Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-09-22

like the laws of supply and demand in
league against him -? Here is a side of tramn-
lie as foreign to the Imagination of the sbeI
tered, housekeeping, safe and blessed part of
the community as the psychology of fishes.
One young man asks with extreme besita-
tion for pair of shoes.
I've got to walk to Providence. and vop
see my feet. | amt used to this. Ipever
asked Tor anything before. Thank Won. sir
That's a good pair. Breakfast? No. |
thank you. Well-yes-l am
hungry but you've given mo the shoes. |
dldn I like to ask for too much. I'm hat
ter by trade. Last month, we shut down
| can't find anything to do. I'm GETTING
back by inches to Providence. Yes. had
good wages Used to earn nv four and five
dollars day"
There is pause. Ny tramp upon the do.r
step gulps down his coffee down in silence
/, IN the entry, gaze over his head into the
sweet June world. ! do not ask what has
become OF his four or FIVE dollars day. and
he must be defying political economy and ag-
grayating Christianity by getting fed upon
our doorstep, half dozen Of him morning
at this serious rate. say only That was
a good deal of money. Does your mother
know you are in so destitute condition p,
My tramp hangs his young head little.
"NO, miss. But she must, s'pose. You
see its too bad-a young fellow like me. I'm
only 80 years old. I've always had money
enough, earning regular | never looked to
come to this. Fact is-l-well, I'm like the
other fellows, and | suppose spent it.
Spent it rs ! went along. was single
man And always dressed well, and liked
to take horse out now and then. And then
1t went in f0olery, and I'll own to little
drink. But that got over, wear ago.
30 what had saved, it wouldn't carry me
lar l never thought to come to this. If
ever get out of this scrape, I'll know bet
ter. Would you like to see picture of my
mother? III show you one. carry it in
the testament She give me the Testament.
She wrote my name in it. Do you see
There. My mother is good woman. I'm
ashamed to 20 to her like this Now nv
mother, she's been trying all my DAYS to
make Christian out Of me and if ever
get out of this scrape guess she do it,
this time"
Now how comfortably the June day and
can preach to the poor fellow, if we want
to And how gently he listens to our lit;le
sermon over the last sandwich crumbs Let
US not believe he will 20 upon a spree again
with his first wages.
Lit the magic glass upon him, if only for
the poor old mothers sake We, at
least-the June and I,-see him trudge away
from US believing that the good old lady will |
do it this time, before she departs in
peace.
1t IS little perilous, perhaps, in these
days, expressing any confession of faith in
tramp character. One can hardly expect |
any more after it to move in the first circles |
Of systematic beneyolence. Bot, after all, |
we would any of Us rather be cheated by /
two rascals than to doubt one good man. |
Ana he that should neglect to heat over his
coffee and make sandwiches of his cold NUT /
ton for one h0nestlyand innocently hungry |
mouth, better were it for that man that he |
should drink toast-and- water and live on .
hash all summer
Christian philanthrophy Is not above
ealty to the sharp, exceptional rules OF sad ,ex-
'eptiOnal times like these. Must we not be
-ather alert. than fearful to suspend our
good safe old law of nothing at the door,
And if We add 10 breakfasts, shoes, and I'M
% shoes even the enormity Of piece ofin-
lated currency, will it be reckoned against
Is at the Great Tribunal, on testimony of
-ome exasperating student Of the poOr-laws,
Fho knows exactly how many unfortu nate,
iiligent men our Lord meant should be
taryed, rather than that one loater should
,ull the community?
Somehow, as the poor fellows 20 limping
way in the clean-tempered, trustiul sum
ner light, it seems to me as if the June SIX
eld her magic glass against them all and,
ecause of the sudden shine of it upon them,
he eyes will swim. Their heavy feet tread
q time to that mournful little popular song
o which these mournful times have given
irth. Its monotonons refrain runs
NO work to do No work to do
somehow, If We let them 60 uncontrolled,
heir grave and trembling lips seem adding
TRANCE words to the old rebuke
81 was a diligent man, thrown out of