Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-08-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
Only A TRAMP.

green velvet, and here and there were patches
OF scarlet geraniums, stately white lilies, and gay
yerbenas. And in the midst of these bright.
hued flowers and carefully trained shrubs fcun.
tain, guarded by white marble nymphs, tossed
up by sparkling spray,
Aud up on 4 gentle rising knoll stood the
house-a fine stone mansion appearing both
graceful and substantial; the home Of luxury and
refinement.
This within the gata
Outside-s man clad in trayel-stained and tat
tered garments. His face had once been hand.
some, his dark eyes once slone with clear,
steady light, his form was once borne erectly
But now all was changed.
lntemperance had taken away wife, children,
friends, property and manhood Feeble, poor
and homeless he wandered about-only a
tramp" For hours that day he had travelled
along the dusty road, the hot sun beating down
upon his head. Tired, hungry and footsore. he
| had at last come TO what to him seemed palace
| beautiful; and 80 no wonder that under the
| shade Of the trees, he paused TO rest.
| The bottle in his pocket bad been drained the
afternoon before, Fortunately he had come to
| no place where he might fill it again, and 30, for
| the time, reason reigned in the mans mind, and
with it came the old bitter remoree, because Of
| his sin, the old aching sorrow and shame because
| OF his degradation.
But he stroye to drive away the uncomforta-
| BILE feelings by mutterng at Providence. And
| he said, as he looked at the handsome house and
grounds, " And say God ia cruel and just to
| give some people 30 much and me 30 little !"
Then conscience whispered God also gave
thee many things, but thou with thine own hand
didst cast them away ~
The bitter truth cut deep into his heart and
laying his hot forehead on the cool iron railing
OF the fence he wept
Suddenly little hand was laid on the bowed
head Of the tramp. He hastily glanced up and
saw standing before him little girl, Birdie
Leigh, the only child of the gentleman who own
ed the house aud grounds.
gentle, refined child, within whose dark lu-
mincus eyes was q sanity look as il she had,
during all the eight years of her young life,
walked hand in hand with God Her little rosy
mouth seemed made for smiles and kisses and
loving words, and the curls that clustered above
the broad white brow were as bright as the
golden sunshine which lay in long slantiDg rays
OF light upon the green grass. With a look OF
tender sympathy upon her fair little face she
said:
"Poor man what is the matter2"
The deep wells OF the tramps heart were
touched az il by an angels wing. sob choked
him 80 he could not speak.
"Are you tired the sweet voice then said.
Was he tired All, yes Tired of meeting
temptation and having 1t gain victory after VIC
tory over him. And If glass Of liquor were
held TO its lips even while in the presence Of
that sinless child, and with her innocent eyes
upon him he would drink it eagerly-so weak
was he-this poor tramp
"Come in and rest" said Birdie, opening the
gate.
The tramp looked down upon his soiled and
ragged garments, and stammered out, IL amt
fit.
But putting her tiny hand in his great one, she
drew him in and led him to a rustic reat amid
flowers and trailing vines and the cool waters of
tho fountain near by.
II have been reading, sir" said the child, TAX
Ing up little blue Bible which WAS lying ON the
seat, "about God. Don't you love Him very
much, sir?"
Did he !! Aye years ago, when, as pure
souled child he knelt at loved mothers knee
and lisped his evening prayer But now he felt
that he was not fit to come into the Divine Pres
ence, for his heart continually cried "uncleaD
uncleanl' Yet at the same time his nature
craving for alcoholic liquor He took some of
the water and carried it to his burning mouth.
Seeing him do this tho child said
"Ah you are thirsty-and hungry, too, !
guess. Stop here, please, and will get you
something" and her fairy figure fitted up to
the house.
His first impulse WAS to hurry away ere she
should return, but then he was tired and hun
gry and the shady seat was 80 different from
the hot, dusty road. And he leaned his head
against the cool, green leaves aud dreamily liz
tened to the low hum of the bees, the sweet
twill and twitter OF the birds, and the musical
splashing of the fountain. Presently he heard
voice saying
swell, Birdie where is your protegef"
And on looking up he saw, coming down the
path the little girl and her father. The tramp
arose. The old, sullen look came back upon his
face and the hard expression in his eyes, for lie
expected to be thrust out Of the yard as If he
were mad dog, he WAS 30 use to being sooffed
at and scorned 30 used to being despised and
derded, 30 used to having men, when they saw
him, turn and "pass by on the other side
And 30 he stood up grimly defiant aud intend
ing to meet in a silent, stolid way, the frowns
and harsh words OF the gentleman. But the
voice that spoke to him WAS CHEEKY and pleasant,
and had ring of real brotherly feeling in it,
Well, my man, you seem to be III trouble.
What can do for you i?
Nothin', sir" replied the tramp and he
added, half apolog stically "you see the little
Miss WAS 80 kind as to ask me to come in an
rest was tired, an it look 30 pleasant that
come. III take myself off now, sir. 1 know
that hain'ta very nice object to be in gentle
mans garden. Not exactly Ornamental" and
the tramp laughed short bitter laugh.
No, do not go yeti sit down." said the gen.
tleman kindly.
The tramp obeyed, and the other continued
" You must not be discouraged. Tell me your
story my friend, and perhaps cen help you"
There was something in the eyes that bent 30
kindly upon him, something in the CHEEKY voice
that made the tramp unburden his heart and tell
the short miserable story. Drink had been his
bane. By it he lost everything. He also told
US his name and his native town, but that is
nothing TO uS. You, Tehueri uaVe neb hucI
person, and perhaps have passed by seornfully,
saying, "Only tramp Or did you reach
out helping hand
Mr.. Leigh did this.
81 will give you work, my man, and pay you
we'll. will you hire out p
Would you trust me p said the tramp with
a wistful look. "Sir IL can't trust myself.
| fear l should drink If had the chance"
"My friend, will trust you and help YOU but
you must remember that there's One mightier
than who will aid you"
az know it," reverently. "And will thy and
do better"
How much damage one little, careless act will
often cause
Just the placing of a wax candle only couple
of inches too near the lace curtain-and then
the nurse girl vent out, unconscious OF the
mischief that would ensue from her act.
| Then the flame, shooting up, seized hold OF
the delicate lace, and famed by the night breeze
| as it breathed in at the open window, the fiery
| element divided into two branches, one climbing
| up the curtain and along the ceiling, and the
| other creeping along the white velvet, rose
strewn csrpet until it caught hold Of the dainty
dressing table adorned with foamy billows of
| lace. Leaving charred remains of these, it
| swept along to the bed, where it met the other
fame-the two having formed fiery circuit
around the chamber.
| MD III nallse there Did ii have no mercy