Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-11

, drawn Praise Godl' which was given with
such an exquisite Irish brogue that my
curiosity was very much awakened, for I
had never seen an Irishman in such an
office before. ] saw we'll that Patrick had
fallen upon evil times. Both his countenauce
and his clothing showed it. and the gapes in
his boots spoke loudly to the same effect.
His eve met mine. at length, and the humor
Of the situation proving too much for me |
smiled, / fear, a rather q%uizzical smile. The
lines about the poor fellows mouth in
lstantly relaxed, and smiling. too. at being
caught, he dropped his eyes to the ground.
! edged around to where he stood, though he
tried to frown me off. Hard luck?' l
whispered in his ear between responses.
"The divil's own luck-Praise Cod"
or our people in America, oftentimes the
least radical change takes place among the
poorest and the hardest working. They very
often retain all the beautiful, unsophlsti-
Gated traits which, barring the sparse con-
tents Of a little red bundle, were the only
wealth they brought with them to the new
island-the island Of hopes and dreams.
Somewhere before, perhaps, | told the story,
which will bear repeating, OF the two poor
Irish navvies, who on n cold and dirty Feb
ruary day. their bones probably aching and
their clothes certainly soaked with sleet.
/ after a scanty lunch in the shelter of a wall
! SlllOkeu III SlltlCt lut pipe VI pNdNt dhh VI
tent. AT length one OF them broke the
silence with. Jimmy, I'm tout the Imp'ror
of Jarminy never smokes Jimmie pulled
for still another few moments, revealing in
the luxury.
Then he spoke the sentiments of both
Poor divil!" and both %relapsed into bliss
full peace again. Rank and riches and the
other things of this world are not all-in-all
to the soul OF the Celt, no matter how un-
lettered he may be or unfortunate his lot.
One who had been very poor and hard
pressed in ireland, but was comparatively
prosperous here, on being asked, well,
Mat. this is the country for you-you never
had as happy times in lreland?' We'll
Mat said, deliberately, las regards that'
Americay Cmay God prosper it!) is a me
country entirely. But as for meself-well' l
NAV get a better bite to ate, and am sure Oh
it. an better buds to wear, an a sounder
roof over me, but that's all
The Folks mt Home.
That thew very, very seldom forget those
tina. they left behind them in Ireland does
them infinite credit. And If, by chance' an
Irish boy goes ashaughgrin ~(astray) here and
cees.s to helm his father at home, bad and
bad as this boy may be or grow, he makes
heroic efforts to keep his fall from the
Knowledge OF the father and mother In Ire
land whose hearts, he knows well, would
break IL only they knew. And as he THINKS
chiefv of saving them, so they, in turn, ike
nj. for their loads to rest upon 'the poor
how who is away" Because OF my posi-
ton as district school teacher III my county
of Donegal my services were lrequehtly
reouisitioned as amanuensis when a latner
wished to write to his boy in America ana
often the most beautiful and touchlhg
thing about these letters was what they re-
fused to put in them.
Once. | remember, a poor man whose
struggle for existence was sore wished some
help from his son in Georgia, IN case tho
boy could easily spare it. There's ahother
wars rent comm due said he, so I'll
have to let him know that the yalla COW
died last Sunday night But" l said
"didn't some one tell me that you sold the
other COW on the fair day at Donegai?' so
did-so | did. had to"-and the poor
fellows eyes we're suffused. Then you
have not a COW at all left?" "Och, | know
that, thank God. But we needn't tell Nell
that-don't mention it, plalse. Don I
mention it," said 1 severely. "Oh, no; on
no., the poor man pleaded; that would DC
putting 1t too bare
All the worlds heroes are not killed IN
battle.
NV countrvmen in America have, despite
desperate disadvantages, asserted thelr soiu
worth and sterling qualities and competed
the American, the German ana the Je" 10
acknowledge and esteem that worth and
those qualities. The Irish navy OF yes
terdav is a man of position and power to-
day, who has helped to gain for our race
The respect it has richly merited. 1t is a
pleasure and a pride to find in every Dig
emf erprise. every big undertaking, every big
newspaper, in every big store from Seattle
to South Carolina, Irishmen almost inVarl-
ably holding the positions of trust and re-
snonsibility. And it is remarkable that even
the very shrewd Jew, everywhere over the
States. must have his right-hand man irish.
Fer a confidential position, for a position re-
ouiring dominating powers for a position
recurring exceptional executive ability an
Irishman is the choice.
For my countryman carried with him to
America and has used to good purpose his
old battle cry, Flag an bealach!" (Clear
the way) SEUMAS MACMANo0'