Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-19
A MODERN HERO.

To the Memory of Michael Rooney this simpl,
stone was erected by his Fellow Workmen.
Those words you may read any day upo1
plain white slab in a cemetery in one o.
our large cities. Butyou might read then
hundred times without guessing at tn.
little tragedy they indicate, without know
ing the humble romance which ended
with the placing of that stone above Tho
dust of one poor and humble man.
In his shabby jacket and mud laden bro
gans he was scarcely an attractive object
as he walked into Mr.. Camps great tin
and hardware shop one day and presented
himself at the counter with:
''I've been tould ye advertised for hands
yer honor"
Gully supplied, my man." said Mr.
Camp, not lifting his head from his &C
count book.
"I'd work faithful, sir, and take low
wages till I could do better, and I'd lear1
Il would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Camp
had declared that he never would employ
an incompetent hand. Yet the tone at
tracted him. He turned briskly, and with
his pen behind his ear he addressed tn,
man who was only one of fifty who hat
answered his advertisement that morning
for four workmen.
"What makes you expect to learn faster
than other folks? Are you any smarter?'
'I'll not say that" said the man, "bu
I'd be wishing to; that 'ud make it easier
care you used to the work?"
"Tve done bit of it."
"Muchs"
"No, yer honor; I'll tell no lie; but
know bit about tins"
"You are too old for an apprentice, ant
you'd be in the way, calculate" said Mr.
Camp, looking at the brawny arms. Be
sides, l know your countrymen-lazy fel
lows who never do their best. No; I'vt
been taken in by Irish hands before, and
won't have another"
"The Virgin will have to be afther bring
ing 'em over in her two arms, thin" sale
the man despairingly, "for I've trampet
all day for the last fortnight. and niver {
job can / get, and that's the last penny
have, yer honor, and it's but half one."
AS he spoke he spread his palm open ant
displayed an English halfpenny.
"Bring whom overS" asked Mr.. Camp
arrested by the odd speech as he turned
away.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy"
"Who are they?"
'HThe vans me wife, the other me child,
said the man. ooh, sir, jist thry me
How'll l bring 'em over to me if no ont
will give me job? Iwant to be aiming
and the whole big city seems aginst it, ant
me with arms like Thin" He barred hi.
arms to the elbow as he spoke, and Mr.
Camp looked at them and then at his face
"I'll hire you for week." he said; "ant
now as it's noon go down into the kitchen
and ask the girl to give you your dinner
a hungry man can't work"
And with an Irish blessing the new hand
obeyed, while Mr.. Camp went upstairs tt
his own meal.
Rooney worked hard and actually learned
fast At the end of the week he was en-
gagged permanently, and soon was the best
workman in the shop. He was great
talker, but not fond of drink nor of vast
ing money. As his wages grew he boarded
every penny, and wore the same shabby
clothes in which he had made his first ap
pearance.
''Ivery cent spend" he said one day
puts off the bringing Nora and Jamesy
over. Better no coat to me back than nc
wife and boy by me fireside, and anyhow
it's slow work saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept at it
Other men, thoughtless and full of fun
tried to make him drink, coaxed him te
accompany them to places of amusement
or to share in their Sunday frolics. All il
vain. Rooney liked fun, liked companion
ship, but he would not delay that Ions
looked for bringing Of Nora over and he
was not "mane enough" to accept favors
of others which he would not repay. HI
kept on his way, a martyr to his one great
wish, living on little, working at night OF
any extra job by which he could earn &
trife, and talking to any one who would
listen of his one great hope and of Nors
and little Jamesy.
At first the men, who prided themselves
on being all Americans, and on turning out
the best work in the city, made a sort o.
butt of Rooney and his Irish ways. But
he won their hearts at last, and when one
day, mounting on workbench, he shook
his little bundle, wrapped in red handker
chief, before their eyes and shouted
"Look, boys, I've got the whole at last; Tn
goin' to bring Nora and Jamesy over al
last" all felt sympathy in his joy, anG
each grasped his brawny hand in cordia
congratulations.
They parted in merry mood, most o.
the men going to comfortable homes. But
Rooney's resting place was poor lodging
house, where he shared garnet with foul
other men, and in the JOY of his heart the
poor fellow exhibited his handkerchief
with his hard earned savings tied up in {
hard wad in the middle, before he put il
under his pillow and fell asleep. Wher
he awakened in the morning he found his
treasure gone. Some villain had robbed
him.
At first Rooney would not believe it lost
He searched every corner of the room
shook his quilt and blanket. and begged
those about him to "quit joking and give
it back" But at last he realized the truth
els any man that bad that's thaved from
me?' he asked. "Boys, ia any man that
bad?"
And some one answered, mo doubt of it,
Rooney; it's stole"
Then Rooney put his head down on his
hands and wept. 1t seemed more than he
could bear-to have Nora and the child put
months away from him again.
But when he went to work that day II
seemed to all who saw him that he had
picked up new determination; his hands
were never idle. At noon he scratched
out letter, blotted and very strangely
scrawled, telling Nora what had happened
and the men noticed that he had no meal
with his dinner.
Indeed from that moment he lived OF
bread, potatoes and cold water, and worked
as few men eyer worked before. It grew II
be the talk of the shop, and every on'
wanted to help Rooney. Jobs were thrown
in his way, kind words and friendly wishes
helped him nightly, but no power coult
make him share the food or drink Of an.