The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1911-08-30
How Pat Was Working
When Eileen Arrived
"A Labor Day Story
By NORA C. MCCARTHY
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.

'Pat," said Eileen when Pat started
for America, 81 hope you won't git
mixed up in the labor troubles in that
country. They say sometimes there's
| hghtin', and Oim skeert ov yer gittin'
kilt"
"Niver moind, sweetheart, Oi'll take
good care O. meself ag'in yer comm
over to jine me and well be married
and live In a nice little shanty and
have a pig and q goat and live loike
gintle folk"
''But they say. Pat, that in America
they don't have pigs. Anyway. they
don't keep 'em in the house. Owe
heard that the pigs is all KEEP together
and killed together sometoimes a
mather OF tin or dozen at one killin'. !"
THAT won't mather to us. Wen
have one Just to remind us Of home
And we'll have the shanty Ofm tellin'
ye about wild the ladder gOin' up to
the second story
''Och, Pat, they don't have ladders in
America, they have stairs"
well. we'll have a ladder in our
shanty just as wen have the pig. And
by that same token wen have a COO
for milk"
"But Ot'm told people don't keep
COOS Of their own In that country. All
the milk Is put in big tub and it's
peddled out In wagons"
''But we'll have the COO for the
same raison wen have the pig and
the ladder, to remoind us Of our beau
tiful islant and the home one couldn't
have In it. because we're too poor.
But in America Ofll git together the
money for the shanty and the pig and
the ladder and the COO, and wen live
like fghtin' cocks"
So Pat folded the poor girl I'm his
arms, the tears streaming down her
cheeks at parting with him. +
whats the mather, darlin'Y' he
said, patting her fondly. Don't be
cryin'. TIN not be long before I sind
ye the money to come over to me,
and be the tonne ye git there Orn
have the shanty ready, SO yen think
ye're right here in Ould Oirland."
'"Oh, Pat. Dim feared ye won't sue
ceedT
And SO they parted, Pat with no
more money in his pocket than to
take him in the steerage across the
ocean. The pair were too simple and
uneducated to have formed any idea
Of America. Their dream Of home
there was such as they might have at
home had they the means to establish
It, where the pig and the cow and
themselves might all live together in
domestic harmony.
Since Pat could not write, his let
ters from the new country, written by
a friend, were of the simplest charac-
ter. He realized that even If he could.
write his own letters he would never
be able to convey to Eileen's siaple
wise to attempt it. At first his letters
began in the usual way with his class:
take my pen In hand to write you. a
few tines to say that I'm in good health,
thanks be to God. hoping that you are
the same at the present time. --~
Then followed hopes that the crops
would be abundant and that different
members of the family were well.
One poor speller who indited a letter
for Pat wrote, "This letter comes
hopping that you are well as am,
thanks be to God!' :.s
whats that?'' said Eileen. ''It
comes hOppin'? OF thacht it come by
q ship" -... .,.
Pat remained several years in Amer
lea before he sent for Eileen. When
he got a start he wrote, "Darlint,
Oi'm Ouildin' the shanty." When he
made some money he wrote, "Orve
bought the pig" Then the cow fol-
lowed, his shanty was ready and Pat
was ready to send the passage money
that was to bring his sweetheart to
aim I'm America. ",%'@)
Before starting Eileen wrote that
she wished he could bring the shanty
and the pig and the cow to Ireland,
but ehe supposed that If he could he
be able to make the money
necessary to keep up the establish
ment. So she made her preparation to
Join him.
Pat knew the day she sailed and the
day the steamer was due in New York.
He wrote her that she would arrive
on holiday they kept in America call
ID Labor day. He would be busy on
hat day, and he would send his friend.
Mike FOgarty. to the steamer to meet
her and bring her to where he was
Eileen thought Pat must be
very Industrious to work ON a holiday,
and she was glad and proud Of him.
When the ship came up to the dock
Eileen saw a man on 1t looking as II
be might be Fogarty, and he was.
"Pat tould me-" he said ''to take We
where he's workin', and l will" He
led Eileen to a street where great
crowds were waiting for something to
happen. Then came a band Of music
and men with sashes and scarfs on
horses. Among these men
IN q black clawhammer coat and silk
hat she saw her Pat.
Pat caught sight OF her and, dis
Joined her.
els this the way ye're worldn'P' she
asked. astOnished.
take her to the shanty," said Pat
10 Fogarty. land Oi'll be there direct
u" "
FOgarty led the girl to a Eve story
tenement house. where on the third
door she was ushered into a nicely
apartment.
LA sakes" she exclaimed. Ibid
Pat earn the money for this ridin' on
! horse wild a piece o. stove pipe ON
his head and a blue ribbon across
Aim8'