The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-11
OLD BARRY's SON.
How the Old Mans Heroic Boy Returned
from tho War.


ID was during the civil war. In 1868. that
Mr., Barry Quin came to Renton. Where he
came from was never clearly understood. My
cook, Mrs. O'Tooley. was OF the opinion that
he came from Baltimore. though, as che cd.
ynitted, " It's unbeknownst to no one but me-
self"
II was soon noised abroad that Barry had
Q son In the navy. and that the old man was
Intensely patriotic When ways and means
were being considered by the committee,
prior to the holding OF that very successful
BENTON fair, who should come to the door and
ask to be admitted q moment but Barry
uuin. He made bow to the ladies and gen.
tlemen, brushed his cap across his eyes, and
said In husky voice, I'm poor man. as
We know, but II there's q turn In the way o.
listers can do. me names Barry Quin. an
me bye'e figthin' or dead for the blessed
country Barry had charge OF the most
Hourishing OF oyster stands In that fair; and
during It's continuance reporter Donnelly OF
the Renton News drew scathing parallels be-
tween sour patriotic adopted citizen" and
"traitors ut home"
None would be at the depot OF any later
hour OF the night or any. earlier hour OF the
morning than Barry, to Justify cheer onward
passing regiment to the front. The oyster
broths for the small hospital at Camp Holden,
reporter Donnelly discovered, were also fur
nssa oy ass Snr patr pp s asr v o1 s
quoted by the same the ubiquitous reporter
never failed to discover and publish the fact.
It was slyly suggested that sour reporter"
was on the "free list" ut the banqueting hall,
and X he was not. he certainly deserved
TO be.
A not unpleasant genre picture old Barry
made standing behind the Cur counter, In the
uncertain light OF q pair OF smoky coal oil
lamps, with his stout person neatly aproned
gray bair showing from under an ancient
looking cloth cap that he wore the year
round.
Barry's oar was ever cleaning In great red.
white and blue stripes, and he never failed to
turn any conversation his patrons held with
him, TX possible, to the battles his son had
been through, though the names OF but few
could he remember.
"Moind ye, me Barry whit In the rale war
times; an In one o. those murtherin' battles,
afther he kilt tho the inimies wild Is own
hand, didn't he load an fire the big gun all
Wild heself for the loike o. two hours. an niver
sup Of wather to dthrinkf Faith, me Barry
was o jewel !"
You may rightly infer that such heroic &C.
lions did not pass without official recognition,
as witness the words OF the High Royal
Admiral: !" "Ye's broth OF bye. Barry
you're prowmoted."
Such fine lad, of course. was not offered
up upon the altar OF his country without
struggle Of the parental heart. Old Barry
would explain that after his mothers death
young Barry seemed very lonely, and was
constantly reading and talking OF the war,
the navy. Naturally though. patriotic as he
was, the father endeavored to persuade the
young man to relinQuish the Idea.
well, do ye know that same blessed night
me Barry says Good night. dad. an kapes
shakin' me two hands as would me brother
Dan'l's, who's whit back to the ovid country
these tin years. Thinks to meself, what
Quare tricks the bye up TOT but rubbed me
nose as me way Is when bothered, an says
not word. BY the powers the mkt morn.
u ietther as liver your two eyes saw. barrin' it
was all covered wild tears. He whit for the
navy, an by coorse, he kape writln' as nate
as print, an q sindin' his money with regu-
larity for the loikes o year. Aud didn't he
send his ovid father q piothure looking as da-
clint an foine wild his sword as all the quality
o. the land
'Ah, then, your son won his promotion. did
he Barry"
o. his parts would be kapin' below any man;
not at all, sure. But It's me moind this same
prowmotion's come betweenst me an me
nights rest, these years. fF 1 havnt heard
from him since"
About this point old Barry's tears would
get the best Of him, and he would rock him
self, rubbing his eyes with his oyster apron,
TO the. great risk of binding himself from
bits OF shells.
Not a few OF the oysterman's patrons were
moved by his grief to try and discover some
trace OF "me Barry" But as the old man
had been burned out before coming to Rem
ton and all his boys letters destroyed, and,
as he also said, he never knew where the en-
iistment had been made, there was not much
OF a clue to work upon, particularly as not
less than eight Barry Quins, by the records at
Washington, fought for their pay on the roll
Ing deep.
not lady or gentleman, to say nothing of
their cooks aud other ''help," but who had
heard old Barry's story once, at least. Ali
pitied the old man most sincerely, aud in
vented many more or less improbable stories
to explain his dear boys protracted absence.
Rival Oystermen made desperate and repeated
attempts to divide his Oyster and fish bust
ness in the neighborhood, but without the
meagerest success. 1t was not only the ten
der. hearted Mary or Biddy who stood by
..owld Barry" at such times, but the mis-
thress herself"
The news spread In on hour one morning
that the heroic prodigal had at last come
home to be rejoioed over. In walking short
distance the TACT was made known to me by
six different persons. 1t was reserved for the
postman 10 tirst deliver me the news, almost
10 the forgetting Of my mail; then three diff |
ferent merchants just leaving their homes |
passed the word piping hot from their several |
cooks; followed In two minutes after at the |
green grocer's by similar disclosure from |
the proprietor, backed by his assistant as |
though such wonderful event needed to be |
II was In to see old Barry last night on
said the grocer. land while we |
we're talking III. comes strapping sailor fell
ow, who squared his elbows on the counter
,efore Barry, looking straight at him; Bar
y wiped his hands on his towel, saying, as
ave, sur; iehsr raws or stew?"
-. Barry Qlin. don't you know mes says
nd braeing his hands on his hips.
!" In troth don'ts sures pr'aps it's stews
% had last; gints O your trade MIST 90. ]