The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-02

l<ltiit jim aOAiA hAo 'AN1tN ~ Eooh
deal Of talk.
OF that there was no doubt.
Every motherly person In that por-
ton of South Brooklyn known as the
Patch has been talking about it for
the last week, for Jim was one of the
celebrities of that locality.
IL Is not alone of his death they are
talking, however, for that had been
anticipated for some time. and be-
sides deaths are SO common there that
but little is thought of it. Mrs.
Moriarty. one of the leading ladies OF
the Patch" expressed the general
opinion tersely but fairly when She said
recently: "Snre the worst thing about
dyin' Is that betchune the docthors, the
wake, the undertakers. an the buryin'
it's chaper TO live"--a rather mixed
statement, the meaning of which is
clear. however.
NJ. II was not the death of little Jim
that caused all the talk before referred
TO.
Not at all.
IL was his funeral that gave rise TO all
the talk. Ii was one of the most re-
markable funerals ever seen in south
Brooklin.
No one who knew Little Jim in life
would hav. supposed that he could
command such honor in death.
.Jim's life was not one that even the
ordinary street arab would naturally
envy.
The locality in which Jim lived aud
died does not include among its inhab-
itants any whose names figure in any
elite directory. There are a sprinkling
OF longshoremen. some junkmen and
truckmen. some ordinary laborers. and
some people who neither toll nor spin.
There are the usual dingy rum-shops
that are more prosperous than any
other kind of shops. There are pigs.
and goats, and dogs innumerable, that
always seem 10 be engaged in breaking
city ordinances aud getting their own
ers iuto trouble. Taking II all in all,
IL is a unique locality in more respects
than one.
Tradition In the patch has IL that at
one period Jim had a father and
mother. Now. society at the Patch
does not ask for much, but ii would
seem that the parents Of Jim did not
come up TO the social requirements Of
even this easy-going locality, SO that
there was no regret when Jim's mother
died after prolonged spree, and his
father left tho Patch never 10 return.
This did not occur, however, until after
In some friendly brawl, one or the
other. or both Of them. had in some
manner, injured Jim so that he re-
manned cripple until the day OF his
death.
Ii was about this time that Timothy
L.. aAt,.fnn hnRnn
from his work one hight, and being
thirsty, directed his steps to resort
for the bibulously inclined. known as
the Hole in the Wall" He was just
auenching his thirst when he saw n
dwarish form enter partly with the
assistance OF an improvised crutch.
The gentleman who presided In the
establishment leaned over the counter.
We'll what is FTP" he demanded.
sIm lookin' for mo ladder was the
reply. !,
WELL yer father ant here, so you'd
better get out
Hold on" said Mr.. Murphy, long
shoreman. at this juucture. Come
mere, me lad. It's meself that knows
yer blaggard of father an it's me
opinion ven see him no more, an sorra
the much loss.
The boy set up n whimper. aud then
the big longshoreman put his broad
hand over his mouth.
''Whisht." he said. come with me-"
and the burly longshoreman aud the
little cripple left the store together.
A few moments later Mr.. Sullivan,
1ongshoreman. appeared In his own
domiclle with little Jim,
It's that bye OF Flaherty's Mary.
said he TO his motherly looking wife.
Give him a sup an n place 10 sleep.
We've enough av our own 10 feed, but
wan mcre'll make little difference. II
we've a feast well not miss what he
eats. IL we've famine sorry bit nv
me but thinks that he's used 10 the
same
And that is the way Jim BECAME