The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-11-15
NORA AND JAMESY.

many miles from New York; but yOr
might read them a hundred times with
out guessing at the little tragedy they
indicate, without knowing the humble
romance which ended with the placing O.
that stone above n poor and humble
man.
In the shabby flieze jacket and muG
laden brogans, he was scarcely an attrac
tive object as he walkedinto Mr.. Bawn't
great tin and hardware shop, n day
and presented himself ut the counter
with al
"I've been tould ye advertised fol
hands, yer honor"
Gully supplied, my man." said Mr.
Bawn, not lifting his head from his &C
count book.
"I'd work faithful, sir, and take low
wages till I could do better; and IL
Learnt would that"
It was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Baw1
declared that he never would employ al
incompetent hand. Yet the tone attract
ed him. he turned briskly, and, witt
his pen behind his ear, addressed the
man, who was only one of the fifty who
had answered his advertisement for foul
workmen that morning. -
"What makes you expect to lear1
faster than other folks-are you any
smarter2"
"I'n not say that" said the man
shut I'd be wishing to; that nd make
it aisier."
care you used to the work?
"I've done a bit of it,"
"Much2"
"No, yer honor; I'll tell no lie. Tin
O'Toole hadn't the like of this place
but 1 know a bit about tins"
"You are too old. for an apprentice
and you'd DO in the way, I calculate
said Mr.. Bawn, looking at the brawny
arms and bright eyes that promised
strength and intelligence. "Besides, J
know your countrymen lazy, good fo1
nothing fellows, who never do thei
best. No, I've been taken in by Irisl
hands before, and I won't have an
other"
"The Virgin will have to be afte!
bringing 'em over in her two arms
thin," said the man, despairfngly
for I've tramped all day for the las
fortnight, and niver a job "a I get; ant
that's the last penny I have, yer honor
and it's but a half one."
As he spoke he spread his palm ope1
with an English halfpenny upon it.
"Bring whom over" asked Mr.
Bawn, arrested by the odd speech, as he
turned upon his heel and looked bach
again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are theya"
"The vans me wife, the other MI
child" said the man. ooh, masther
thry me. Howl they ever come to M
if no one will give me a job2 l want tt
be aiming, aud the whole big city SEEM
against it-and me with arms lik'
them!"
He barred his arms to the shoulders a
he spoke, and Mr.. Bawn looked a
them, and then at his face.
"In hire you for the week" he said
sand now, as it's noon, go down int
the kitchen and tell the girl to get yo1
your dinner-a hungry man can'twork.
And with an Irish blessing the nev
hand obeyed, while Mr.. Bown, untyins
his apron, went upstairs to bis owl
meal.
Suspicious as he was of the new
hand's integrity and ability, he wa!
~agreeably disappointed. Conner worked
hard, and actually, at the end of the
week, he was the best workman in The
shop.
He was a great talker, but not fond O
drink or wasting money. AS his wageI
grew, he boarded every penny, and wore
the same shabby clothes in which b,
made his first appearance. Beer cost
money!" he said II day, "and livery
clint l epind puts off the bringing NorI
and Jamesy over; and as for the clothes
them I have must do me-better NJ
clothes to me back than no wife and NJ
boy to me Preside; anyhow, it's SLOW
work saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept at it al
the same. Other men, thoughtless ant
full of fun, tried to make him drink
made q jest of his saving habits, coa1et
him to accompany them to places o
amusement and share their Sunday
frolics. All in vain. Conner liked beer
liked fun, liked companionship but h
would not delay the long looked TO!
bringing of Nora over, and was no
"nlane enough" to accept favors O.
others. He kept his way-a martyr tx
his own great wish-living on little
working at night on an extra job by
which he could earn q few shillings, BY
running errands in his noontide hours
of rest, and talking to any one who
would listen of his one great hope, anG
of Nora and little Jamesy.
That seemed O sort of charity to him,
Still he was helped along. A present
rom Mr.. Bawn at pay day set Nora, a:
he said, "a week nearer" and this an6
that and the other added to the little
hoard. 1t grew faster than at first, and
Connor's burden was not so heavy. A
last, before he hoped it, he was once
more able to say, "I'm going to bring
them over" and to show his handker
chief, in which, as before, he tied W
his earnings this time, however, only
to hisfriends. Cautious among strangers
he hid the treasure, and kept hi
vest buttoned over it day and night
until the tickets were bought and sent
Then every man, woman and child
capable of hearing and understanding
knew that Nora and her baby were com
ing.
At first the men who prided them
selves on turning.out the best work IL
the city made a sort of butt of Connor
whose "wild Irish" ways and verdanc!
were indeed often laughable. But i
won their hearts at last, and when, ont
day, mounting a work bench. he shool
his little bundle, wrapped in a red 'ker
chief, before their eyes and shouted
"Look, boys, I've got the whole at last
I'm going to bring Nora and James,
over at last Whoroo! Two got it 7
all felt a sort of sympathy in his JOY
There was John Jones, who had mor'
of the brute in his composition thar
usually falls to the lot of man-even he
who had coldly hurled his hammer a
an offenders head, missing him by
hairs breadth, would spend his tel
minutes in the noon hour in reading th'
Irish news to Conner. There was Ton
Baker, tho meanest man among thu
number, who had never been known Il
give anything to any Il before, abso
iutely bartered oil old jacket for a pal
o. gilt vases which a peddler brought il
b basket to the shop, and presented