The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16
a TRAMP AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN.
The story Told by the Middietown Lad who
has Twice Hun Away.

Abram Tuthll lives In Mddlctown
n Y. He used to live in Scranton. Pa. nnt
before that in this city. He Ia poor. and earns
small wages but his wifo takes in washing
and between thom they have kept their lttl,
household together. and clothed and fed three
children or thcee children Willie. the eldest
- little more than fourteen years old; slight
boy, with great brown Dyes and a wiatful OK.
preston. Young as he Ia. hc has alread,
passed through two years of hardship and
bitter experience. Of which he talked freely &c
the reporter Yesterday. IIo said:
Yes. sir. l IL run away from homo twice, nm d
s'pose | shall again. Tho first time was
TWO years ngo last August | ran nwnv 'cnusc
was nut up to II by woman, who hates nv
mother. and told me she was going Ia nut mo
IN tno House Of Refuge. asked some oi the
an awful place. So | ran AWAY | col ridrs
mostly in coal dumps, 10 Scranton. By M
twenty miles west of scranton. whnro n m nvu,
named Capped lived. He let me slenp in thn
fnc s,nn AL night and next day told mo that il
l. a. say ana work for him he'd find mo. / told
nm was orphan. and had no home So |
staycd u, ma worked Tor Capped all winter. and
most AL the next summer. picking stones. tend.
ing stock, and doing chores. / had To- work a,v.
irl hard. hqi twas better than the Refuge. :"
ny anu ~ Wncn "a h'en there bout year,
was runaway. llc gave mo two d"llars suI
inii must go that he couldn't kecpn runaway
IL X
anyway. | come home bout the same wnv I
WI IN coal dumps and wagons and walkug -
,h aa me- tnr inothcr was nearly crazcd over
,me loss 81 her boy, She inserted ADVERTISE
m'nis Tor him in all the country newspapers
IN. icHNing her household to care for Itself SGT
out IN search " the truant. She followed him
Yep ny 1p. into Pennsy lvania but lost truck
oi MN near scranton For four weeks did She
10y towns inctorirsu nn rnSHTnS Tor hsr
AT liist returned To her home henrtbrokun and
nnJ nr MN HIM., hSr 10y az ms return was grqat.
spirii had gained possession ~ the boy. and he
WI cssily tempted to run away again.
Lust spring no WIS sent to the store to obtain
he returned ragged. dirty. hungry and with
III !, risht arm emaciqted and crooked.
u having been broken. ana Improperly set The
story OF this second cscapadei is that when on
his way 10 the store. he met man who spoke
10 MIN. and asked him If he didn't want t. 70
with him and make his fortune. The man
PROMISED him easy work and good pay. and he
Wrht III day long they lay concealed in tho
NJ night they got into tho caboosc OF a freight
nrr run my ny morning were many miles away
camping out. Tho boys wistful eyes were SUI.
niisnl 10 soften the hearts Of tho farmers
ie.ihE t9ld ny his companion. provided them
with food IN abundance. and many "a chance To-
si,ep on the III hen floor or in some warm out
building. This life was pleasant. While it
lasted. but It ended at Kingston. Herr the man
Eut loh on L river boat running 10 New York
;,hnl WliIyut a GOOD by. disappeared. leaving
lad wandered about Kingston and Rondout.
l ylng IN vain TO get work. and becoming every
gay mere ragged and thin. one day. as he sat
istessy on the banks ~ the Delaware and
Hudson Canal. the master of pms.
ipg boat hailed him. and asked him
II ne wanted Job The laI gladly
a'repiod tne offer Of Fix dollars a month ana
i"und ana became cunal bow. hired o-trnsllly
u drive the two sorry mules but IN reality to h,..
(. (. 1ln ne al .4oat for tho master and crow of
the h,ai. aud the recipient 90 their curses and
Gun From daylight until dark the boy trudscd
All ~ his mules
For five months this druigery lnstel. ihcn he
~ and broke his arm. physician set 1t for
ihr'e dollars. md the boy again irudgri uff.r
his mules, From Huwley To Rondout with coal.
anl from klngst n Point back 60 Hawicy with
n" rchHudis.; the round TIP occupied two
Wr"k~. but tl," loni was not n llvorts coal rates
J ~ over hAi lower. and Rt st the canAln,rs
VINO formed its CROW woke ul,Nno morning 10
NM thelr Caitaln gone and their six months
pay gone with him. The boy then tramped
anu begged his way to his home
, lie . a very bright boy fun OF rluek and
bound n make his way in the world. lila
one hm'iiion seems g. be to go 10 school and
even nally to college. but his pride will not al
low nm 10 70 IN q : among tie we-dre--ed
BOYS wh1 ARE unthinking and unfuellng enough
TO rldlcule him for them.