Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-01-20
SELECT POETRY.
A Tramp.

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Yes, "tramp," though relish the name of II
No better, perhaps, than would YOU
And sometimes blush for the shame of it,
But what can poor felew do
There surely is little enjoyment
In trudging thus day after day,
While seeking in vain for employment,
And begging for bread by the way.
My trade, do you ask I'm a printer.
And boast of some knowledge and skill,
But Ivc scarce set type since last winter,
Though not for the want of will.
To labor I've ever been ready,
When l have had labor TO do
Bui-perhaps I've been rather unsteady
Pm sorry to own it Is true,
For though long time I've been thinking,
And making resolves in my mind,
To break off this habit of drinking,
1t isn't so easy, / find;
For ye had my share of life's trouble
And have been fond Of my fun,
And with this provocative double
To foolish excesses I've run.
And thus have lost reputation,
And injured my health and my purse
And forfeited each situation
I've held yet thank God it's no worse
For spilled milk it's no use to SORROW
My penance, trust, will be brief,
And then, on some happy tomorrow,
I'll really turn down new leaf
Do look pretty rough Yes, know it.
I'm tattered, and soled, and all that;
I've had Il hard time, and show it
From my shoes to the crown of my hat
For months | have earned not dollar,
And so, ii you please, you'll excuse
My want of new paper collar
And the holes in The toes of my shoes
Five States have journt yed through, seeking
For work, but no work can find,
1t ID only The trath am speaking,
And, though some employers were kind,
There were o hers who looked with suspicion
Upon me and said, with sneer,
"HOw came you in such condition q?
guess you've been pressing your beer"
At night have slept in the forest
Or lodged ia barn or shed,
And sometimes, when hunger was sorest,
Have asked for u morsel of bread,
Which often man would refuse me
In language insulting and vile,
And in turbulent spirit abuse me
For trav'ling in beggarly style.
There are men whose miscrly features
Contract with sneer or frOwn
Whtne'er they see one of Gods creatures
That's gotten by poverty down.
And charity is not in fashion
'Mong Christians of latter-day school,
When he To want shows compassion,
Is classed as good dhearted fool.
And so, because one man in twenty
Would turn me with insult away,
| walked through the middle of plenty
And tasted for many day.
And Often when hungry and weary,
l, supperrss, sought my rude bed,
The world seemed all dismal and drcary,
Wiihpnt hpi OF mr. nv
Near used up? Yes, l am F; you can see that,
And have been sick lately, too;
1t is not very strange should be that,
Lying Ou! in the rain and the dew.
My stomach has had nothing in it
Next TO nothing, at least for three days,
And I've no idea this minute
When next square meal | can raise.
How long will it last ? l don't know, sir,
/ think there will soon be a turn;
All | want is some sort of show, sir,
A moderate living to earn,
And though now I'm homeless and frlendlcss
And living on puddings of air,
l know that this thing can't be endless,
At least | will never despair.
Yes, some of the boys have been good 10 me,
And fed me, and treated me well,
While others, again, have been rude to me,
And kicked at me after fell.
The former, as true men and brothers,
I'll cherish so long as | live,
But / don't care IL fig for the others,
Though can forget and forgive.
And the brains that | have in my noddle
I'll use with discretion and care,
And become unto typos model
Of virtue and temperance rare;
And I'll stick with due zeal TO my cases,
And carefully save up my stamps,
And then when | choose to change places
shall not be found with the tramps.
And one day an Office I'll purchase,
And house, and some land, and wife
| will marry join one Of the churches,
And be happy the rest of my life.
And when poor tramp comes in my way,
Undone by the troubles that throug
So thickly on his rugged pathway,
He shall not pass hungry along.
A sit? Sir thank you. I thought SD,
When | saw the kind look in your eye;
You've been there yourself-is it not 50?
And know how il is. Well I'll try
To show you that can be grateful
| For kindness upon me bestowed
And ii you should fiud me deceitful,
just put me again on the road.