The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-12-26
NED WILSON'S TRAMP.
A Christmas Sketch.
BY JUDGE WHITE.

bf JUOGE WHITE.
Ned Wilson was printer by trade,
jolly good fellow by nature, but at the
time write a tramp by force of circum-
stances. Thus one bright day III May
he found himself in the waiting-room
of an Illinois depot, with just 70 cents
in the pockets of respectable-looking
pair of pants, or what could be seen of
them below the long, fashionable dress
coat, which looked we'll enough to justify
the term. A smallhand-sachel by his side
also added to the effect of his appear
ance, for, though a tramp, Ned was
high-toned young fellow, honest, indus
trlous, and of whom one could find
nothing repulsive, except the name of
his present calling. Six months back
he had held ceases" in frst-class
office In the central part of the State,
few miles from the farm house of we'll
TODD parents. The general depression
OF business which preceded the winter
of TT threw him out of "sit," and thus
it came that, after tramping over Iowa
and Wisconsin in vain search for
work, we find him again in Illinois, with
just money enough left to take him
home, discouraged, detected and dis
gusted with his country, but more espe-
cially the people that inhabited it.
The train was due in twenty minutes
Being of social turn of mind, Ned
looked about him, and had just COM
menced slate-and-pencil conversation
with deaf and dumb gentleman when
three ladies stepped into the waiting
room. Something of a novice at the
business, Ned made so many motions
and grimaces in talking with his COM
panion that the ladies mistook him for
the dumb person. This was all the
more apparent as the deaf gentleman
passed for moment to the platform,
leaving his slate with Ned.
Mamma" said the youngest of the
three ladies, a bright, happy miss, of
some II years. Mamma do see this
poor, deaf and dumb boy. Ask him
how he lost his speech, do?" And the
impulsive girl looked at Ned with eyes
full of tender pity for his misfortune.
Hush, daughter, he will hear you"
@Why, mamma, how can he? Say,
Aunt Mamie" turning to the third lady;
"isn't he handsome? See what large,
intelligent eyes, and handsome complex
ion? could fall in love with such a
young fellow, if he wasn't deaf" And
the young miss clapped her hands and
laughed silvery peal that resounded
with the echo of the on-coming train.
In came the deaf and dumb gentle
man after his slate, picked it up and
went to the open window of the ticket
Office for ticket Ned turned to the
young lady and smiled. She saw her
mistake in an instant.
why, you are not dumb after all, are
you?" exclaimed the young lady.
No miss" replied Ned, respectfully;
my friend here is the zone unfortu-
nate" so deserving your sympathy; [
am nothing but tramp" And Ned
laughed recklessly, which seemed to i'm
press the young lady unfavorably, but
she did not reply.
While they were speaking the train
ran into the siding, the older lady gave
the miss an annoyed jerk toward the
western bound train, but not till the
young lady had smiled Oh Ned a part
ing glance, at the same time dropping at
his feet solitary forget-me-not. It was
not the thing forhe to do, but, young and
romantic, just from boarding school, she
never thought, dear reader, that she was
doing wrong, and poor Ned could not
be blamed for picking up the offering
and putting it to his lips, as she was
whirled out of sight.
Ned had just time to catch up his
sachel and step onto the train, which in
few hours landed him at his fathers
door, ending his tramping days forever.
Such a rejoicing there was among his
friends over his return Mother cried
little over him father m-hummed, and
rubbed his glasses, while numerous little
brothers and sisters climbed all over
him; into pockets went def fingers, and
the homecoming was mutually rejoiced
over. Think of it-over a tramp
Of course, Ned never mentioned the
dark days when, hungry, worn and foot
sore, he had tramped through the dust
of Iowa roads, wishing sometimes in his
friendlessness and despair that he had
the courage to end it all in the dark,
muddy waters of some swift-fowing
stream; but he expressed such SYM
pathy for the tramp that during the
months that followed his Homecoming
not even the worst of the name were
ever turned from that door empty
handed.
Good fortune had lately smiled upon
his parents, and they had enough and
to spare. Ned was helped into business,
prospered, and was happy.
A year has passed by. Ned is still
hard at work, making money. His office
is in the busy town of D, a place re-
nowned for the enterprise of it's citizens
and the number of it's handsome young
ladies. Among the first Ned is always
reckoned, but in speaking Of the latter
they leave him out entirely, as he will
have nothing to do with any of them.
Why, they cannot guess. But shall I