The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-06-22
CRoss-PIE PILGRIMAGE.
A Tramp Printer who had IN
certain Boarding Houses.
BY GARRULoUs oUIDNUNo

Walking cross-ties is the worst tie
biographical error a printer can conven-
iently make. Tramping is not a liter
airy pursuit, notwithstanding Oliver
Goldsmith took stroll OCCASIONALLY. The
art of walking trussels oyer bottomless
ravines is "high" accomplishment, but
stepping on loose tie and rafting down
among the timbers is an unhealtbful
transit.
The Nashville Evening Mail suspend
ed one morning, led me aside and ad-
yised me to tramp. l turned away and
obeyed the solemn mandate. 7 left the
city on the Northwestern railroad
each successive step pumping up the
thoughts: will they miss me In Printers
Alley2 Or will Judge Dulin think Of
me when all the boys have taken their
places in police court? VIII the Climax
Saloon man realize that ten kegs of
staud-of beer has started on a tramp?
| turned and looked at the capitalize
gaze, probably, for the last time on its
majestic dome. It never seemed half
so imposing before, and as turned for
the last time to drink in its granduer,
peculiar sensation crept over me, and
the next fact unveiled before me was
that somebody lay foundering in a cat
tie gap half full of water and the some
body beyond the saddow of a doubt was
l. After this l did very welll till /
reached West Tennessee. Then the
dramatic part of my experience com
menced. The only difficulty was that
would, in spite of my Deadrick street
training, get hungry. l tried to over
come this weakness, but, somehow the
remembrance of basket picnics fitted
with fendish delight through my hungry
imagination. After failing to pass my
bill at Eve houses, conelud ed the best
way would be to offer an amendment
| did SO. Result-ruled out. They
wouldn't even table it. After this l
decided to play kind of desperate game
| saw house not far from the railroad,
and walked over to explore. 1 entered
with little ceremony and sat down.
Presently tall woman with red hair
made her appearance in the doorway
Madam, said l, arising and making her
a present of most profound bow,
am little Charley Ross My unclo has
been looking for me six years, and if
you wish to possess the large reward
offered for me, just cram me with
warm toast and other roughness and I'll
tell my uncle that you found me. She
turned and in a shrill voice yelled,
Jim, run over to the new ground and
tell your pap we've cotch the fellow
that stole them shoats." My physical
condition demanded a change of scene,
and travelled. At the next place was
so lid. / happened to favor lady's son
that was killed in the army. was car
ressed and fed till couldn't pull down
my vest. The next time got hungry
l stood around station all the afternoon
trying to favor some body's son, but
the prospects were not favorable and
] continued my march. The next house
at which l stopped was a beautiful
place. There was kind of sweet red
Olence hanging around each leaf and
blade of grass in the yard. The noise
of a distant reaper lent civilized sound
to the neighborhoOd, and everything
wore the expression of contentment.
l leaned on the gate hungry and tired,
looking at a portly old gentleman who
was leaning back in his chair, asleep.
A bevy of merry girls ran through the
clover blooms at the old gentleman as
they passed him in their gleeful romp.
The place seemed so cool, so inviting
so serene, that l longed to lave my
burning brow in the"Old Oaken Bucket"
that hung in a well surrounded by vines
at the corner of the yard. l entered
the yard and advanced to where the old
gentleman was sleeping. 1 didn't like
to. arouse him, for sleep is something
golden to an old man. Ny stomch
requested me to arouse him; my respect
for old age forbade it. The old man
moved in his chair it tilted and he fell
sprawling on the grass. He opened his
eyes and sprang to his feet with the
agility of an acrobat. "You william p
be excitedly exclaimed. "Tn teach
you to sneak into my yard and knock
me down" "Here Bosel take himl take
himl whoopP' An old carpet bag fell
over the fence and a dog went down
the lane swinging to the slack of an in