The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-12-13
Barney the ~
~ Lumber Jack.

into town from the woods the other
day. Barney began in the work OF
hewing down the pine many years
ago and has ''stoock to the job liver
since" He was born in the county
Of Killarney, and early in life became
sdisgoosted' with the blooming,
bloody, blasted British, who had
oppressed his native land, and one
day he pressed his dear old mother
to his bosom, and bid her good bye,
and said he was going down to West
port, which is on the sea, and
stroke out for some countrie where
John Bull didn't groind the very
ambishin out of the finder young
heart of the Irish youth, and take all
the loife and the speeret away,
"Och, shure," he said to his mother,
''there's no hopes for the Irish race,
and shud liver git propirty it d all
have to go to the blamed British to
pay for the keeping of them red
coated spalpeen soljers over in the
Imirald Isle to help all the more
subiegate their bethers among the
Irish people,
And Barney's old mother dashed
aside a tear, and with a stout, but
loving heart kissed her "darlint"
good bye, and told him to ''remim-
Der his poor old mither, and to rite
to her often" It was with a heavy
heart that our Barney walked
away, and at the bend in the road
he turned to take long last look at
the home he was leaving, and to
wave his hand to the faithful mother
who was sorrowfully watching her
boy 60 away-to be gone perhaps
| forever. But she knew it was for
the boys good, and that night the
old lady knelt beside her bed and
rendered an earnest prayer to God,
and the piety of her generous and
aching old heart was poured out in
humble supplications to the Saints
to protect and bless her boy.
And so Barney went away. At
the seaport he hired out as a deck
hand on a trading vessel, and for
two years Or more he followed the
sea. He finally wendell his way
through the gates OF Castle Garden,
and whether or not it was because
Horace Greeley had said ego west,
young man" that induced him to
push back into the country, is not
recorded, and it is immaterial to
our story, but nevertheless Barney
came up into the woods of Michigan,
and when things got dull there,
sought the shores of Lake Superior.
And here he is as content as the
average man.
The first time l ever met Barney
was on the street one day, when he
came up to me in a condition that
made me strongly suspicious that he
had been drinking pretty heavily,
and this was confirmed by his con-
versation.
Shay" he said; ''now partner,
doc ye'se know what Old better
do"
assured him I could not tell him.
"Will," says he, "Oive been max
ing blamed fool of meself, and it s
no use, Olive got to do something.
To till We the trooth Olive got
little goire in this town that wurruks
round bout hire somewhere and
the jig'd be up if she'd see me in the
condishun I'm in.
So [ told him that in my opinion [
thought he better go to the hotel he
stopped at and lay down and sleep it
off. He took kindly to my advise,
and replied:
''Sure, now, [ knew We were a
gintlemen, and Oil take the good,
koind odvice that you volonter, and
if yell be afther excusing a mon,
ond I hope that's it's no ofinse that
Olive been giving Oil take We up
and [ think now Oil not bother a
gintlemon whose been so koind and
binivilent and be going. But, skuse
me, sir, but where is Mrs plais
of business?'
The place inquired about was a
well known saloon, and before giving
the information | expostulated, and
told the man that he was need
ing a rest instead of the things kept
in a saloon.
Right We are, moi friend, Oil
reminder We, but just one drink and