Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-12-13
A TRAMP.

And the mists have cleared away.
A TRAMP.
She was on the front stoop, mendine
Farmer Thorney's stockings, when Bax.
ter, 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 surprised; none of the farm
hands had ever consulted her on the
subject before; even Mr.. Thorney him
self smoked and smoked without dream
of asking her permission; that IS, when
ever Miss Hannah was not near to re-
proach him with turning their substance
into smoke Everybody declared that
Hannah was the close one, but that
Thorney himself was mighty high. y
They used to tell how 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 gire you quarter to
have it out and done with. free of
charge!" and Hannah plucked up cour-
age and consented, and returned home a
quarter the richer.
" Mind the pipe!' returned Polly
ney,s;;" e9y; ''N' ~ 's'''' ''''. -1'. ''''
''Theres 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 about?" ask
Baxter, as she delayed her needle and
meditated.
"EI was thinking that Thorney S
hand would make two of yours. You
were not cut out for hard labor, Bax-
ter.
"But the hard labor was cut out for
me, eh? It's mighty fine night, Polly
Wouldn't you like to walk down by the
brook and find some violets?"
Eyes; but Hannah may want me-"
Hannah has put on her spectacles
and gone to borrow neighbor Hooker s
newspaper, and Thorney is stealing Il
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 IA footstep. "
And then the two young people strolled
off to the brook, and listened to a whip
poor-will making plaintive music in the
edge of the woods, and watched the
evening star push the filmy clouds aside
and step forth.
Young Baxter had been on the Thor
ney farm a month or so. He happened
one day to knock at the door and ask
for night lodging; he had small bag
slung over his shoulder, and sunburnt
countenance, which quickened Hannahs S
impulses. "a tramp!" said she. Good
gracious, Polly, shut the door quick
No, no, we dom take dodgers! We will
be murdered in our beds-and the
spoons my grandfather left me! Didn t
| tell you to shut the door, Polly? No,
we don't take folks in; you'll find com
modations further down the road, at
Hooker's, Or" But just then Thorney
came up, cautiously knocked the mud
off his boots, and said:
"A tramp, Polly?"
I've been tramping some distance,
said the stranger, with frank smile
and Id like to put up for the night some.
where. However, if your familys un-
comfortable at the idea, maybe you
would let me sleep in the haymow?"
The impudence! " cried Hannah
from within THAT would be mighty
handy for him to make off with Light
foot and the colt, wouldn't it, now!
Where's your wits, Hiram3 Why don't
you say No. up and DOWN."
GAS to that, drawled Thorney, "a fel
low must sleep somewhere; and then
suppose you wouldn't mind working il
out in the morning, eh?"-with an eye
to the main chance. I've got some plow
ing | would like to have done right
off"
"I'll drive your plow for night $
lodging, and thanks, returned Baxter
''or mend your fences, or repair youl
clocks. I'm not above earning an honest
penny"
"Lor, if he's willing to lend hand,
'capitulated Hannah, I'D give him the
attic chamber, and welcome He aim
half so rough looking as | thought" shc
confded to Polly, later He's got al
honest face and handy fingers, if he is
forty tramps.
Baxter showed himself so ready or
the morrow, Farmer Thorney suggested
he should spend another day in his EN-
ploy, and then the work in hand raj
over into the next day, and as nobody
could finish it so well as Baxter, he nat
urally stayed on and on, till, at the enc
of the week, Thorney admitted. Maybe
you re as good hand as I'd get if
waited till Christmas; perhaps you 9
like steady work for the'summer, witt
board and wages?'
You wouldn't be likely to do better,
put in Hannah, with no recommends
ton, you see though don't say as yol
need one
"Thank you. And what do you say?
he asked, turning to Polly.
"I2 Why, /" faltered Polly
Polly hasn't nothing to say abou
it." objected Hannah. Me and Hiram
run this concern"
Then she's the first woman that has
mt something to say. Speak up. Polly,
commanded Farmer Thorney. Don
never leave sentence at loose ends.
was going to say that four make
a cosy family
Twos company, and three $ a crowd
eh, Polley?" said Thorney, with laugh
And Baxter staid.
"'What makes the lamb love Mar
SOP" he quoted, as they wended home
ward, Polly's little eve lamb, friskin
before them, having joined them in tn
pastures.
Why, you know" explained Polly
Her mother disowned her, and she wa
left shiverlng and hungry out in tn
cold and l brought her in and warme
her before the kitchen fire, and fed he
with warm milk, until she grew an
throve."
"And Thorney gave her to your"
"No. but he said, Seems as thoug
she belonged to Polly But Hanna
didn't like it. Then s'pose the dishe
belong to Polly. cause she washes 'en