Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-11-29
NORA AND JAMESY,

NORA AND JAMESY
"To the memory of Patrick Como,
this simple stone was erected bv hil
fellow workmen."
These words you may read anyAday
upon a white slab IN q cemetery no,
many miles from New York; but Won
might read them hundred times
without guessing at the little tragedy
they indicate, without knowing the
humble romance which ended with the
placing of that stone above ono poor
and humble man.
y In the shabby frieze jacket and mud
laden brogans, ne was scarcely an A.
tractive object as he walked into Mr..
Bawn's tin and hardware shop, one
day, and presented himself at the coun.
ter with an
"I've been tould ye advertised for
hands, yer honor"
"Fully supplied, my man." said Mr..
Bawn, moi lifting his head from bis &C.
count book.
I'D work faithful, sir, and take low
wages till l could do better: and Ia
Learnt would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Bawp
declared that he never would employ an
incompetent hand. Yet the tone attra Ct
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 for
four workinen that morning.
"What makes you expect to learn
faster than other folks-are you any
smarter ?"
"I'll not say that" said the man,
"but I'd be wishing to, that 'ud make it
aisier."
care you used to the work."
"I've done a bit of it"
"Much p
"No yer honor, I'll tell no lie. Tim
O'Tooie hadn't the like of this place;
but know bit about tins"
You are too old for an apprentice,
and you'd be in the way, I calculate"
said Mr.. Bawn, looking at the brawny
arms and bright eyes that promised
strength and intelligence. "Besides, l
know your COMPLIMENTARY, 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"
"The 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 have, yer honor,
and that's 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 looked
back again. -.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are they?"
The vans me wife, theFother me
child" said the man. ooh, masther,
thry me. How'll they ever. come to me
if no one will give me a job? I want
to be aiming, and the whole big city
seems to he against it-and me with
arms like them
He barred his arms to the shoulders
as he spoke, and Mr.. Bawn looked at
them, and then at his face.
"I'll hire you for the rock" he
said; "and now as it II noon, Is Down
into the kitchen ahd tellthe girl to get
you you, your 2 dinner ansry man can't
And with frish blessing tie new
hand obeyed, while Mr.. Bawn untying
his apron went upstairs to his own
meal. 1879 s.taf 81
Suspicious as he wSs-sofxtne new
hands Integrity and SbiHty, he was
agreeably disappointed. 0bnnor work
ed hard, and at the I'D u the week,
he YES the best workma an 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,
"and livery clint I spind puts off the
bringing Of Nora and Jamesy over; and
as for the clothes, them I have must do
me-better no clothes to me back than
no wife and no boy to me Preside; any
how it's slow work saving.
1t was slow work, but he kept it all
the same. Other men, thoughtless and
full of fun, tried to make him drink,
made a jest of his saving habits, coa1ed
him to accompany them TO their places
of amusement and share their Sunday
frolics. All in vain: Conner liked
beer, liked fun, liked companionship;
but he would not delay the long-looked-
for bringing of Nora over, and was not
"mane enough" to accept fayors of
others. He kept his way-a martyr to
his own great wish--living on little,
working at night On an extra job by
which he could earn few shillings. BY
running errands in his noontide hours
of rest, and talking to any one who
would listen to his one great hope, and
OF Nora and little Jamesey -.
That seemed sort of charity to
him. Still he was helped along. A
present from Mr.. Bawn at payday set
Nora, as he said, "a week nearer" and
this and that and the other added to
the little hoard. It grew faster than
at first, and Connor's burden was not
so heavy. At last, before he hoped it,
ne was once more able to say, "I'm
going to bring them over, and to show
his handkerchief, in which, as before,
ne tied up his earnings; this time,
however, only to his friends. Cautious
among strangers, he hid the treasure,
and kept his YES: hbuJttoned over it day
and night, until the tickets were bought
and sent. Then every man, woman
and child capable of hearing and un-
Outstanding knew that Nora and her
baby were coming.