyes, and shouted "Look,
boys. I've got the whole at last
Whoroo! I've got it !" All felt SYM
pathy in his Joy, and each grasped his
great hand in cordial congratulations,
and one proposed to treat all round, and
drink a 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 a
poor iodging-house. where he shared a
crazy garnet with Four other men, and
in the JOY of his heart the poor fellow
exhibited his handkerchief, with his
hard earned savings tied up in a hard
wad in the middle, before he put it I'M
der his pillow and fell asleep. When
he awoke in the morning he found his
treasure gone. Some villain more con
temptable than most bad men are had
robbed him.
At first Connor could not sven believe
it lost. He searched every corner of the
room, shook his quilt and blankets and
begged those about him TO "quit jok-
ing, and bring it back"
But at last he realized the truth.
"lS any man that bad that it's thayed
from me?" he askedin n bleathless way.
And some one answered
:" No doubt Of it, it's sthole :"
Then Common put his head down on
his hands and lifted up his voice and
wept. 1t was one of those sights which
men never forget. 1t seemed more than
he could bear to have Nora and his
child put as he expressed it,
months away from him again"
But when he went to work that day it
seem to all who saw him that he had
picked up n new determination. His
face seemed TO say "Ill have Nora with
me yet" At loo he scratched ont Il
blotted and very strangely
scrawled, telling Nora what had hap
and those who had observed
him noticed that he had no meat for
Indeed, from that moment
he lived on bread, potatoes and cold
and worked as few men even
before. 1t grew to be the talk
of the shop, and now that sympathy
was excited, everyone wanted to help
.onnor. Jobs were thrown is his way,
kind words and friendly wishes helped
him nightly but no power could make
him share the food or drink Of any other
workman.
That seemed 2 sort of charity to him.