The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-04-16

nothing of their cooks and other "help,"
but who had heard old Barry's story
once, mt least. All pitied the old man
most sincerely, and invented 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
business in the neighborhood, but with
out the meagerest success. II was not
only the tender-hearted Mary or Biddy
who stood by :owld Barry" ut such
times, but the "misthress herself"
When oysters and fish were out of season
Barry would be seen wandering on the
wharves, talking of his son to the sailors,
cycling the shipping in a knowing way,
or dreaming In the warm sunshine of his
dear boy, no doubt. And there was
always lying about the car an old Ship
ping Gazette OF two, well thumbed, and
redolent and shining from contact with
the commodities in trade.
The news spread In an hour one morn
ing the heroic prodigsl had at last come
home to be rejoiced over. In walking a
short distance the fact was made known
to me by six different persons. It was
reserved for the postman to first deliver
me the news, almost to the forgetting of
my mail; then three different merchants
just leaving their homes, p;ped the word
piping hot from their several cooks; fol-
lowed in two minutes after ut the green
grocer's by q similar disclosure from the
proprietor, backed by his assistant, US
though such a wonderful event needed
to be fully substantiated. 1t was that
worldly heartedgrocer's confidential opin-
ion, by m basely betrayed to q certain
matron, that old Barry would soon be
sorry that his heroic son had ever re-
turned, because he could no longer bask
in the sunshine of sympathy and in a
pecuniary sense, profit 80 largely by the
sure trade that he had been in con-
sequence able to command. The grocer
disclaimed all bids from professional
jealousy In delivering such an opinion by
pointing to the fact that he was u per-
sonal friend of MI. Quin's. This dis
claimer, however, did not save the grocer
from that matron's wrath, and it was
long before he discovered why some of
his patrons about that time suddenly
ceased to deal with him.
81 was to see old Barry last night on
business, said the grocer, "and while
we were talking, in comes a strapping
sailor fellow, who squared his elbows on
the counter before Barry, looking square
at him. Barry wiped his hands on his
towel, saying, as he met the sailors
glance, "What's it you'll have, sur
ither raw or stews?"
"Barry Quin, don't you know me?'
says the sailor, re~proachfully, removing
his cap and bracing his hands on his
hips.
"'In troth / don't, sur; p'r'aps it's
stews We had last; giuts O. your trade
most TO- said Barry. Now take a
sate,' continued he, 'an' it's a moment
ven be atein' o. the hoith o. foine liyin'.'
The sailor walked behind the counter
and touched Barry Oh the shoulder Just
as he was bending up with a basket of
unopened oysters. 'froth, is likely yes
dry in the mouth" said Barry, pausing
and regarding the sailor again; take
sum raws to sit a foine edge on your
stomach's cravin'?'
"Then the sailor: dad, don't We
know yer own bye? I'm yer Barry Bar
~ that went to the wars, and STINT home
all me money, till the s~palpeens be after
making me a prisoner, an thin, be jab-
bers, they STINT me ON a blockade runner,
bad luck to 'em. Thin l takes a birth
to China for home, but the ship whit
smash on a rock, an the loikes o. us
most drowned. Now, worra! I'm home
toy. ave a care o. me ovid father, who as
loikes graved me death, but We know the
GUMS don't die 'asy.'
Down went the basket of oysters out
of old Barry's nerveless grasp, and back
he staggered to a chair.
"'He's overcome wild the good news
said the sailor, feelingly to me, as old
Barry bent his eyes upon him and went
on murmuring to himself in a strange
way.
"'D'ye know where me ovid man
kapes his bottle asked young Barry in
a moment, casting a glance about the
Car, its a sup he wants to bring him
round Though assured that he had
found the right bottle, under the counter
to the left, he tasted from it two or three
times before becoming convinced that it
did not contain vinegar. But old Barry
refused to be brought around in that
n
"'Thin I'll take a gill mesef to your
healths, said the Obliging sailor, setting
down the empty glass and taking up the
bottle, yet according to his measure he
found something less than a gill left in
it. And there We sat for more than an
hour, while old Barry went on muttering
to himself and looking from young Barry
to me and then rubbing the end of his nose
as though he would polish it away. I
suppose the old man couldn't bring his
mind to realize that his slim boy had
grown to be such a bulk Of a man.
Young Barry was perfectly at home and
when l left he was smoking Barry's
short pipe, having previously entered us
with a full history of himself since enlist
ing"
The return of the sailor boy soon
proved an evil for old Barry, though at
first he gave promise of being of some
use in the business. Every one had a
friendly nod or word for him, being the
lost boy returned to gladden. the lone
heart of an old gray-headed man. When
he delivered the orders he was made q
welcome guest in the kitchens to spin
yarns of his travels while warming him
self, and it was long before he favored a
rosy Kate as the "girl" of his heart.
In a months time many of the oyster
mans patrons marked that Mr.. Quin,
Jr., bore about with him unmistakable
flavor of gin, which, waited up from the
culinary regions, betrayed the exact
length Of his calls. His fame then began
to daily diminish, as in addition he car
ried many a kettle of fine oysters down
to the wharves to improvise feasts for
Jolly fellow Jack Tars, while those who
had ordered them waited In vain. From
the very day of the sailors appearance
the old man never seemed his cheerful
self, going about with laden steps and
O troubled brow. We missed his &C.
customed volubility, though nobody re-
GREETED hearing the last of those bloody
combats and "High Royal Admirals.'
He had but little to say of his son,
changing the subject as soon as it was
touched, as if there was something in
connection with the boy which he would
fain hide in his W breast, and with an
in-conc called fear that the questionei
knew of a disclosure that might be made.
And not Il few complaints old Barry
was forced to hear, and directly began
himself to show signs Of uneasiness,
reported by Mrs. O'Tooley, who laid al
the blame to "that disgrase o. q son O
hissens, worritin an u dOin' ovid Barry
q deal O. harum." In spite of many
friendly words of warning the old oyster.
man went steadily downward, and hi
business as well, though years of good
fortune had allowed him to accumulate
snug property, which he carefully KEEP
in his own hands, a ~precaution not relish,
ed by the heir, and he Let the town know