If a young lady wanted to send a _billet-doux_ to her sweet-heart in a far-off country, she knew that, by the simple calling, she might have the help of “the handiest man at the pen in all Schuylkill County,” and that, in the general opinion, was Jim McKenna. As a matter of natural consequence “Jim” was, with maids and mothers, boys and girls, fathers and sons—of the rougher sort—a great favorite. There was nothing under the sun to be done, scientific or culinary, agricultural, surgical, artistic, or mechanical, that “Jim,” in the opinion of his countrymen, could not do—certainly very little he would not attempt, merely to oblige those who needed him. To a certain class his name was synonymous with fun, frolic, dance, and song, and his face indicative of good nature and genuine Irish humor. To others, he was terror personified. Some of his best friends said that he might comb out his hair somewhat oftener, and drink less whisky, but very generally these slight and prevalent defects were overlooked in the benefits McKenna conferred upon those with whom he associated. As before stated, there were also those who seriously believed that the agent was really an assassin, had murdered a man in Buffalo, and was in constant communication with counterfeiters and black-legs. Those who knew these things—or supposed they knew them—did not often speak of them outside the Mollie ring. One fact could not be gainsaid: if there was a ball, a charity, a dance, a picnic, or a man or woman in real want, Jim McKenna always had a dollar to give. If there was a treat where he chanced to be, none put up glasses more liberally than that same McKenna. These contradictory opinions rather surprised the good people of Shenandoah who canvassed the subject. How he could be such a favorite with the miners was more than they could fathom. During the latter portion of September, 1874, there was a grand fair at Ringtown, and, as it was stated that the Sheet Irons were to be present in great force, with the express intention of whipping out their enemies, the Mollies, several of the latter determined to go, armed and equipped for the purpose of defending themselves and seeing how much their adversaries would really accomplish. This fair was similar to those called county agricultural shows in the Western and Southern States, and sometimes from one thousand to fifteen hundred persons, men, women, and children, would congregate daily, for five or six days, on these occasions.