Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-22
NORA AND JAMESY.

To the memory of Patrick Conner
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 hundred times
without guessing at the little tragedy
they indicate, without knowing the
humble romance which ended with the
plecing of that stone above one poor
and humble man.
In the shabby frieze jacket and mud
laden brogans, ne was scarcely an at
tractive object as he walked into Mr..
Bawn's tin and hardware shop, one
day, and presented himself at the coun-
ter with an
Give been tould We advertised for
hands, yer honor"
Fully supplied, my man." said Mr..
BaWn, not lifting his head from his &C.
count book.
"rd work faithful, sir, and take low
wages til I could do better; and I'd
learn would that
It was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Dawn
declared that he never would employ al
incompetent hand. Yet the tone attract
ed him. He turned briskly, and, with
his pen behind his ear, addressed the
man, who was only one Of the fifty who
had answered his advertisement fo1
four workmen that morning.
What makes you expect to learn
faster than other folks-are you any
smarter ?"
s'Lll not say that" said the man
<sbut I'd be wishing to, that I'D make il
-aisier.''
"Are you used to the work."
s GIVE done bit of it."
Much ?"
No yer honor, I'll tell no lie. Tim
eO'ToOIe hadn't the like of this place;
but know a bit about tins"
You are too old for an apprentice,
and you'd be in the way, calculate, u
said Mr.. BaWn, looking at the brawny
arms and bright eyes that promised
strength and intelligence. Besides, ]
know your countrymen-lazy,g good for
nothing fellows, who never do their
best. No, I've been taken in by Irish
hands before, and I won't have an
other"
Tie Virgin will have to be after
bringing 'em over IN her two arms,
thin, said the man, despairingly; " 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 that's but a half one"
AS be 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
ghe turned upon his heel and looked
back again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are they?"
81 The vans me wife, the other me
Child said the man. "Oh, masther,
thry me. Howl they ever come to me
if no one will give me a job? [ want
to be aiming, and the whole big city
seems to be against it-and me with
arms like them
He barred his arms to the shoulders
as he spoke, and Mr.. Dawn looked at
them, and then at his face.
"I'L hire you for the week. he
said "and now as it is noon, 60 down
into the kitchen and tell the girl to get
you your dinner-a hungry man cans
work"
And with an Irish blessing the new
hand obeyed, while Mr.. Bawn untyine
his apron, went upstairs to his own
meal.
Suspicious as he was Of the new
hands integrity and ability, he was
agreesbly disappointed. Connor work
ed hard, and at the end fof the Week
he 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 made his first appearance
Beer cost money" he said one day
aand livery clint | spind puts off the
bringing of Nora and Jamesy over; and
as for the clothes, them | have must dc
me-better no clothes to me back thar
no wife and no boy to me hreside; any
how it's slow work saving.
1t was slow work, but he kept it al