Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-01
THE O'MORE.
An Irish Foster Brothers Devotion,
The Major laid down his book.


much to say of the relation between foster
brothers. 1t is feature of domestic life
almost unknown in this country, but saw
curious instance of it once. Did l ever
tell you the story of "The O'More 2"
"No, no - We all drew our chairs
closer to him, and he began, nothing 10th
"As boy lived, you know, in small
town in West Virginia. We had no
slaves and little money among US but
we're bitterly pro-slavery, and were more
arrogant in our petty notions of aristocra-
cy than the great slave owners of the
eastern part of the State. When was
about fourteen, / met one day at the gate
Of the front yard a ragged, red headed
lad of my own age.
''Is it by to carry coal, or dig, or
DROVE the carriage, ye'd be wantin the
day, zur ?" he asked, with laugh and
q bow.
"Now. | was not often called sir or
addressed hat IN hand, and of course, l
was conciliated at once. My father
wanted boy, and | urged him to take
this one. He was pleased with his honest
ugly face.
"What is yeur name ?" he asked.
Michael. zur.'
81 took Michael out to show him the
the coNloins, pump, and his room over
the stable. AS l turned to leave him,
said, Have you only one name ?"
"His face grew red as his hair" "I'm
The O'More, zur."
"'What p / burst into shout of
laughter but Michael stood grave and
anxious
"'I'm poor, zur, and / worked my
way acrast from the old country. But
my grandfather was the head Of the
family; he's dead, an SOS my father.
Pm The OMore.'
"I suppose your grandfather. like
yourself, lived in mud hut and ate
potatoes the year around p
"' No, zur he had big house and
took tay wild the Queen every week, ;
lied my protege. with perfect calmness
II IN the first Of the name az ever went
out 80 sarvice."
"'And what brought you to it? Why
did you leave Ireland p
"'I followed my foster>b brother, zur'
The answer puzzled me, and | asked no
further questions, and soon forgot Mike
and his family in the anxiety of preparing
for Christmas party which my mother
was to give me, and which was to be of
unusual briliancy and pretention. That
evening she said to me, Il have been to
call on the family who have bought the
Scroope property. Their name is Lew
eridge. There is but one son, boy
offiteen, and | invited him for Christmas
Eve.n
"Master Leveridge was the first to
arrive on the momentous evening. His
step mother came with him. She was "a
high featured sharp eyed woman, with
the peculiar accent of the educated classes
from Dublin.
"a children's party is new thing
to Arthur she sail. 1--WE keep our
boys and girls in the nursery longer than
you do but it will do him good. When
| married Mr.. Leveridge, ! found the
boy had no companions but the children
Of his foster mother, a low creature living
in a hovel on the estate. was glad for
his sake when we came to this country
and the connection was broken off. That
kind Of people are, as a rule, irreclaim-
ably vicious
"'I do not find them so,' said my
gentle mother. "Many of my truest
friends are among the poor"
"Arthur Leveridge in the meantime
was talking with my sister, when wild
whoop rung through the room, and Mike
rushed into it, n scuttle Of coal in his
hand.
Faith, Masther Arty, is 1t yerself ?
| followed ye to Baltimore, an they towld
nae it was here I'd find YET holding
Arthur's gloved hands, kissing and sob
bing over them, while the Goals were
scattered over the floor.
"Arthur was delicate, girlsh looking
lad. He pulled his hand back in rage
OF shame, and pushed the boy savagsly
away.
"'How dare you come here p he cried.
His mother swept across the room to
his side. Mike cowed humbly when he
saw her.
"'Begohe,' she said, "you insolent
wretch! Followed US here, indeed! Judge
Horrox," turning to my father, this boy
must me discharged from your service;
he must leave the town 70
"'Gontly, gently, madam said my
father. 1--WE do not deal in that fashion
in this country. Mike is neither vag-
rant nor a thief, but he has no business
hsre. Leave the room, sir take your
Goals and your affections were they are
wanted =
"There was fash in my fathers eye
which showed on which side his sympa-
thies lay. The story OF the foster brothers
became the town gossip for a week. Ev-
erybody paid court TO the Leyeridges, but
ptled poor Mike. After month | found
that Mike was out every night securing
the streets with Arthur. Young Lever.
idge was ready for all sorts of mischief,
from ringing door bells to breaking win
dows; but he was terribly afraid of being
found out.
"Publicj justice was sharp and swift in
the town. 1t had some features, too, ,pecu-
liar to pro-slavery districts. The Board
ofMagistrates were the seven Oldest and
weallhiest landholders. They appointed