Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-02-18

Au02S WSE41 yua n1y fc1u ouy
day upon o white slab 10 . certain
Catholic cemetery not many miles
from New York; but you might read
them Q hundred times without gues
sing as the little tragedy they indi
cate. without knowing the humbls
romance which ended with the plsc
ing of that stone sbove the dust O
one poor and humble man.
In his shabby friess jacket and
mnd-laden brogans, he vas scarce
~ On attractive object @ hs walked
into Mr.. Bawn's great tin and hard
ware shop. ons day. and presented
himssli e ths countsr With IN:
"I've been told - advertised fsi
hands, yer honor. .
Fully suppsied. my man. " said
Bawn, not lifting his head from his
account-book.
I'D work faithful, sir. and take
low wages till / could do betther,
and I'd learn spady-I ] would that. >
Il was an Irish brogue, and Mr..
Bswn had always said that he hated
the Irish" The speech confessed
70 Incompetence. and Mr.. Bawn had
always declared that he would nev.
er employ an incompetent hand,
Yet the tone attracted him. BE
turned briskly, and with his pen be.
hind his ear. addressed the man,
who was only one Of she City who
had answered his advertisement for
four workmen that morning.
what makes you expect TO learn
faster than other folks-are you ans
smarter 2"
I'm not say that" said the man,
"but I'd be wishing TO; that would
make it easier"
"Are you used 10 the work ?"
1--WE done bit Of 1t. -
much 2"
mo. yer honor. III tell no lie.
Tim O'Toole hadn't the like Of this
place; but ] know O bit about tins. .
"You are too old for an apprentice,
and you'd be In the way, I'd calcu-
late, said Mr.. Bawn, looking at the
brawny arms and bright eyes that
promised strength and intelligence.
besides I know your countrymen
lazy, good-for-nothing fellows who
never do their best. For I've been
taken in by Irish hands before. and
/ won't have another"
THE Virgin will have to be after
bringin' 'em over in her two arms,
thip," said the man despairingly,
''for I've tramped all day for the last
fortnight and niver o job can get,
and that's the last penny have, yer
honor, and it's but Q half one."
As he spoke he spread his palm
open with an English half-penny
upon il.
Bring whom over 2" asked Mr..
Rawn, arrested by the odd speech
a he turned upon bis heel and turn,
ins back again.
"Jist Nora and Jamesy.
Who ars they9
"The vans me wife. the other me
child, said tie man. "Oh, master
jest thry me. How'll bring EN-
over 70 me IL no onell give me Q job
] want to be airnin' and the whole
big city seems against is, and me
with arms like thin. o.
He barred his arms TO the sshouldsl
as he spoke, and Mr. Bawn looked
at them, then as his face.
"I'll hire you for O week. he said
land see what you are worth; and
now a. it IL noon. 60 down 70 th,
kitchen and tell the girl 10 give 20,
your dinner-a hungry man can
work."
And with an Irish blessing th,
new hand obeyed. while Mr.. Bawn
untying his apron. went up-stairl
20 his meal.
Suspicious n he was OF the nev
hands integrity and ability, he wa,
agresably disappointed. Connol
worked hardan actually learned fas
As the end Of the week he was en-
gagged permanently. and soon wa,
the best man In the shop.
He was . great talker, but no
fond Of driak or Of wasting money
As his wages grew he boarded eve
~ penny and wore the same shabb,
clothes IN which he had made hi
flrst appearances.
Beer costs money" he said on
day, land livery cent I spind put
olf the bringing Nora and James,
lover; and rs for clothes. them I hav
must do me-betther no coat to m
back than no wife by me- firesids
and anyhow its slow work saving.
II was slow work, but he kept q
it all thssame. othermen, though,
less and FUN Of fun, tried 20 max
him drink made o jest OF his say
ling habits. coaxed him oaccompan
them 70 places Of amusement or
share their Sunday frollics. Al