Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-09-19
Pretty Story of John Roach.

New York World.
An intimate friend Of John Roach's
said to me: Now that John Roach is
down hope the newspapers will give
him a chance. He is a kind-hearted
man who has worked up to his position
from that of a poor lad. His misfortunes
are so great as to demand for him sym
pathy. He then went on to say: I can
give you a very dramatic chapter from
Roach's life which will give you an idea
of the loyalty and kindness of this old
mans character. He landed in this
country from Ireland a poor boy of Is
without family or relatives. He became
a workman in one Of the leading iron
works in New York. At . he had a
wife and two children. AT this time he
was a slight slip of a fellow and did not
weigh much over 40 pounds. He be-
came i'll and was confined to his bed un-
til all his modern savings were gone.
One night when there was scarcely a
penny in the house the physician come
to see him, and after examining him
said: "JOhn Roach you should know
the truth. You must die. Your lungs
are hOpelessly affected. tell you this
so that if you can make any provision
for your wife and child you will yet have
the time" Roach. was in despair. He
saw absolutely no hope for him in the
future. He did not fear death, but the
thought of leaving his wife and children
to a destitute, poverty life pierre
ed him to the heart. BE prayed all night
that he might live. In the night a vision
came to him. 1t seemed as if he were
looking directly into heaven, and from
that abode of happiness came a promise
to him that he would live. The next day
afellOW workman who had worked along
side of him for q long period came in TO
see him. This workman was going west.
He came to see John Roach, he thought,
for the last time. He bentoveF him, and
kissed him gOOd-by before he went away.
After his departure John Roach found
that this loyal, working brother Of his
had tenderly left under his pillow his
weeks wages in the very envelope given
him at the works. John Roach did not
die. With the modest help of his friend
he got q start. Thirty-three years after
wards he was walking down Broadway
when he saw the back Of q plainly dress
ed man whose figure seemed familiar TO
him. He was moved by some spirit of
desire to speak to this man. HeBbOpDed
him and said: 81 do not know your
name, but I ought to know yOu-What is
it. it was the name of the workman
who had befriended him on his dying
bed. Said Roach do you know me2"
mo- 81 am John Roach, was his re-
ply, ''the great shipbuiider." ayes, u
have heard Of you in the newspapers; it
is very kind of you to stop to speak TO a
poor man ike me, bat you must excuse
me; I have in hand a very pressing mat
ter Of business" Wait a moment" said
Mr.. Roach: "did YOU ever know another
John ROach2" eyes, but he died some
thirty-Odd years ago" mo he didn't; /
am the same John Roach, p was the ship
builders reply. The man was very much
astOnished, but he again made a move to
press on. as he was sOrely pressed for
time. But Mr.. Roach made him stop
and tell what this business was. He
found that his old friend had q small
shop and house upon q piece Of ground
In Brooklyn. 1t was to be sold under
the hammer to redeem 8 mortgage at
u O'Clock of that day. 1T was then H.
The man was hurrying 70 see the Sheriff
90 ask him if he could not put of the sale
a little longer. Mir. Roach said 20 him;
81 know that sheriff we'll You viii lose
no time stopping with me-" BE dragged
him into a restaurant, where they had g
hurried lunch. During the stay IN this
place Mr.. Roach wrote out a check for
the fun amount Of the mortgage. he
then took his old friend IN q carriage,
and they reached the 6herih,s Office Ia
time to redeem the property. The work
mans contribution to 6 dying man was
thus REPAID with interest. One OF the
sons of Mr.. Roach aftsFWaEd married the
DAUGHTER of his old friend. is there not
In this story material for q romancef