River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-15

wishes helped him nightly but no
power could make him share the food
or drink of any other workman. II
seemed sort OF charity with him.
Still he was helped along. A present
from Mr.. Bawne at payday, set Nora
as he said, zone week nearer" and this
and that added to the little hoard. 1t
grew faster than the first, and Connor's
burden was not SO heavy. At last, he
had hoped it, he was orce more able to
say, 81 am going to bring them oVer,"
and to show MS handkerchief, IN which,
as before, he tied up his earnings; this
time, however, only to his friends. eau
tious among strangers. he hid the treas
ure. ard kept his vest buttoned over it
night and day until the tickets were
bouoht and sent Then every man,
woman and child, capable of hearing or
understanding, knew that Nora and her
baby were coming.
There was John Jones, who had more
of the brute in his composition than
usually falls to the lot of man, would
spend ten minutes of the noon hour in
reading the Irish news to Common
There was Tom Barker, the meanest
man in the number, who had never
been known TO give anything to any one
before, absolutely bartered an old jacket
for a pair of gilt vases, viii Oh an old ped
dler brought in his basket to the shop,
and presented them to Conner for his
Morals mantel-piece. And here was idle
Dick, the apprentice, who actually
worked two hours on Connor's work,
when illness kept the Irishman home
one day. Common felt this kindness, and
returned it whenever it was in his pow.
err, and the days flew by and brought at
last letter from his wife.
"She would start as he desired, and
she was we'll and so was the boy, and
might the Lord bring them safely to
each others arms, and bless them who
had been so kind to him." That was
the substance of the epistle which Con-
nor proudly assured his fellow workmen
Nora wrote herself. she had lived at
service, as a girl, with a certain good
old lady, who had given her the items
of an education, which Connor told upon
his fingers: "The radin', that's ore, the
writin', that's three, and, moreover, she
knows all that woman can" Then he
looked up with tears in his eyes, and
asked, do you wondher the time
seems long. between me an her, boys?'
So it was, Nora at the dawn of day.
Nora at noon,-Nora at night,-until
the news came that the Stormy Petrol
had come to port, and Conner, breath
less and pale with excitement, flung
up his cap in the air and shouted.
1t happened on holiday afternoon,
and half dozen men were ready to go
with Conner to the steamer and give
his wife greeting. Her little home
was ready; Mr.. Bawne's own servants
had put It in order, and Connor took
one peep in at it before he started.
''She hadn't the like of that in the ould
country" be said, "but she'll know
how to Keep them tidy
Then he led the way towards the dock
where the steamer lay, and at a pace
that made it hard for the rest to follow
him. The spot was reached at last; a
crowd of vehicles blockaded the street T.;
g troop ef emigrants came thropging
IN; fine cabin passengers were stepping
into cabs; and drivers, porter5, and all
manner Of employees were yelling and
shouting in the usual manner. Nora
would wait on board for her husband
he knew that.
The little group made their way into
the vessel at last, and there. among
those who sat watching for coming
friends, Common searched for the two so
dear to him; patiently at first-eagerly
but patiently-but by and by growing
anxious and excited.
'She would never so alone" he said,
shed be lost entirely; l babe her wait,
but 1 don't see her boys; l think she's
not in it"
"Why don't you sec the captain ?''
asked Que, and Conner jumped at the
suggestion. In few minutes he stood
before portly, rubicand man, who nod
ded to him kindly.
81 am looking for my wife, yer hon
Or" said Conner, "and can't find her"
"Perha.,s she's gone ashore" said the
captain.
~ babe her wait" said Conner.
"Women don't always do as they are
bid. you know" said the captain.
''Nora would" said Connor; but
maybe size was left behind. Maybe she
didn't come. somehow think she
didn't"
At the name of Nora the captain
started. in moment he a. led, "What
is your namtY
pat C9nnor," said the man.
"And your wife's name was Nora?"
"That's her name, and the boy with
her is Jamesy, yer honor" said Conner.
The captain looked at Connor's
friends; they looked at the captain
Then h3 said, hu8kily, "Sit down, my
man, I've got something to tell YOU"
"She's left behind?' said Conner.
''She sailed with us" said the captain
"Where is she?" asked Common.
The captain made no answer.
"Mv man." he said, "we all have oul
trials; God sends then. "Yee-Nora
started with u.s."
Conuor said nothing. He was look.
ing at the captain, now, white 10 his
lips.
cts been a sickly season." said the
captain; "we have had illness on board
The cholera. You know that"
81 didn't, l can't read; they kept il
lEOf1 me-, Etlu SODEO4s
"We didn't want to frighten him" said
one in half whisper.
"You know how long we lay at quar-
antine?'
The ship 1 came in did that" said
Common.
did you say Nora went asho-ei
Ought to be looking for her, captainY
"Many died-many children" went
on the captain: "When we were hal
way here your boy was taken sick"
Jamesy ?" gasped Conner.
His mother watched him night anC
day." said the captain. "and we did al
We could, bat at last he died; only one
of many. There were five buried thai
day. But it broke my heart to see the
mother looking out upon the water
It's his father | think of, said she, hes
longing tC see poor Jamosy.'"
Conner groaned
Keep up if you can, my man." Saic
the captain. II wish any one else haC
to tell t rather than |. That nigh
Nora was taken i'll also, very sudden
ly; she grew worse fast. In the morn
ing she called me to her. Tell Common
died thinking of him. she said, 'anc
tell him 10 meet me- And, my man
God help you, she never said anything
more,-ir an hour she was gone"
Conner had risen. He stood up, try
ing to steady himself, looking at the
captain with his eyes dry as two stones
Then he turned to his friends.
"Tve got my death, boys" he said
and then dropped to the deck like {
log.