The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-06
The Old Linen Buster.

The old linen duSter moved slowly, al
most solemnly, up Broadway this morning
silently followed by a crowd of curious
boys. The motive power which propelled
it was man, but he was such an emaciated
and weather-beaten man, with such a
dreamy and careworn expression about his
eyes that he appeared but the mere shadow
of man which the old linen duster had
taken under its wing to cherish and nro-
teCt.
There were various capacious pockets
about the old garment and sundry suggest
i've rents in its Tapping tails, from which
dumb mouths, as it moved along the old
linen duster related its pathetic story: "I
was introduced to my old pard here" it
seemed to say, Every early in April, and
we've hung together through all sorts of
weather ever since. Keep off my tail
there, if you please, young man, Some
times people would insinuate that we was
forcin' the season, but we didn't 'tmind few
late frosts, KNOWN it would be warmin' up
along in July. Pard was hale and vigorous
enough them days, and he could rough it
with the best of 'em, but somehow he
didn't hang on well, and pretty soon ! saw
he was losin his grip. Don't crowd around
the old tramp, boys; give him breathin'
room.) He didn't pear to 'tiliate with 9th
er tramps, and | may say that l was his
only and constant companion. Not but
what we got enough to eat, for the farmer
folks was always clever, and these bigpockets
Just bulged outall round with cold victuals,
but | don't think he was cut out for that
sort of life, and the exposure told on him.
Them cold spring rains struck right in on
a feller, and many's the time he pulled me
off and wrung me out like dlsh-rag. l
even feel it i'll my own system, land I'd
little rather you boys wouldn't pull at my
tails 50; something might give way). Eve
stuck to him like a brother, though, and
saved his reputation time and again. Often
when we approached town he would haul
me off, wash me out in running stream,
and hang me on fence to dry. Then he d
pull me on, button me up to his chin, and
march through that town saucy as lord.
I've saved his bacon, too, often enough.
All these wounds" and the old duster
tapped its tails significantly toward some
rents in its back, "were made at divers
times by dogs, and if they hadn't appeased
their wrath on me the old man would have
got it himself. please scoot that dog on
ahead there, somebody.
"But pard says he's failin', and Pm movin'
out of this town with him fast as possible
He says to me last night, confidential like
that if it's got to come to passln IN his
checks he wants few wavin' trees and
some chirpin birds and little green grass
around. It'd be more homelike he says, to
turn up his toes in the shade of a hay
stack or in some cozy fence corner, but he
don't want no hospital cot nor no work
house bunk in hisn. No, no, old pard,
he whispered, we'll creep along out of
these hot streets and crowded thorough
fares till we strike the messy lanes agin,
| Al 4 i l.
we'll do it right there. But we won't be
parted, old pard They'll lay me away in a
pauper's grave at last, and my windin'
Sheet shall be the old linen duster.'"