Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-08-22

Bridget, and, concluding that America
was. after all. too big a country to
warrant q search for her. he put the
letter away. Indeed. he had no time
for anything but making his living.
He soon got Job. though small one.
and hadn't been In New York month
before he cast Of his threadbare suit
forever. donning new one In its
stead.
Pat spent a couple of years with a
plumber learning the trade. The ap.
prentice was smart and not only be-
came a plumber, but boss plumber,
and four years after having landed set
up for himself.
Pat had a great advantage in bis
CHEEKY disposition. he became very
popular with his associates. and. since
popularity Is an essential feature Of
leadership. he became a leader in a
small way. A politician. perceiving his
influence. took him up and made him
one of his lieutenants. Pat developed
fine political instincts. he had the art
Of turning down all grumblers among
his adherents with that imperturbable
smile of his. This is a power in poll
tics. II he was obliged to give four
plums to eight heelers. all Of whom
had worked equally well "for the tick
et." he would give four Of them plum
each. while every one Of the other four
men received q smile, an encomium
and promise for next time"
Pat did not forget Maggie. Several
times he made ready to send for her.
but every time something happened to
prevent Then he began to make mon,
cy. and It occurred to him that 1t
would be fine thing to go over. marry
Maggie in Ireland and bring her home.
just as the quality do. He wrote to
her to that effect, but she wrote back
that such u plan would be too great a
waste Of funds. So in the end Pat sent
her draft for plenty to buy her O
first class ticket. but Maggie. who was
of q frugal turn Of mind and could not
realize Pats change Of condition.
would not come over in any berth
above second class.
Now. 1t happened that when Maggie
reached New York Pat was engaged
in matters that required all his atten-
ton. He sent one Of his workmen to
meet her. but 1t happened that the
man was a very stupid person. And
as for Maggie. she had never looked
upon a town bigger than Killarney,
never seen a body Of water bigger
than the lake on which she had lived
and. having always been a housemaid.
had no head for taking care Of her.
self. She missed the man who had
been sent to meet her. Fortunately
her affairs for passing the immigrant
authorities were In first class condi-
ton, and she had no trouble with
them. But when she was landed at
the dock in a strange city, with no one
to tell her where to 60, her heart sank
within her.
Some one looked In directory for
her and found the address of Pats
shop. Then he put Maggie and her
belongings on to trolley car, told her
to ask for a transfer, take another line
and so mystifed her that she didn't
know what to do. Riding up the
street, she saw floating in the breeze
the green banner Of Ireland, harp and
all. 1t was a welcome sight When
the car reached broad thoroughfare
it was stopped by crowd Maggie
got out and was told procession was
about to pass. Some one invited her
to get up on stoop, where she could
see, and she accepted
Presently she heard music coming.
and q man on horseback approached.
He wore a 'grasshopper coat" and
silk hat. and green sash covered with
rosettes hung from his left shoulder.
"Arrah, mushla." exclaimed Maggie.
'1t's my Pat"
There was Pat sure enough caracol-
ing as marshal of a dozen or more
Irish societies celebrating St Patrick's
day.
"Pat," cried Maggie. "it's good luck
I've seen you"
Pat could not have heard her, but at
that moment he happened to turn his
eyes toward her and saw her gesticu-
lating at him. he rubbed his eyes
and. being satisfied that she was really
his Maggie. waved his baton for a halt,
threw himself from his horse and el-
bowed his way through the crowd to-
ward her. Then svhen the grand mar
shal took the Irish immigrant In bis
arms and smothered her with kisses a
shout arose from thousand throats.
After the wedding. which occurred
the same evening. Pat remembered the
letter he had brought for her cousin
Bridget He was about to hand 1t to
her when he checked himself.
"What's in 1t anyway" he said
Tearing 1t open. he took out five
pound note.
Maggie had supplied him with her
savings. hoping when he reached the
foreign shore and did not find Bridget
he would use 1t.
This time when Pat took Maggie to
h}o arp,o a ron p afo0d In his eve