The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-08-18
For the Hartford Herald.
THE TRAMP.

THE TRAMP.
BIT WILLIAM LAMONT.
Locking for work. Yes, sir, times are so dull,
There's nothing to do, so I took to the road;
And tried, and tried, but the shops are all
full,
On half time; so I've tramped, but I can't
get job.
Hard, Yes, when starvation stsres one in the
face,
And he's willing to work, and too honest to
steal.
Besl Well, that's done with q very bad grace,
For there's few that will give poor tramp
.squ.re meal.
To,, too, wore tramp! Well you'll best IN
How quicka poor fellow gets broken in heart,
when the spirit is qusnchsd, that would other
wise stand,
wers work and nrOsreity only his part.
tits, indeed, I. rough, vagsbOud life that lead.
HOwIong have trsmped? Six months I've
been on the road,
Aad, sir, in that time I've been often in need
OF something to eat, and FIRE, and bed.
Thank you, sir. No, w.n't drink it up;
It's the first cent I've handled for many day;
Asd, o God! would sink it in heIls blacklist
81 cup,
That has changed to December my beautiful
Nsyf
get ors.ed when thinh What that demon has
done!
All the misery and suffering that have
passed through,
I, all owing to when the desire first begun
To taste, and oh, Heaven how herceIy it
grew!
Till its blasting effects caused blight on my
That time cannot heal, with its far healing
power;
A home, angel child, and kind loving wife
We're mine, in the flush of my manhood's
frat hour.
had steady work: / was good at my trade;
And respected by all that we're good in the
town;
But temptations were strons-although efforts
made
And the Tempter's dread power soon got me
Low down.
Night after night-but the story is old,
And embarrassing one, maybe, to you.
Times got hard, and few of the wOrkuen were
told
To leave; and with the rest had to 20.
IL va, winter, and every dollar spent
At the drau-shsps, and no one would give
me employ,
And the landlord was ciamorins loud for his
With a thousand things else that my head
would annoy.
By hook and by crook we had kept tho wolf
out;
Bat be entered at last, with gaunt, hungry
look,
And the phantom of Famine came lingering
about,
With horrible vissge no effort could brook
Then nv wife, accomplishing, get sick, and
Every hours new terror in that bsggard face
Starvation was working out natures stern law
Yes, sir, it was truly burning disgrace.
There's no use in painting those scenes o'e
again.
Suffice it, she died, with her babe at bel
breast.
Better for her, for lifetime of pain
That was hers, could not follow her there L
TO her rest.
va. alone. The renorse Of that hour
Can't be told in merely mouthful of breath
Ali felt all the burning despair Of its power
And / Ionged for relief in the calm sleep @
death.
But live, and mourn for the joys hav
lost,
And now, when half starved and half crazy
think
OF hardships endured while through the worI
tossed,
XAnd curse the dark hour was tempted u
Il drink.
Ties, the nights they are cold; but I'm used I
that now,
A barn or a strsustack affords me bed;
Any shelter to keep the night-dsw from m
And my wallet serves we'll for to pillow m
head.
Not much comfort, tell you; but, sir, there ar
times,
When alone on some straw-pile sorrOwin
lie;
There, gazing alOft, on the bright starry cline
Ny soul to the loved ones will silently hy.
And loved faces CLEAN from bright stars ia
above,
Aud sweet music floats on my listening ca
And the prattle Of babes, and the sweet voic
Of love,
In rapture Of raptures distinctly I hear.
And the still air is stirred by the futter
wings,
And a sweet, soothing voice bresthes of con
fort and hope;
Then Misery's friend her bIest boon Of slee
fings,
And roam and an happy, through dream
lands wide scope.
often have thought, that the spirits above,
Who were once bright part of our Joy be
below,