The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-24
For the Sunday Sentinel.
OUT OF THE DEPTHS.

and the streets were deserted at that late
hour and only now and then some one
forced out by business or returning form his
reyels passed by. The searching piercing
wind penetrated wrappings and body and
seemed to freeze the very heart, and the
quickened steps told of the anxiety of all to
be under shelter and in the warmth of home.
But into the composing room no breath OF
the outer cold entered, the men were talking
over their lunch or singing merily about the
fire. The latch of the outer door was raised
and . thin, hungry face peered into the
room, and there hesitatingly man, tattered
and untidy, with slow, tagging pace took
few steps into the light and warmth. The
men knew him at glance; he was
tramp printer and they hailed him good
humoredly for the necessity of formality
or ceremony in introduction never
puzzled them. ''Why, hallooi You here
again. Where from, Maine or Mexico"
You're a rat''-were met with only look
of defiance from the Redeemed eyes that had
no interest in anything but the smoking,
steaming food spread so close TO him. He
was hungry, miserably so, for the face,
quaint and haggard, told of an almost I'M
broken fast for hours, and the mouth, hid
den by the unclipped beard, worked con-
vulsively, as if cOveting the ,Tantalus feast.
What do you want; a steady sit? You
look like you would prefer a case over by
1
YOU stop work and eat your grubg laughed
the crowd 81 nave not tasted anything
to-day but mouthful of whisky, and that
has set me on fire for more. i am starving"
Tramps dead beats, fellows out of work and
who never keep a place if they get it, were
not unknown here, but somehow this fell
low interested them, and with the careless
generosity of the craft they yelled at him
ito take a bite for the sake of auld lang
10 70 fha of hrnf,r or
could not be quieted, and the coffee was
gulped down in hugh swallows. At last he
turned from the food, and stretching out his
bony hands 10 the fire, said: Il am much
obliged God knows 1 needed it." "You
used to be rich, didn't you? Was foreman of
New York office, hey? Got $50 week,
lunch thrown in. Came out west to take
look at the country and got strapped, and
stopped till you could send for a thousand
or 30? o, yes; every tramp has held cases in
New York" He was used to it all; he had
slipt under the case of some friendly printer
or on the old papers behind the stove many
a time and yet tonight he had mind to
tell them his story, and when they had
quieted down he said ,as he pushed the strag-
Cling hair, Just turning gray, from his fore
head: Il did have cases, and had news
paper, and had home, but now i am
tramp, and lost them all as some of you
will lose everything that is worth having If
you don't stop doing what can not and will
not stop. Ten, yes, twelve years ago, had
finished as prentice, and was good Jour
neyman printer with a steady place in
one of the best cities in the south. was
young, strong and healthy, and / worked
every night for weeks, laying off once in
a while to rest and to go about town. I
hadn't anybody TO care especially for me.
The old folks had been gone a long while
and there never was anyone else who
claimed kin with me, and boarded here
there and anywhere that pleased my
fancy. saved my money for months, and
then j would spend it all in day or two,
knowing that could slways make enough
TO keep me. i drank little; got on a spree
once in while, but always sobered up and
was ready for work. After a year or so
fell in love. I'll spare. you all that, but she
was one of the prettiest girls in the city and
she said il I'd stop drinking whisky she
would marry me. / promised, and meant
to keep my word for she had faith in me.
We had nice home, for could afford that,
and she kept it dainty and clean, and was
glad 10 be there with her every spare minute
had. She was economical, and
out of my wages she put by
many a cent / would have squandered
She loved me so dearly that there
was nothing she would not have done for
me. Never a cross word if / was late get
neglectful, never reproaeh if spoke hast
lily, but she was always the same gentle, low
ing wife. When went home and told her
that l was foreman she was the happiest
woman | ever saw, and putting her arm
around my neck she said softly, II am so
proud of you, Ed" 1t seemed so much TO
her for me toget the place, / don't believe
she would have been as grafified il 1 had
received a thousand dollars We prospered
straight along, my wages were good and our
expenses small; and had always enough to
give e poor devil, like am now. a lift and
when Our boy WIS born had not wish I'M
gratiked. When one of the owners of the
paper died / had saved enough to buy his
share, and my work was easier and lighter
and had more tine for my wife and child.
He grew more like his mother every day.
winningand gentle, and nearly worshipped
him. He was a nice little chap anyway
you'd take him. : did not work much Of
evenings and got TO going to clubs and
meetings, ant now and then on an excur-
sion, and though my wife begged me not to
associate with men whc were fast and free,
liked company and fun and somehow, God
knows never meant il, slipped cable and
drifted out again. kept il from my wife
as long as / coRld but one night they took
me home drunk She looked 10 years older
next morning, and the girlishness and youth
never came back 10 her. She prayed by my
sue "nile pretended 10 DC asleep, anu tne
hot tears fell on my hand AZ she plead for
strength for me, for the sake of our child.
She was as kind as ever. but was ashamed
and / slipped away without giving her a
chance to say much j sobered up and kept
straight for week or two, and then / was
drunk again, but that night slept in the
Office; and so it went on from bad To worse
You know when fellow lets the first type
slip from a stickfull the rest can tumble the
faster and that's the uonf--rs1u rarorfl-
Use broken everything seemed to be loosened.
had to sell my third Of the paper and go
back to my old case How my hand trembled
when i tried to work, and TO steady il /
had to drink. Then / would put on sub
night after night and carouse apd drink,
until pay day, 1 wouldn't have a cent due