Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-17
Painting Tramps.

poor, and it stands TO reason that he IS
often hungry and more or less naked.
Now, | am not going 10 turn any naked,
hungry wretch from my door without
feeding him, and if every body would do
the same, the world would be all the bel
ter for it.n
These were, in substance, words re-
cecently spoken by Mr.. Elisha Hawkins,
who had Just moved into Mooseville, n.
Y, and rented DR.. Haleti's new house
near the Methodist Westinghouse. Mr..
Hawkins had come from region in the
northern part Of the State where The
tramp has not yet penetrated, and he
knew nothing of the real character OF
that pest. Why he took up his residence
in MooseviIlo need not be here set forth,
though it might be here mentioned that
he had held a mortgage on DR.. Halletts
house, and had bought it in at ridicu-
lousy low figure under foreclosure
sale. That be was kind-heerted, uu-
sophisticated old gentleman was evident
to every one who met him, and the Moose
villa people we're glad that the house,
which had so long lacked tenant, was
at last occupied by one who promised to
be respected citizen.
On the second night after Mr.. Hawkins
had made use OF the language herein
above quoted, his front-door bell was
suddenly rung. Il was about 9 O'Clock
in the evening, and Mr.. Hawkins was
doing in his chair, while his wife was
"going over the wash" and laying aside
such garments as needed repairing. MIR.
Hawkins first wondered to some extent
who could be AT the front door, and final
" decided that If he answered the ring
he might perhaps find out. He accord
ingly took up the lamp and went 10 the
door. whence he hnrTiedly returned and
called his vile TO come and help him
bring in poor woman who was either
dead or in faint. Mrs. Hawkins promptly
answered the appeal, and with the help
of her husband lifted up thin and thinly
clad woman, who WAS lying on the front
piazza, and carried her TO the sitting
room sofa. The woman was pale and
unconscious, though n strong rudy lint
showed that life still fingered 10 The ex-
tremity of her nose. A glass OF wine
was forced between her lips, AMI her
hands and arms were lenderlY rubbed.
Under these ministrs.ions she gradually
ragained consciousness just in time 10
grasp bottle that was slipping from her
pocket. with the view OF smashing itself
on the floor.
The stranger, after wildly calling for
her husband" d" father" /" precious ba-
by," and some more miscellaneous rela-
tives. asked where she was and why she
had not been allowed TO die. She then
explained that she was poor but honest
woman, whose husband was dead, and
whose only child was lying at the point
OF death at East Venice. the next station
on the Mooseville Railroad. She was on
her way to see her child die, and, having
no money, was compelled TO walk. She
had already walked for fifteen consecu-
tive days, during which time she had
eaten nothing but two apples and a raw
turnip. The bottle In her pocket con-
tanned, so she was told. either whlskey
or brandy, and had been given to her by
a good doctor when she started on her
tramp, but her temperance principles dld
not allow her TO taste 1t, although she
had kept it as the gift OF q good, kind
friend. Imagining that she was about to
die, she had rung Mr.. Hawkins from.
door-bell in order TO ask leave to die on
his piazza, but his kindness had 30 re-
yiyed her that she telt strong enough TO
reach East Venice il some one would
only give her fifty cents wherewith to pay
her car fare. Mr.. Hawkins and his wife
were deeply touched. They gave the
woman an excellent supper and a good
bed. In the morning Mrs. Hawkins gave
her supply ot clothing and Mr.. Haw-
kins gave her five dollars. Her gratitude
was profuse, aud as she departed to take
the train to Der dying child's bedside,
Mr.. Hawkins felt that all ne had said in
behalf of tramps was fully justified.
During the day he mentioned the matter
TO a few acquaintances, and repeated his
declaration that he would never turn q
distressed tramp unasssted from his door.
That night the front-door bell rang at
about 10 80, and Mr.. Hawkins got out ol
bed and went down stairs in sleepy but
still a benevolent frame Of mind. DE
found three tramps-two OF them women
and the other a man-lying unconscious
on his piazza. He dragged them into the
hall, revived them with wine, and having
listened to their to their pitlful stories
concerning their dying children in the
next town, ted them and sent them away
He did not, however, give them any
money, for although he believed their
stories, he felt that the volume of trsmps
was becoming rather too large for his
purse. Still, he returned to his bed teel-
ing that he had done his duty, and thai
his quiet conscience stood in need of O