The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-31
TIFF LITTLE TRAMP.

nodded respectfully to the Mrs. and
asked if she could give him an old
shirt. A casual inspection discovered
the fact that he was mints that article,
and the still further discovery that his
skin was very fair, and tender as a.
child's. His hair was faxen, and his
eyes blue. In stature about four feet,
two inches; or possibly four feet, five
inches; and as slender as a reed. His
age couldn't have been over sixteen;
and there was the slightest suggestion
that he might belong to the other sex.
He was an object to look at-not be-
cause he was tramp and seedy; but
because there were evidences about
him that he had been delicately nur-
tured, and that anguish and suffering
were doing their sure work, We pro-
ceeded to pump few answers out Of
him. thinking it might be we'll to know
something Of his history.
He was from the "City of Churches"
(Brooklyn)-though that is not strange;
and was bound for Chicago. He had
walked and "stole" on the night trains,
for over six hundred miles of the way.
His father had "failed"- every
thing, and becoming discouraged, soon
passed away. His mother Gid not sur
vlve him many months Their fall
from aff1uence to poverty was too sud
den and terrible to endure. He was
| left friendless, and was now going to
lind an uncle, who lived, as he had al
ways understood, in the burned city,
but whose occupation was ''shipping
before the mast" on the great lakes.
''How do you get along for something
TO eat we asked edo you havemeans
to buy your meals ?"
I Il don't eat any meals. [ get a piece
sometimes; but [ often eat nothing for
q whole day" "
! We ventured to suppose that no per-
son with humane feelings would refuse
to feed hungry orphan boy. -,a
"SOme Of them will give you piece,
and let you eat in your hand; but some
Of them told me to leave or they'd have
me arrested and one lady scolded, and
said if | didn't BECOME she'd set the dog
on me.
Il was so cold, too; and wanted to 60
IN and warm, but none would allow
me"
His speech choked up at this, and
the tears filled his large lustrOus eyes,
which had the appearance of being
forced from their sockets by the often
upheayings. of q sobbing heart. We
were touched in our inmost feelings,
and felt to suffer with him, as in the
bonds Of like adversely. The pathetic
lines OF the philanthropic poet came up
with force:
It's some body's child that's out tonight :;
The rain pourS down, the blast sweeps on -
etc. It's some bOdy's boy that wants a
friend; though | never knew him, yet
he was my brother.
Our DOrcas withdrew to her pile of
garments which she had prepared o.
nights, and sometimes Of days when
many think it a great sin even to drag
a poor drowning mule out Of a pit
having an instinct that they would be
called for. Carefully looking over the
lot, one was selected that had done duty
but was yet respectable as an article Of
underwear-(and what a luxury is a
clean shirt, how many poor tramps
could tellD He received it with ac-
acknowledgements Of grateful but modest
thanks; and, cheering up, babe us q
good bye" to tramp the last hundred
miles OF long, WearisOme, and fruit
less journey it may be, in search Of
kindred blood.
And this was one of the worlds un-
fortunate children-yes, a 0e7y child
that the heartless and unfeeling world
has justly stigmatized and Wronged
with a common reproach. The coun-
try is full Of them, sleeping in the
woods, old houses and straw piles; and
subsisting upon the pittance that cold
Echarity awards! It is terrible to think
| of.
That part Of Central Africa which
may be called the lake district is now
claimed by England, On the ground
that it was discovered by successive
explorers, subjects of Queen Victoria,
from Livingstone and Burton, down to
Spoke, Baker and Cameron. It is pro-
posed to construct roads from the port
of Kilwa, south of Zanzibar, on the
eastern coast, to Lakes Nyassa, Tan
ganyika, Victoria and Albert NyanZa,
at an average cost OF 5000 per mile
whereby the whole line of lakes might
easily be connected. One British cap
italist is stated to have offered 100000
to carry this scheme into effect, calcu-
lating on the commercial advantages
likely to be realized out Of it. Eng
land, which has settlements on the Wes-
tern coast Of Africa, and is building up
a great colonial confederation of States
at the southern extremity Of that con-
tinent, would OBTAIN q further and con-
siderable accession of territory on the
East and in mid-Africa by the annexa-
ton and connection Of the great lakes.
Possibly the Khedive of Egypt, who
owns the Nile, the great affiuent Of the
Victoria and Albert Lakes may not be
content to see England take possession
OF them and the land they now belong
| to.
7 90