Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-16
A MODERN HERO.
To the Memory OF Michael Rooney. this simple
stone was erected by his Fellow Workmen.

| IDoSe words you may reud any uay Upol
plain white slab In cemetery in one o
our large cities. But you might read then
hundred times without guessing at tn
little tragedy they indicate, without know
Ing the humble romance which endet
with the placing Of that stone above til,
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 Mt the counter with:
1--WE been tould ye advertised for hands
yer honor"
"Fully supplied, my man." said Mr.
Camp, not lifting his head from his ac
count book.
"Pd work faithful, sir, and take low
wages till could do better and I'd learn
i would that"
1t was an Irish brogue, and Mr. Camp
had declared that he never would employ
an incompetent hand Yet the tone at.
traoted him. He turned briskly, and with
his pen behind his eur he addressed the
man who was only one Of fifty who had
answered his advertisement that morning
for four workmen.
"What makes you expect to learn fiister
than other felkss Are you any smarterS'
''Tn not say that" said the man, but
I'd bewishing to; that 'ud make it easier"
Are you used to the work."
"Iye done bit of it,"
"Muchy'
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" said Mr..
Camp, looking at the brawny arms. Be-
sides, know your countrymen-lazy fell.
lows who never do their best. No; I've
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" said
the man despairingly, "for I've tramped
all day for the last fortnight, and niver a
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 and
displayed an English halfpenny.
Bring whom over2" asked Mr.. Camp
arrested by the odd speech IA he turned
away.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy"
"Who are they2"
1.-THE vans me wife, the other me child, y
said the man. "Oh, sir, jist thry me
How'll ! bring 'em over to me If no one
will give me a jobS 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 rs he spoke, and Mr.
Camp looked at them and then at his face
"Tll 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"
nd with ~ Ir,ah a. L
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 bes
workman in the shop. He was a great
talker, but not fond OF drink nor of vast
ing money. AS his wages grew he boarded
every penny, and wore the same shabb,
clothes in which he had made his first an
pearance.
livery cent | spend" he said one day
puts Off the bringing Nora and James,
over. Better no coat to me back than M
wife and boy by me Preside. and anyhow
It's slow work saving"
1t was slow work, but he kept at Il
Other men. thoughtless and full of fun
tried to make him drink, coaxed him t.
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 lopG
looked for bringing OF Nora over, and h,
was not "mane enough" to accept fayor
OF others which he would not repay. II,
Kept on his way, martyr to his one grea
wish. living on little working at night OF
any extra job by which he could earn ,
triile, and talking to any one who woul(
listen of his one great tope and of Nor;
and little Jamesy.
at first the men. who prided themselve.
on being all Americans, and on turning gu
the best work in the city. made a sort o
butt OF Rooney and his Irish ways Blu
he won their hearts at last, and when on,
day, mounting on workbench, he shool
his little bundle, wrapped in a red handker
chief, before their eyes and shouted
Look, boys, I've got the whole at last; I'm
Roin' to bring Nora and Jamesy over a
lastr' all felt a sympathy In his ioy, an,
each grasped his brawny hand in corlia
congratulations.
They parted In a merry mood, most O
the men going to comfortable homes. Blu
Rooney's resting place was u poor lodging
house, where he shared garnet with foul
other men, and in the joy of his heart til,
poor fellow exhibited his handkerchief
with his hard earned savings tied up in ,
hard wad in the middle, before he put i
under his pillow and fell asleep. Wher
he awakened in the morning he found hi,
treasure gone Some villain had robbie,
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 Civ,
10 back" But at hast he realized the truth
rs any man that bad that's thaved from
mef,,, he asked. Boys, is any man tina,
Aud some one answered, mo doubt of 1t
Rooney; it's stole"
Then Rooney put his head down on hi,
hands and wept. 1t seemed more than h,
could bear-to have Nova and the child pul
mouths away from him again.
But when he went to work that day 1,
seemed TO all who saw him that he hat
picked up new determination; his hand,
were never idle. At noon he scratched
out letter, blotted and very straugel,
scrawled, telling Nora what had happened
and the men noticed that he had no meal
with his dinner
Indeed from that moment he lived or
bread. POTATOES and cold water, aud wprksi