The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-09-22
From the Brunswicker.
He COuldn't Linger.


A great many strapped printers are
on the road now, and scarcely day
passes but one or more OF them strikes
us for job. Those Fl ON the West
say that business is dull in all the
from the East have the same tale of
hard times to tell about the country
they have passed through. One of
them linlped into the Office Tuesday
and propounded the old, old questions:
How work?''
First rate" said one of the pro-
prietors; never was better"
I'D like TO get in enough to get me
something to eat said the print, as
he pulled his coat down over one
shoulder.
More work here than we know
Weii, that t'ssNhat I'm after, said
the tramp, and he threw the other
shoulder in view.
But, and the tones of the boss
were as sad and plaintive as the moan
of lost child. there e's-no--money"
Like startled mud turtle "juking"
into it's shell, that printer shot back
regret, somewhat of reliefEescaped
him. He was very sorry to be disap-
pointed, and glad that he had been
| made acquainted with the situation
before he had wasted any of his ener-
gies in uncompensative labor.
III you amt got any money, how
do you pay your hands?" he asked,
glancing around at the boys who were
pulling out with as much anerpy as If
they were working in a silver mine.
I'VE pay them In real estate and
town lots. sir, replied the boss, who
happened to bes in communicative
humor. My partner and | run this
paper. not as money making institu-
tivn, but as a medium through which
to dispose of a quantity of land which
we could not get off our hands In any
other manner When we find print
er who is willing to work and take his
pay in the free soil of Missouri, We
employ him; otherwise, notsoever.'
The tramp looked puzzled and dis
trcssed, but he said:
II don't care about settling down
just now and becoming landed pro-
| prietor. [ IN poor enough already l
don't want any more of this country
than L can conveniently carry around
with me. I'm too eble to grow up
| with any considerable amount of it.
Good day, sir.
Hold on" said the proprietor
Don't tear yourself away from a bon
| ANA before you are acquainted with
! the nature of its resources. There is
| an opportunity offered you to acquire
distinction, if not wealth. You see
that young fellow over there by the
Window
1.-The one with far away, vacant
look in his mild blue eyes?'
| "Yes. Well, tnat young man has
| just about completed his apprentice
ship, and I We made him out deed to
f100 town lots in consideration OF his
services You can see them from the
window. Half of them arc on the bar,
and the other half in the river. but
they will be very valuable in a century
or two. On, sir, ali the boys here are
heavy property holders. The press
man owns half of that bar. and the
iours can each point with pride to the
mighty Missouri and say it rolls and
surges over their possessions. guard
ing and enriching them. You see
| that man over in the corner?
That long, sad. consumptive look
ing being?
"Yes. Speak low. l gave him a
deed for 900 acres OF land, in pay
ment for three years work. 1t was
swamp land in Linn county, and he
has Just returned from visit to it.
| He is working this week for lot in
the cemetery. His place will soon be
vacant, and you may have it on the
same terms, if you like.
| The tramp moved uneasily about,
and finally went to the window and
gazed out over the town. Presently
he called the proprietor to him and
said:
| Il haven't got long to tarry. Some
thing seems to call and beckon me
away But 1 don't mind working a
couple Of hours for that corner lot
over there-the one with the saloon
on it.
I'm truly sorry" said the boss,
"but | decided that lot last week to
the boy who carries papers. There, 6
a lot right back of If, with nice eel
lar on-wouldn't that suit you?''
| No, / believe not [ guess l can I
lincer with you, however much
might desire to. L have a present
ment that am not long for this world,
and | fain would lay my bones to rest
in the home of my childhood. Fare
we'll old man Your Kindness has
| moved me. I'm homeward bound"
He bounded down stairs and con-
tinued his journey into the East.