Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-04-03
A Heroine-A Life Picture.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, IR.

BY sYLYANUs COBB, JR.
In a mud-walled, straw-thatehed cabin
of the old country was young wife, with
two children and her own mother. The
children were both girls. The husband
and father lay sick with a lingering dis
ease, which incapacitated him from labor.
Kate Kelly $50 we will call herr sat down
and considered the situation. During the
year last past she had gone behind hand.
At the end of another year, with the same
result, she and her loved ones would be
homeless. What should she do? What
could she do? She went over and con-
versed with friend who had found
home in far distant country, and who
had come now upon a visit to the dear old
island. Kate remained two hours, and
when she went home her mind was made
up. She asked her mother-would she
look to the children (bless the darlings! y
and care also for Phi. for the space of one
year?
1t was hard for the fond mother-it was
harder still for the poor, sick, loving hus-
band-to part with the very sun of their
home and their life; but when Kate made
them see it as she saw it, they consented.
And Kate Kelly came to America.
She landed in Halifax, and made her way
into the State of Maine, where, at Au-
gusta, she was fortunate enough to secure
place in one of the very best families of
the city. This was in 1857. When she
had saved up her first little sum of money
for transmission to the loved ones at
home, she asked her master how she
should send it. He bade her go to his
lneighbor, a kind-hearted old gentleman
who knew everything, and would tell
her. This led Kate to the door of Judge
Sam Coney. He was kind to her, as he
was to everybody who needed and de-
served kindness. He offered to send her
money with his own hand, and when he
had persuaded her to tell him her story,
he babe her to call upon him without hes
itation should she ever find the need.
In less than year Kate had earned
money enough to bring over her two
girls, aged, respectively, eight and ten
years. For the first time since his gene=-
Gus offer had been made Kate appealed to
the Judge in behalf of her children. By
a happy chance he knew of an opening,
and was able to give them good and
peaceful home, where the mother could
meet them when she wished.
Kate Kelly worked on, saving dollar
upon dollar with religious care, and be-
fore the end of another year she was able,
with the proceeds of her own loving Ia
Dor, to bring her mother and husband
across the water. Phil. was very weak
when he arrived, but very happy in see
ing, his Kate, ,and pillowing his weary head
upon her bosom.
go, darlin'!' he murmured, as her
arm stole around him, ''it is heaven to SEE
the sweet face ov ye once more, and l car
die now peacefully
For a few days Phil. was suffered to re
main beneath the roof of his wife's EN-
plOyer, and during that time Judge Co
ney CHANGED to see him. 1t so happened
that at that time there was sojourning fol
brief space with the Judge a skillfu
physician who had come to Augusta t.
examine the Asylum forth Insane. TIL,
Judge brought Phil. to his own house
and asked the physician to look him owe
and see what could be made of him.
The physician, himself great-hearteC
man, bade Phil. to stand before him, an,
; he made an examination, critical an
thorough; and this was his report:
'EMy poor fellow, you've been starving
. You are starving now! What work hav
you done in your life?'
Phil. reple ed that up to the age of siz
teen he had done nothing; at that age h
had entered the English army, in an il
fantry of Wicklow, and had served in Il
It dia eight years. He had seen the openin
of the terrible mutiny, but fever, caugl
at Lucknow, where he was drilling nj
tive troops, had sent him home to die.
''Pshaw ~ cried the old doctor; "yo
won't die just yet. Do you get away Q
to farm, where you can breathe the pu
air, and find good food, without workir
too hard, and I'll insure you good Ii
yet"
This seemed to call for little exertit
on the Judges part, and he made it. I
found a good home for Phil, and left hi
to do his best.
- hdJ0 WOEk6u Ons LOE SnlIuFeH, n
husband, and her mother, were all ne
her, and it only remained TO find o
g home for a reunited family; and to Il
end she addressed her energies. A lit
way out from the city, and running doy
to the shore of the beautiful KennebeC
e. was piece of land large enough fo
good and substantial farm, which S
could secure with money now at CO
mand, with the remaining payments
be left to her own convenience. OH
she longed for the time when she mig
lay the foundation of her new Gotta
home.
But helper was coming which s
had not anticipated helper grim a
ghastly in itself, but opening the way
. brilliant possibilities, Dread war tht
dered in the land, and Maine sent forth
. sons to the strife. By-and-by Sam Coz
became Governor of the State. One [
CD there came very pressing need in
ali Governors office at the State House
There was military mana man bra
% | oool oD6 trun and we'll Versad In arm