Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-02-26

| I've IIdupcu bh VIC way lol VIC ldSt
fortnight, and niver job can | get, and
that's the last penny have, your honor.
and it's but half one"
| AS he spoke he spread his palm open,
with an English half penny in it.
Bring whom over! ?" asked Mr..
Bawne, arrested by the odd speech, as
he turned upon his heel and walked
back again. uelas.
"Just Nora and Jamesy.'
"Who are they ~
''The vans me wife, the others me
child" said the man. 80, mashter, list
rhry me! How'll bring them overto
me, if no one will give me job !. |
want to be hiring, and the whole big
city seems to be against it, and me with
arms like them " He barred his arms to
the shoulder as he spoke, and Mr.. Bawne
looked at them and then at his face.
'1ll hire you for a week." he said
sand now, as it's noon go down to, the
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 his new hands in
tegrity and ability, he was agreeably
disappointed. Conner worked hard and
actually learned fast. At the end of the
week he was, engaged permanently, and
soon was the best workman in he shop.
He was great taIker, but not fond of
drink or wasting money. As bis 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 ! spend pats off the
bringing of Nora and Jamesy over and
as for clothes, them have, must do me-
Better no coat to my back than no wife
and boy by my tireside; and anyhow, it's
slow work saving"
1t Mas slow work, but hs kept at it al
the same. Other men, thoughtless and
full of fun, tried to make him drink:
made a jest of his saving habits, cOaxed
him to accompany them to places of
amusement, or to share in their Sunday
frolies.
All in vain. Common liked beer. liked
fun, liked cOmpanionship; but he would
not deny that long looked for bringing
of Nora over, and wasnot "mane enough
| To accept fav0rs of others He kept his
way, martyr to his one great wish. liy-
ing on little, working at night on any
extra job that he could make few shill-
ings by, running brands in his noontide
hours ofrest, 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 ont the best wock in the CITY,
made a 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, mounting a
work bench, be shook his little bundle,
wrapped in a 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 congratula-
tons, and one proposed to treat all round,
and drink good voyage to Nora.
They parted III merry mood, most of
the men going to comfortable homes.
But poor Connor's resting place was a
lodging house, where he shared crazy
Sarret with four other men, and in the Joy
of his heart the poor fellow exhibited
his handkerchief with his hard-earned
! savings tied up in waG in the middle,
before he put it under his pillow and
fell asleep. .. . .-..,.s........
When he awakened in the morning he
| found his treasure gone; some villain.
more contemplate than most bad men,
had robbed him.
| At the first Conner could not even be-
lieve it was lost. He searched every
corner of the room, shook his quilt and
blankets, and searched the room over.
The missing treasure conld not be found.
When the bad news was told Con-
nor's fellowworkmen, their sympathies
were aroused, and a subscription list,
headed by Mr.. Bawne, soon contained
enough to bring Nora and Jamesy over.
Poor Common talked of nothing else,
till one day word was brought that the
vessel which was to bring his Nora had
arrived in port,