The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-01-25

'He, looked at mesihquiringly.

aid of the boy, inappropriately call
ed'the ."deyil"- one. of whom is found
in every print shop in the country
and whose duties are to set up "pi,'
wash "galloys," pick up type from
the floor, sweep and run erands-we
soon had the heater from the legs to
the end of the pipe as bright as q
mirror. 1t glowed all over with de-
light, and apparently took new in
terest in life and the room was com
Portable and relieved of its gloomi'
ness. The tramp rubbed his hands
together and abruptly asked me if
could lend him a quarter to get q
warm breakfast. His words said he
wanted money for food, but his voice
appealed for drink, and as in visi.
on, l saw him tipping glass of fiery
liquid into an empty stomach. !
knew that food was what he needed,
and was aware, also, that he would
satisfy his burning thirst before he
would eat anything, so | endeavorGd
to dissuade him from entering any
liquor shop until he had strengthen
ed himself in a proper manner. All
my ontreaties were of no avail. Be
fore could devise another method
to compel him to submit, he had
slipped from the room, An hour af-
tcrward / heard a shuflling on the
stairs. Bmncr and l went down and
found the tramp lying all in heap,
his body as limp as his clothes, and
he was utterly incapable of speech.
We carried him to a vacant room and
saw that he was well cared for
Within 24'boprs he was entirely re-
lieved from the influence of his in
discreet mofniiig .daught. He ate
a hearty meal and was completely
dreiuvenated" as he himself express
ed it. He appologized for his misde-
tneanor, Thanked us for our trouble
in his behalf, and promised faithful
ly to. leave the bottle untouched for
sometime. He worked energetically
for one week, at the end of which he
had,earned from SIS to $40 1t made
my heart throb faster as l saw the
pay-master hand him his money, for
l had suspicion MS to the manner
in which he would dispose of it, He
then walked rapidly down the street.
| followed him a short distance, but
retraced my steps and allowed him
to wander wherever his mind direct
ed.
For two days nothing was seen Of
the tramp, and we began to wonder
ing where he had gone, for we knew
that such an individual was like the
winds-frst here and then at some
other place. While we were in the
midst of our conjectures a heavy
footstep sounded on the stairs, and a
policeman uncercmoniously opened
the door and called for Mr. Jack Cam
don. l excitedly put down my
stick" grasped my coat from its
nail and followed the officer to the
street.
"a man whom we found drunk in
the street is very anxious to see you"
said my companion.
We entered the courtyard Of the
jail, which led to an apartment es-
pecially assigned for sick prisoners.
My whole heart seemed to have sud,
denly lifted itself into my mouth, as
| gazed upon the wild-looking eyes
and thin face of the printer tramp.
"Thank you for coming" he said,
extending his hand ] could only
take it in a feeble way, and could
not speak. After few moments !
mustered up courage and managed to
utter three words.
."IIow is this?"
"Pm busted" he replied. How de-
void Of eloquonco were these words,
and yet how full of meaning.
"Ycs, I'm bustod-totally busted" q"
he added; "busted in mind, busted in
body, bustodin pocket; forever wreck
cd; never to tramp again-novor,
never, nevcr And / don't know
whether to be sorry or not"
oYou'll soon bo well again." said
| trying to encourage him to speak
more happily, =.
''No, J won't and YOU know u |