The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-01-15


kitchen and tell the girl to get you some
dinner a hungry man can't work"
With an Irish blessing, the new hand
obeyed, while Mr.. Bawne, untying his.
apron, went up stairs to his own meal.
Suspicious as he was of the new hands
integrity and ability, he was agreeably
disappointed. Connor worked hard,
and actually learned fast. At the end
of the week he was engaged perma-
nently, and soon was the best workman
in the shop.
He was great talker, but not fond
of drink or wasting money. As his
wages grew, he boarded every penny,
and wore the same shabby clothes in
which he made his first appearance.
Beer costs money" he said one day,
and livery clint I spind puts off the
bringing Nora and Jamesy over; and
as for clothes, them I have must do me-
Better no coat to my back than no wife
and boy by my Preside; and, an yhow,
it's slow work saving"
It was slow work, but he kept at it all
the same. Other men, thoughtless and
full of fun, tried to make him drink !;
made jest of his saving habits, coaxed
him to accompany them to places of
amusement, or to share in their Sunday
frolics.
All in vain. Conner liked beer, liked
fun, liked companionship but he would
not delay that long-looked-for bringing
Of Nora over, and was not name
enough " to accept favors of others. He
kept his way martyr to his one great
wish, living on little, working at night on
any extra job. that he could earn few
shillings by, running errands in his noon
tide hours of rest, and talking to any
one who would listen to him of his one
great hope, and of Nora and little
| Jamesy.
| At first the men, who prided them
selves on being all Americans, and on
turning out the best work in the city,
made sort of butt of Conner, whose
wild Irish ways and verdancy were in
deed often laughable. But he won
their hearts at last, and one day, mount
ing workbench, he shook his little
bundle, wrapped in red handkerchief,
before their eyes, and shouted, Look,
boys; I've got the whole at last! Pm
| going to bring Nora and Jamesy over
at last! Whoroo!! I've got it at last!!!"
All felt sympathy in his joy, and each
grasped his great hand in cordial con-
gratulations, and one proposed to treat
all round, and drink good voyage to-
Nora.
They parted in a merry mood, most
OF the men going to comfortable homes.
But poor Connor's resting-place was a
lodging house, where he shared crazy
garnet with four other men, and in the
joy Of his heart the poor fellow exhib-
tied his handkerchief, with his hard
earned savings tied up in wad in the
middle, before he put it under his pill
low and fell asleep.
When he awakened in the morning
he found his treasure gone; some vii
lain, more contemplate than most bad
men, had robbed him.
at first Conner could not even be-
lieve it lost. He searched every corner
of the room, shook his quilt and blank
cts, and begged those about him to
quit joking, and give it back"
But at last he realized the truth.
"Is any man that bad that it's thaved
from me?" he asked, in breathless
way. Boys, is any man that bad ?"
And some one answered: mo doubt
of it, Conner; it's sthole."
Then Conner put his head down on
his hands and lifted up his voice and
wept It was one of those sights which
men never forget. 1t seemed more
than he could bear to have Nora and
his child "put," as he expressed it,
months away from him again"
But when he went to work that CAV
it seemed to all who saw him that he
had picked up new determination.
His hands were never idle. His face
seemed to say, 9TH have Nora with me
yet"
At noon he scratched out letter,
blotted and very strangely scrawled,
telling Nora what had happened; and
those who observed him noticed that
he had no meat with his dinner. In
deed, from that moment he lived on
bread, potatoes and cold water, and
worked as few men ever worked before.
1t grew to be the talk of the shop, and,
now that sympathy was excited, every
one wanted to help Conner. Jobs we're
thrown in his way, kind words and
friendly wishes helped him nightly;
but no power could make him share
the food or drink Of any other work
man. 1t seemed sort of charity to
him.
Still he was helped along. A present
from Mr.. Bawne at payday set Nora,
as he said, "a week nearer" and this
and that and the other added to the
little hoard. It grew faster than the
first, and Connor's burden was not so
heavy. At last, before ha hoped it, he
was once more able to say: Pm going
to bring them" and to show his hand
kerchief in which, as before, he tied up
his earnings; this time, however, only
to his friends. Cautious among
strangers. he hid the treasure, and kept
dis vest buttoned over it night and day