Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-16

Look here, young 'un, We mustn'
never give money fur vittles. If We d
that, they expect us all to do it. An,
very naturally they would. Now" turn
ing an appealing look to his fellows
amt that nat'ral?"
Very nat'ral," came in dismal cho
rus from the group.
notwithstanding their disgust, how
ever, they pitched into the lunch will
an appetite born Of long fasting, and s,
greedily did they deyour it that tn,
tramp, whose money had procured it
only secured one piece Of bread for hi
share.
BY the time this magnificent banauc
was ended it was broad daylight, ant
this little congregation of travellers hao
an opportunity Of seeing their surround
ings A water-tank and house these
were the only signs to indicate the pres
ence of civilization. All around was one
unbroken wilderness of sand, relieved
here and there by little clumps of Ne
yadas favorite vegetation, sagebrush
Far away to the south the beautiful wa
ters Of the Truckcc could be seen glis
tening in the sunlight, as they wound
their way to the west. To the north
Sierra Nevada, looking down with chill.
ing effect upon the five tramps.
A consultation was now held to de-
eide whether the wanderers should press
on to Wadsworth, or wait until the af.
ternOOn on the uncertain hope of lump
ing the freight train and stealing a
ride. After much earnest discussion,
embellished by elaborate arguments on
either side, it was decided to remain.
AS one Of the tramps elegantly express
ed it, EFF we can't play the racket,
there S plenty of grub in that ere house
and we won't send greenhorn for it the
next time, neither, and it's better to
trot in the night than in the day
time"
Wa-al,' said another, If we're goin'
to stay here let's build a tie-house.
amt goin to stan under this tank all
day. Eff there was whisky in it t might
do, but | don't want the shadder of no
water over me"
The proposition met with cordial as
sent. On the other side of the road was
a huge pile of railroad ties, which are
always kept on hand at certain stations
along the line. To this pile the five
tramps Immediately proceeded, and then
made an assault upon it in approved
style.
A "tie-house" is novelty in modern
to the uninitiated; and yet
beneath its protecting shelter many a
weary tramp, whose waking hours are
spent in concocting schemes of plunder,
has slept away his weariness amid pic
tured scenes Of home and happiness
drawn by fairy fingers 1t is very sim
pie arrangement. The ties are placed
on end and close together, to form three
sides of the house. The fourth side is
left open to serve as door. Across
the top more ties are placed to serve as
A roof, and the ''tie-house" is complete,
4 mansion fit for any tramp that ever
the railroad. In Ugh winds, of
it is not available, for the occu-
pant would be liable to be buried in it's
ruins. But in calm, pleasant day, like
hat of the 9Th of July, it was cozy
md comfortable retreat from the rays
IF the blazing sun.
The edifice completed, the tramps
spread themselves out, some on their
packs, some resting on their elbows.
Conversation in the slang vernacular of
he tribe was now animated, and now
Jagged To an observer, these misera-
,le creatures, without home and without
friends, hunted down by society Gas they
should be), and scorned by the honest
nan who earns an honest living, would
lave appeared happy family, or nest
# hornets who had fed from civilization
o enjoy life in their own way in the
1t needed but two or three
hort-dressed girls to give to the house
ii the characteristics of a gypsy-camp
according to the stage notion of gyp-
" camps. But one brief hour passed
II that tie-house would have effectually
lispelled all romance from the mind of
he observer. The conversation was low
md vulgar, and plentifully interlarded
With most blasphemous oaths They
ursed railroads, they cursed conduct
rs, they cursed the newspapers which
exposed them; they cursed everything
'ut that most deserving of curses-their
'wn miserable selves.
One by one the tramps dropped off to
leep, after partaking freely of a flask
# whisky which had been purchased
rom donation in money by an old gen.
leman who had been touched by the
tale of one of their number,
nd whose simplicity was made the sub
ect of many joke and peal Of drunken
aughter in that novel house of ties. At
ength but two remained awake-the
asst conner, who had been thrown from
he train, and the repulsive looking man
Who had first accosted him.
Well, young feller," suddenly ex-
IS, do ye? You want to be jolly boy,
ike old Adam, and jog along through
ife without any one to bother with or
my one to bother ye, do YEP
That's just what | want.
Wa-al. yell find it some'at hard at
irst Trampin' is a perfession, and OF
ourse we've got to begin way down.
Now, how did We jump that train that
hey put ye off'n?"
Il jest got on at Reno, and when the
conductor woke me up-1 pretended to
,e asleep, We know-I asked him to take
ne along, told him | was poor, an all
hat sort of thing, we know"
'All bosh! Do you think the slaves of
hat ere m m'nop'ly would give ye a ride?
Not much! Ye must beat 'em-thats
ii we can do-beat en-
But l don't know how to beat EN-.
They're too many for me"
Wa-al, yell find it hard at fust, but
with not Of encouragement) We II learn
t. Ye see, 'tain't so easy now as 1t used
o be. There's too many Of us. The
,oys is beginning to see what jolly life
We lead, and the pcrfesshun is gittin
crowded. Now, | have been from Oma-
Ia to Frisco and back three times, and
id most O. the way free. But in them
lays We could git onto the platform,
l-tween the baggage car and express car
IN go right along nice like. But they
lropped on that, and now the cussed
cops watch ye, and theirs no chance, un-
ess ye're quick jumper an can ketch
IN after the cars is started. But QOok-
ng mournfully at his companion), ye
couldn't do that. Ye hain't got practice
nough. No, that thing won't do for
vou."
Thara was /. silence for n moment