Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-23
Nora and Jamesy.

| 10 the MSIlOFy Vi IdJEfck OOuDoT
this simple stone was erected by his fell
low workmen."
| These words you may read any day
! upon white Slab in a cemetery not
MANY miles from New York but you
might read them hundred times with
out guessing at the little tragedy they
indicate, without knowing the humble
romance which ended with the placing
of that stone above one poor and hum
| BILE man.
| In the shabby frieze jacket and mud
| laden brogans, lie was scarcely an at
tractive object ss he walked into Mr..
Bawn's great tin and hardware shop
one day, and presented himself at the
counter with an
"I've been told ye advertised for hands,
yer honorn
"FulIy supplied. my man, said Mr..
Bawn, not lifting his head from his ac-
count book.
I'D work faithful. sir and take low
wages until could do better and I'd
| Learnt would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Bawn
declared that he never would employ
an incompetent hand. He turned brisk
ly, and with his pen behind his eAr, ad-
dressed sthe man, who was only one ol
| the fifty who had answered his adver-
| tisement for four workmen that morn
| ing.
"What makes you expect to learn
| faster than other folks-are you any
smarter ?'
"I'll not say that,n said the man
"but I'd be wishing to; that md make
| it aiser."
"Are you used to the work ?''
tT've done a bit of IL ~
"Much ?"
"No, yer honor; I'll tell no lie. Tim
| O'Toole 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, calculate, /"
said Mr.. Bawn, looking at the brawny
arms and bright eyes that promised
strength and intelligence. Besides, I
know your lazy, good-for-
nothing fellows, who never do their
best No, I've been taken in by Irish
hands before, and [ won't have anoth-
er."
1.-THE Virgin will have to be after
bringing 'em overin her two arms thin, F"
said the man. despairingly; 'for I've
tramped all day for the last fortnight,
and niver job can get; and that's
the last penny 1 have, yer honor, and
it's but a half One.n
AS he spoke he spread his palm open
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 back
again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are they?"
"The wants me wife, the other me
child,u said the man. sOh, masther,
thry me. Howl they ever come to me
if no one will give me job? I want
to be airning, and the whole big city
seems 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 week." he said !:
land now, as it's noon, go down into the
kitchen and tell the girl to get you your
dinner-a hungry man can't work"
And with an Irish blessing the new
hand obeyed, while Mr.. BawD, untieing
his apron, went upstairs to his own
meal.
Suspicious as be was of the new hands
integrity and ability, he was greatly dis
appointed. Connor worked hard, and
actually, at the end of 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 costs money" he said one day
''and livery cint spind puts off the
bringing Nora and Jamesy over; and as
for the clothes, them 1 have must do me
better no clothes to me back than nc
wife and no boy to me fireside: anyhow
it's slow work saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept at it all
the same. Other men, thoughtless anC
| full of fun, tried to make him drink
made Jest of his saving habits. coaxed
him to accompany them to places o.
amusement, and share their Sunday
frolics. Allin vain. Connor liked beer
liked fun, liked companionship; but III
would not delay the long looked-fol
bringing of Nora over, and was no
"mane enough" to accept favors of 9th
ers. He kept his way-a martyr to hi'
own great wish-iving on little, work
ing at night on an extra Job by which
he could earn a few shillings, by run
ming errands in his noontide hours o
rest, and talking to any one who woult
listen of his one great hope, and of Nor'
and little Jamesy.
That seemed sort of charity to him
Still he was helped along. A presen
from Mr.. Bawn at pay day set Nora. a
he said, "a week nearer" and thi
and that and the other added TO the lit
tie hoard. l. grew faster than at first
and Connor's burden was not SO heavy
At last, before he hoped it, he was one
most able to say, "I'm going to brin'
them over" and to show his handker
chief, in which he tied up his earnings
this time, however, only to his friends
Cautious among strangers, he hid tn
treasure, and kept his vest buttoned owe