Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-16

ed to be able to nurse him back Il
health, and he replied gratefully tha
If she were with him he would recover
more rapidly, but his greatest disap
pointment was that he was using VI
the fund he had started with which II
bring her to him In necessary expenses
including doctors bills.
The last letter Emmet received IRON
home before Eileen sailed was from
his mother. She was very pious wo
man and had often written her son t.
be sure not to neglect his church du
ties. In this letter she told him thai
she was sending him gift that HI
would receive on or about St Pat
rick's day. She believed that it would
make him well. for she sent with 1t hel
blessing.
Emmett was very curious to know
what this gift was his mother wai
sending him and wondered how Il
would come. he saw no way except
by express, and, although his mother
had his address, he sent a postcard tt
each express company's local Office
that 1t might not be delayed for want
Of his street and number.
On the morning Of St Patrick's day
Emmet's gift had not arrived. There
was a telephone in the house In which
he lived, and since he was too weak
to leave his bed he asked his landladJ
to telephone the express offices to ash
II any package had been received fol
him. Every office declared that moth
ing had been received for him, and he
was disappointed. About II o'clock II
the morning the landlady came to hls
room and said to him:
"Your st. Patrick's day gift from Ire
land has arrived. Shall bring 1t upT
"Of course. Bring 1t up at once"
II don't know that I'm able to car
ry It"
"Is 1t very heavyr
I think 1t must weigh about 10(
pounds"
"Well, well! suppose 1t must stay
there till I can get up and handle II
myself"
maybe 1t can come Of itself"
Before Emmet could reply to this
apparently absurd proposition the dool
was flung open, and Eileen ran to EN-
NETS bed and. kneeling beside 1t
threw her arms about him.
"I'm the gift your mother sent you
Emmett" she said. Both she and you
father hoped l would arrive on st
Patrick's day. They said they'd bt
thinkin' Of US all this blessed day as
bein' together"
"Thanks be to God" was all the IN
valid could say, clasping his arms
about Eileen.
"And now that I've come you mus
get we'll right away"
"That / will. I'm thinkin' I'm vel
already. But how did you manage
about the money for your passage
Eileen, seein' had none to send you?
"I saved it from my wages"
At that moment there came strains
Of martial music from without.
"Its the parade" said Emmet. "ru
thinkin' I'll get up and we'l have
look at It."
"Are you strong enough"
"Strong enough? l could carry al
OK on me back now"
Emmett. wrapped in the bedclothing
with Eileen's assistance, managed tt
get to q window. where chair wa:
placed for him. The arrival Of hi:
love, the sight of the paraders moving
by, the sound Of bugle and beat o.
drum. were so inspiring that he said II
he had known how strong he was ht
would be marching with them. ant
Eileen needed to hold him in his chai1
to keep him from starting up. Sht
managed to keep him quiet by giving
him a green flag to wave to the boy'
below, while with the other hand hi
held hers under the window sill, where
they could not be seen.
Under such q stimulus Emmet coult
not be kept in bed. He was soon VI
for good, the banns between him and
Eileen were published in the church
and they were duly married. but thi!
was not till Emmett had returned Il
work and they had hired rooms. which
they entered Immediately after the
wedding.
All this occurred years ago. Emme
is now contractor and has built many
a structure Of which he may be justly
proud and which together have made
him prosperous. He and Eileen have
a large family. The holiday the chill
dren enjoy most is Christmas, but fol
their parents st. Patrick's day b near
est to their hearts.