The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-11-09
A MALF.HOUR WITH A TRAMP
BY AN EX-REPORTER.

write was passed with none of these.
knew the man was tramp as soon
as he came out of the darkness of the
shadow of the houses into the glare of
the gaslight, approaching the shed
which sheltered me from the falling rain.
1t was so fixed on my mind that the un-
certain shuffling figure which seemed to
have detached itself from the gloom of
the night in entering the circle OF light
was the figure of one of those strollers
and wanderers who, night and day, are
to be- seen abroad, reckless, purposeless,
that drew back farther into the door
way, 50 as to keep my eye fairly on
him, and to have him, as it were, at
arms length when he should approach
| the spot upon which stood. When he
had at length gained the cornor of the
shed, and was protected from the rain,
be shock himself, as l have seen dogs
shake themselves under the same cir
cumstances, and growled, in an under
tone to himself, some words, the pur-
port of which did not reach me. That
done, he threw himself heavily against
the post of the awning, and peered up
and down the dreary and deserted
street.
As he stood thus, silent and motion
less, and with the light falling upon
him, scanned his appearance. In the
general makeup Of the man there was
nothing specially remarkable. Like all
his class, his attire was of the dingiest
and the most ragged, his face and hands
of the hardest and the dirtiest, his hair
of the most unkempt and matted. A
fair type of his fellows, he was just
such a looking party as would have
been eollared by policeman on the
slightest of all possible provocations,
and consigned by any Judge in christen-
dom to six months imprisonment with
out the trouble Of hearing evidence.
The lines on his face, and the grizzled
grey hair which seemed to protest
against the control of the ragged straw
which did duty as head-cOvering, pro-
claimed him a man no longer young;
but the vigorous build of the shoulders,
and the sturdy and reliant air of the
legs which crossed each other negli-
gently, spoke of latent strength
which, perhaps, would be dangerous if
aroused.
| The fall of the rain upon the roof of
the shed and in the streets continued
monotonously; the tramp stared i'll his
purpOseless way up and down; the din
of carriages and omnibuses, and all
manner of vehicles, came from Broad
way with subdued murmur; and as for
myself, | stood in the shadow of the
doorway, smoking and watching my
neighbor. But after while, turning at
the flash which accompanied the light
| g tol I ia
fire of which had gone out, be saw me
for the first time. Then, as held the
cigar to my lips and putfed at the light
ed match, he enjoined me i'll hoarse
tone to Hold on, cap'n, and give me a
show at that light, will you 7" The
tramp was clearly about to smoke. In
o jilfy he had pulled out a short black
clay pipe, (already filled with tobacco,
apparently and in the next moment
he was at my side availing himself of
the flame from the match. Then, in
quiet, companionable way, he drew his
trowers up with a jerk and sat down
upon the step Mt my feet. Much
obliged" he said, as hoarsely as before,
(his voice was something between q
growl and the voice of man laboring
under cold, and leaned his elbows
upon his knees.
"It amt often" he went on, after u
moments pause, "that them words comes
to my lips. 1t amt often that anybody
does anything for me to be obliged to
'em. Cap'n,' he continued, putting at
the pipe as he spoke, show long have
you been standing here y
"Siuce the rain commenced to fall"
| "You was here afore me I"
eyes"
My neighbor dropped into silence for
| q minute or two-a silence which l did
not feel disposed to break-and then re-
sumcd the conversation.
There's many man." he said, in q
tone of philosophical resignation
There's many an individual who'd
think this rain a-falling now was hard
lines. Idon't."
"And why don't youp asked, in
sort of desperation, and with a dreary
impulse to say something upon me.
"Why don't II Because it keeps the
cobs out O. q mans track-a hunting
parties down, and grabbing 'em mp,
and walking 'em off to the watchus.
| They're arter me constant. Come,
now says they to me, move on, now!
And then, cap'n, i move on, and up
comes another cob, and maybe grabs
me and hits me over the head with q
club. Fve been sent up three times.
I've got sort o used to it now, but it is
hard linesw
$50 you rather like rainy weather, do
YOU 7" l asked, still " it'll the sense up
on me o. being obliged to say some
thing.
"C nights, yes. When it rains this
way O. nights, mans got q chance to
turn in and be quiet in some doorway
or cellar. All he's got to do is to find
out uhdt doorway the cob on his beat is
In, and then he can be pretty sure, if
the rain keeps n falling, that he won't
be disturbed in his sleep. o. days, give
me the sun shining bright and beauti-
ful. 1t sort o. cheers Inc up and takes
away the blues"
There was a subducd tone of melan-
choly in the tramp's voiceas he offered
these last words. He was thinking,I / dare
say-for even a tramp must think some
times-of that life of peace, and credit,
and repose which, beyond all peradven-
ture, should never be his; of days of
childhood and innocence, and of that
weary world of his existence wherefrom
the sun of hope had passed forever; and
as the poor wretch at my feet pulled at
his pipe, and, with his arms resting up
on his knees, still turned his purposeless
look upon the street, which was at once
his home and his field of labor, drew
the contrast between him, sitting there,
and others, possibly not altogether as
guiltless in Gods sight, reposing on vel
vet ana purple. This train of thought
so adapted to the scene and circum-
stances of the man, time, and place
was broken into finally by tile hoarss
voice of my interlocutor.
"Cap'n," he said, lyon must think I'm
low down. am, You betw
~ dare say you are unfortunate" l
answered. "But, can't you do better
than wander around in this way
Can't you go to worki should say
there are plenty of chances"
He shook himself slightly, as if the
mention of work had disturbed him.
"Cap'n," he said, slowly, twas you
ever on treadmill-I beg pardon l
mean, did you ever hear of the tread
| mill ~