The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-11
A Sarcastic Mendirant.

I'm very hungry" said a haggarj
tramp, with very rod eyes, as he stood
buwing ohsequiously at the side entrance
of Court street house. Wont you
please, ma'am. be So good as to give me
little something to eat Anything will
dO-udds aud ends cold or warm Il
don't matter. for lH not one If them
high-tuned, friei oyster fcllcrs.
NY husband has forbidden me to en-
courage idleness 10y giving away any
more provisions" replied the lady Of
the house. lie Says you fellows haye
sort uf Free Masonry way uf letting
others know every house al which you
have been fed, and II Is sure 10 bring d
troop of lazy Vngabonds upon us who
would starye before they'd lift hand "a
work So you will have 10 move on and
get your breakfast some place else. "
BAT I'm not a yagabond, ma am I'm
hard working. industrious man.
came up on /, at from Memphis to sec
my sick mother who lives out near Cam
den, and isn't expected 90 live. | was
robbed on the boat Of every cent had
and all my clothes, while | was in bed.
The captain gave me these old things.
| don't like to beg. but Camden is IA good
stretch from here, and / cant walk IL on
an empty stomach. Think Of the out
stretched arms Of a poor sick mother
toward her absent child, and put wings
on my feet with few cold potatoes. I'm
just at that point where / can eat 'em
without salt
~ can't DO IT, They all have a story
about like that. The last man fed had
u 80 T. Columbus inside Of twenty four
hours to save an innocent man from
hanging, but two days aiterwari sAw
him down town so drunk he couldn't
hold his mouth shut.
"Wcn. | never drink. II / hadn't
been robbed / could show YOU my Muir
phy ribbon that I've worn till it's raVelel
into strings Long years ago swore n
nay mothers beAdci knee-tho same
one who means un her couch of pain
because I'm not with hrr-that / would
never :uuch the bhghting cup, and /
haunt, from that time up 10 this minute.
Can't You help me 10 get there in time
"a comfort her declining hours with the
joyful tidmFs that | haye been steadfast
through all temptation, by giving me
the cold grub You had intended 90 dump
into the garbage box? I'm awful
hungry"
II cant help il. / must obey my
hushanl-his oriers we're positive, " said
the woman, snapplshly.
"Wcll, you're the most extraordinary
woman 1 ever saS Il You do. But say,
can't You give me the paper the beef
steak was brought home in, to chew IA
| 20 along IL NAV fool nv stomach for
awhile and make IL brace up 10y thinking
something better will bc along presently.
You'll DO that much toward easing a
fond paBrut's anxious heart, won't you.
No, | won't"
"Wcll. then give me newspaper and
let me set by the fire and read the adyer-
tisrment of meat market, ard show me
the place where il tells all iout provi-
aons. Even that would give me feast
Tor the imacinaiion-which has been
about the extent 81 my living lately.
You won't believe %, maybe, but it's a
fact. thA, all the nourishmcnt I've had
Tor two DAYS Is the bill Of fare painted on
the outside of the Fifih-s,reet restaurant
Can Won think of that and keep your
stale bread on the inside Of your cup
board ?"
I" Yes. ! can; and want You 10 make
yourself scarce without any more palavcr,
ur ! shall send my boy 30 call police
man. " exclaimed the indignant woman.
Even the photograph Of chicken
would bc some comfort, said the man.
by way oi banter, as he moved Oh, and
-. -aHs
water a few potatoes sliced mp in II would
be- regular barbecue for me. - ttHctn-
natl Breakfast Table.