Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-13
4 TRAMP.

a TRAMP.
She was on the front stoop, mendng-Far-
mer Thorneys stockings, when Baxter, the
new farm hand, came and sat down on the
rude seat by the door, and hung his palm
leaf hat upon his knee and took his pipe
from his mouth.
'Do you mind the pipe?' he asked. Polly
looked up in surprise none Of the farm
hands had ever consulted her on the subject
before even Mr.. Thornley, himself smoked
and smoked without dream of asking her
permission; that is, whenever Miss Hannah
was not near to rclroach him with turning
their substance into smoke. Everybody de
clared that Miss Hannah was the close one,
but that Mr.. Thornley, himself was mighty
nigh" They used to tell how Miss Hannah
had gone to the doctors, once upon time,
to have an aching molar extracted, and how
her heart had failed her when he produced
the instrument of torture, till the impatient
doctor was forced to say, "Come, now, I'll
giCe you n quarter to have it out and done
with, free of charge and Miss Hannah
pluckcd up courage and consented, and re-
turned home quarter the richer.
Mind the pipe ~ returned Polly. No; |
like it better than Mr. Thorueys."
There's a difference in tobacco" Polly,
not being posted in the merits of the staple,
dropped the subject and the frogs filled the
interval with melodious pipings
what are you thinking abouty' asked
Baxter, as she delayed her needle and medi-
tated
81 was thinking that Mr. Thornley's hand
would make two of yours. IOu weren't cut
out for hard labor, Mr. Baxter
but the hard labor was cut out for me,
eh It's mighty fine night, Miss Polly.
Wouldn't you like TO walk down by the brook
and find some volots -
Yes: but Miss Hannah may want me-"
Miss Hannah has put on her spectacles
and gone to borrow Neighbor Hookcr's news
paper, and Thornley, is stealing smoke in
the orchard. It's as good as a play TO see
him tuck his pipe into his pocket at the risk
of setting himself on fire, whenever he hears
footstep." And then the two young peo-
pie strollod of to the brook, and listened to a
whip-poor-will making pensive music in the
edge of the woods, and watched the evening
star push the tiny clouds aside and step forth.
Young Baxter had been on the Thornley,
farm a month or so. He happened one day
to knock at the door and ask for a nights
lodging; he had n small bag slung across his
shoulder, and sunburned cOuntenance,
which quickened Miss Hannah's pulses. "A
tramp" said she. Good gracious, Polly,
shut the door quick No, no, We don't take
dodgers. Wen be murdered in our beds
and the spoons my grandfather left me 4!
Didn't tell you to shut the door, Polly No,
we don't take folks in you'll find 'comno-
daton further down the road, at Hooker :
or" But Just then Mr. Thornley, came up.
cautiously knocked the mud of his boots and
said,
"A tramp Polly?'
I've been tramping some distance" said
the stranger, with frank smile, ''aud I'd
like to put up for the night somewhere.
However, if your family's uncomfortable at
the idea, maybe you'd let me sleep in the
haymow Z"
The impudauce!" cried Miss Hannah,
from within THAT would he mighty handy
for him to make oil with Lghtfoot aud the
colt wouldn't it, now : Where's your wits,
Hiram? Why don't you say No. up and
down.
"As to that" dnwled Thornley,, "a fellow
must sleep somewhere and then s'pose you
wouldn't mind working it out in the morn
ing, ell with an eye to the main chance.
'Iye got some ploughing I'd Ike to have
done right of"
I'm drive your plough for a nights lodg-
ing and thanks returned Baxter; "or mend
your fences, or repair your clocks. I'm not
above earning an honest penny"
"Lor', if he's willing TO lend hand" Gu
tic chamber and welcome. He amt near so
rough-looking as ! thought, she confided to
Polly, later. Hes got an honest face and
handy fingers, if he is forty tramps."
Baxter showed himself so ready on the
morrow, Farmer Thornley, suggested that he
should spend another day in his employ, and
then the work in hand ran over into the fol-
lowing day, and as nobody could finish it so
well as Baxter, he naturally staid on and on,
till. at the end of the week. Thornley, admit
ted, maybe you're as good hand as I'd get
if waited till Christmas perhaps you'd like
steady work for the summer, with board and
wagesf"
'You wouldn't be likely to do better" put
in Hannah" with no recommendation you
see though don't say as you need one"
Thank you. And what do yOW say = he
asked, turning to Polly.
81? Why, I" faltered Polly.
polly hasn't nothing to say about it," OBJ
jectod Hannah Me and Hiram runs this
concern"
'Then she's the first woman that hasn't
nothing to say. Speak up, Polly" command
ed Farmer Thornley,. Don't leave sen
tence to loose ends.
81 was going to say that four makes a cozy
family"
"Twos company, and threes a crowd, EN-
Polly?" said Thornley,, with laugh. AND
Baxter staid
"'What makes the lamb love Mary so ? .
| he quoted, as they wended homeward, Polly''
little eve lamb, frisking before them, having
| Joined them in the pastures.
"Why, you know" explained Polly, 'hei
mother disowned her, and she was left shiv
ering and hungry out in the cold, And
| brought her in and warmed her before the
kitchen fire. and fed her with warm milk, til
she grew and throve."
And Thornley, gave her to your
'No; but he said Seems as though sh,
belonged to Polly But Miss Hannah didn'
| like it. Then l spose the dishes belong t
Polly, cause she washes 'em, and the rooms
cause she sweeps 'em, and the beds she
makes ? she said. Isn't Polly paid her law
full wages for doing whatever her hands fnC
to do, be it to cosset lambs or cook the vict
uals p"
"Have you always lived here, Miss Polly p
asked Baxter.
Il have always lived in this house, but no
always as q servant, Mr.. Baxter. This wa
the old parsonage my uncle lived here, will
little or no salary. He didn't care for that
he came here to do good, TO show the peopl'
the road to heaven-there was no church
then, for miles around-aud he had money o
his own. My mother and came with him
and after she died we two lived ON here to
gether, and he taught me all know-it ism
much. But when 1 was fifteen, he cam'
home one day from the city, where he haC
gone on business, and told me that som'