The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-08-14
A MODERN HERO.
Pathetic story or an Irishnan Who
Went to His Loved Ones.

A. hOolZ1pA' AiAIAsOs
Pathetic Story or an Irishman Who
Went to His Loved Ones.
ITO the Memory OF Michael Rooney, this
sImplc stone was erected by his Fellow Work.
men"
Those words yon may read any day
upon plain white slab in cemetery
in ono Of our large cities. But you
might read them a hundred times with
outguessing at the little tragedy they In
dictate, without knowing the humble ro-
nance which ended with the placing OF
that stone above the dust of one poor
and humble man.
In his shabby jacket and mud-laden
brogans, he was scarcely an attractive
.--objec as she walked into -Mr--CamP's
great tin and hardware shop one day
and presented himself at the counter
with
''Pve been tould ye advertised for
hands, yer honor"
'Fully supplied, my man," said Mr..
Camp, not lifting his head from his ac-
count book
u WOTh ldlbLlul, duN-tdhc INV
wages till / could do betther, -and-Td
learn--I would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr.. Camp
had declared that he never would en-
ploy an Incompetent handy the
tone attracted him, He turned hrisklv
and with his pen behind his ear no adj
dressed the man who was only one OF
fifty who had answered. his ADVERTISE
ment that morning for four workmeD:
What makes you expect to learn
faster than other folks? Are you any
.smarter2,,
'I'll not say that" said the man,
shut I'd be wishing to; that I'D make it
easier"
''Are you used to the work?'
1--WE done bit of it..
'sMuch2p
mo, yer honor; I'll tell no lie; but
know bit about tins"
''You are too old for an apprentice,
and you'd be in the way, calculate, y
said Mr.. Camp, looking at the brawny
arms Resides, know your country
men-fazy fellows who never do their
host No, I've boon taken in by Irish
hands before, and | won't have an
other"
''The Virgin will have to be afther
bringing 'em over in her two arms,
thin said the man.. despairingly, for
I've tramped all day for tho last fort
night, and niver a job can l get, and
that's the last penny Lhave, yer honor,
and it's but a half enc. =
AS he spoke, he spread his palm open
and displayed an English half-penny.
Bring whom over?" asked Mr.. Camp,
arrested ly the odd speech as he turned
away.
''Jist Nora and Jamesy."
"Who are they?"
ss1he vans me wife, the other me
child" said the man. "Oh, sir jist thry
me. How'll bring EN- over to me If no
one will give me a job? ! want to be
aiming, and the whole big city seems
aginst it, and me with arms like Thin"
He barred his arms to the elbow as he
spoke, and Mr.. Camp looked at them
and thon at his face,
''Fll hire you for week, he said;
''and 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 up
stairs to his own meal,
Rooney worked hard and actually
learned fast At the end of the week
--he-wa engaged permanently, and SOON
was the best workman in the shop. He
was great talker, but not fond of drink
nor of wasting money. As his wages
grew he boarded every penny, and wore
the same shabby clothes in which he had
made his first appearance.
livery cent? spend" he said one day,
.'puts off the bringing Nora and Jamesy
over Better no coat to me back than
no wife and boy by me flreside; and any
how, 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 to
accompany them to places OF amusement
or to share in their Sunday frolics All
in vain Rooney liked fun, liked COM
panionship;sbut he would not delay that
long looked-for bringing OF Nora over,
and he was not ''mane enough" to ac-
cept favors of others which he would
not repay. He kept on his way, mar
tie, working at night on any extra job
by which he could earn tridc, and
talking to any one who would listen of
his one great hopsssaad Of Nora and lit
tie JaNesy.
At first the men, who prided them
selves on being all Americans and on
turning out the best work in the city,
MADE sort of butt of Rooney and his
Irish ways, But he won their hearts at
last, and when, one day, mounting on a
work bench, he shook his little bundle,
wrapped in red handkerchief, before
their eyes, and shouted; "Look, boys,
I've gotnthe whole at last, Pm goin' to
bring Nora and Jamesy over at last!' all
felt sympathy in his joy and each
grasped his brawny hand in core ial con-
gratulati ons.
They parted in a merry mood, most of
the men going to comfortable homes.
! But Rooney's resting place was poor
fodging-house, where he shared a garrett
= with four other men; and in the Joy of
his heart the poor fellow exhibited his
handkerchief with his hard-earned saw
ings tied up in hard wad in the mid
die, before he put it under his pillow
and fell asleep. When he awakened in
the morning he found his treasure gone.
Some villain had robbed him.
Al frst Rooney would not believe
u lost he searched every corner OF the
room, shock HIS pht!s sha hishisct and
begged those about him W ''snis ;okinG