Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-10-20
A QUEER DEFECTIVE.

in Ireland, in the beginning of this
century, Shamus O'Brien, young
man of a good old family settled in
the extreme West, distinguished
himself so valiently as patriot"
that the English government want
edn him for a considerable length of
time. Shamus however contrived
to get safely off in atrading-
vessel, and, along with some
other patriots, took refuge in Amer
lea.
Some few years passed, and Sham
us was again "wanted"-this time
in another and better sense however.
The O'Brien had been gathered to
his fathers, and the family ardently
desired that the long lost heir might
return to his native land, but had
no idea how to set about finding
him. The mother waited and waited,
and longed for her eldest born to
come back to her. BY degrees
every one else forgot him; and
Murtagh, the next son, tall strip
ling of eighteen, in course of time
came to be regarded as The O'Brien.
But Murtagh thought frequently of
his eldest brother, and he at length
made up his mind to 60 out himself
to America and seek him. He re'
solved to take Dermont, the third
and youngest brother, with him. 1t
was with mourning the poor mother
saw them 60, for she firmly believed
that her Shamus was dead. On
landing in New York the young
fellows were indeed puzzled as to
how they were to set about seeking
their brother. They were very short
of cash, and were in truth strangers
in a very strange land.
After some days of fruitless in
quiry, Murtagh began to feel the
hopelessness Of the expedition and
De1mont, now appeared miserably
ill, cried like baby for the old
home and the mothers love and
Kitty's sharp words and the rest of
the "home comforts on the other
side of the sea. One morning the
child sat with his dark curly head
resting dejectedly on his hands,
while Murtagh knit his black brows
and set himself to think.
"Dermont, have hit on It'll" he
cried, eagerly springing to his feet,
his keen gray eye flashing. Listen T!
am sure Shamus is somewhere in
this city of New York"
"An6 I am sure he isn't" Dermot
put in fretfully. "Oh, Murtagh, what
fools we were to leave Ballymacka-
hony!"
swell, we have left; so we may
as well make the best of it, and look
for Shamus. You wouldn't forsake
your own brother, would you,
Dermot ? My plan is that we look
well in New York before going
farther. / have grand plan
now so dry your eyes. and come
with me-"
"But what is your plan ?" asked
Dermot, ruefully looking out of the
dirty windows of the fifth-rate little
coffee. house where they had gone to
lodge.
"Never mind yet," replied his
brother hopefully. "Just come with
me and you will see."
Dermot obeyed in miserable
silence, and looked on with nnin,er-
ested eyes, while Mortagh, meeting
an old street hawker, stopped her,
and began to negotiate with her for
the purchase of Der big straw basket.
Apparently the basket and its
coarse convass cover were all Muir
tagh required, for he hastily tossed
all the clay pipes and reeds ofcotten
and papers of pins and high-com-
plexioped Dutch dolls into the old
wornan's apron, and started off,with
his purchase hanging from his arm.
Dermot limped after, wondering
how the old battered basket, which
looked rs if it had braved many
"battle" and "breeze," was going
to help them to find Shamus. There
were no words to express his aston
ishment, however, when. on turning
into the next street, Murtagh step.
ped out into the middle of the
crowded roadway, and, putting one