The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-08-23
PERsEcUTING HIM.
What a. Poor, Sick Tramp wa 5
Forced to do.
From the Burlington Hawk-Eyes


instinct of his class, made his way
directly towards Main street, where
the stimulant and company are most
numerous He had very tired look,
and his poorly shod feet seemed to
weigh ton apiece. The sun had
burned his face to deeper brown
than even the knotty hands that
swung listlessly at his side. He did
not even carry the Inevitable stick.
and the little bundle without which
the tramp's outfit is never complete,
although heaven only knows whatis
in 1t. was swung from his shoulders
by heavy twine string, like rude
knapsack. No man is alive now
that wore clothes when the hat he
wore was made. 1t was a fearful
and wonderful hat, and attracted
more attention than anything he had
on or about him. He limped along
Main street from Locust up, diving
into private houses in occasional
forays for bread, which were gener-
ally successful, for his poor, defect
ed, sorrowful-looking face threw a
great deal of silent cloquence into
his pleading. and the women could
not bear to sepd the low voiced man
away hungry. These forays were
varied by occasional dives into pla-
ces of refreshment, where he vainly
plead for small allowance of ardent
spirits for sick man; the general
result being that he was courteously
refused aud gently but firmly kicked
out by the urbane barkeeper, who
saw to many of him every day to be
much moved. The poor fellow limp
ed along till he got a little above
Division street, when he had to pass
knot Of young men, and one of
them, a smart-looking chap, in
very gamey costume. and carrying
broad pair of shoulders and bullet
head, surmounted with silver-gray
plug hat, hung on his right ear, sang
out: sa1
80, shoot the hat u -
The poor tramp only looked more
detected chan ever, If possible. and
shook his head meelIly and sorrow
fully and limped on. But the young
sport shouted after him.
Come back, young fellow, and
see how you'll trade hats 70
The outcast paused and half turn
ed, and said in mournful tones:
Don't make game of a onfortnit
man. young gents. Fm poor and
I'm sick, but I've the feelin's of a
man. an I kin feel it when r m made
.,"me Of. If you could give me
lob of ,T,nrk, now
A chorous # laughter greeted the
suggestion, and tn smartest young
man repeated his challe." "ge 70 tFaae 1'
hats, and finally induced the ulenui'
cant to limp back.
''Take off your hat" said the
young man of Burlington, " and let's
see whose make it is. If it isn't
Stetson's won't trade"
90, that's Stetson's," chorused
the crowd. He wouldn't wear any
thing but a first class hat
But the tramp replied, trying to
limp away from the circle that was
closing around him:
Indeed. young gents. don't be
hard on a onfortnit man. 1 don't
believe 1 could git that hat off n my
head; l don't indeed. [ haint had
it off fur morn two months. indeed
haint. I don't believe I kin git it
off at all. Please let me go on
But the unfeeIing young men
crowded around him more closely
and insisted that the hat should
come off, and the smartest young
man in company said he'd pull it off
for him.
Indeed. young gent" replied
the tramp, apologeticaily. q 1 don't
believe you could git it of. It's
been on so long I don't believe you
kin git it off; don't, really"
The young man advanced and
made motion to jerk off the hat,
but the tramp limped back and
threw up his hands with clumsy
frightened gesture.
Come young gents" he whined.
don't play games on poor fellow
as is lookin' for the county hospital.
I tell We. young gents, I'm a sick
man, am. Tn on the tramp when
I ought to be in bed. I can't hard.
ly stand, and haint got the strength
to be fooled with. Be easy on a
poor"
But the sporting young man cut
him off with, .'Oh, give US rest and
take Off that hat" And then he
made pass at the poor sick mans
hat, but his hand met the poor sick
tramp's elbow instead. And then
the poor man lifted one of his hands
about as high as derrick, and the
next instant the silver gray plug hat
was crowded so far down on the
young mans shoulders that the
points Of the dog scared collar were
sticking up through the crown of it.
And then the poor sick man tried
his otter shand. and part Of the
crowd started off to help pick the
young man out of a show window,
where he was standing on his head,
while the rest of the congregation
we're trying its level best to get oat
of the way Of the poor sick tramp,
who was feeling about him in a
vague, restless sort of way that
made the street lamps rattle every
time he found anybody. Long be-
fore any one could interfere the con-
vention had adjourned sine die, ard
the poor tramp, limping on his way.
the very personi6cation wretchel-
ness, sighed as he remarked apollo
getically to the spectators
81 tell you, gents, I'm sick man
I'm too sick to feel like foolin' I'm
jest so sick that when / 60 gropin'
around for somethln' to lean up agin
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