Middletown transcript., 1878-05-04

"Well, Tom Hamilton, this is q
rather interesting state Of things.
Twenty miles from a railroad station; ;
no money, no clean clothes, no any
thing.
at looks like quite a little trip to
take on foot. Walking from necessity
is different thing from walking for
fun, and when get to the station, |
shall probably find that the Railroad
companies have habit of charging
for a ride; in fact, | don't know but a
man is as well off in the Wisconsin
woods without money, as anywhere.
q do charge you, Tom Hamilton,
with being a tramp, that's what you
are, and now be true to your charac-
ter, sir, and make a successful tramp.
Perhaps, however, you had better take
an account Of stock IN other words,
see what your resources are.
"First: Two soiled handkerchiefs,
evidence of former respectability; a
bit of rhyming composed and sung by
the campfire; evidence Of extraordi-
nary mental power. No one could
read it without pronouncing it a re-
markable production. Shakespeare
wrote nothing like it. A photograph
of cousin Bessie, showing that | have
known the refining influence Of female
friendship. A copy Of Tenny son,
showing-don't know what that does
show; haven't made up my mind. A
couple of cigars, Blessed be Raleigh!
and oh, Lucifer! an empty match box.
These are my possessions this a. m.
Now here is a little hamlet, where [
ought, according to poetic tradition, to
find every latch-string out, and every
man ready to clasp me in his arms,
and call me brother, ready to share
the last crust Of bread, and the last
cup of coffee with me. But [ greatly
doubt if I find any such thing. | am
disreputable looking creature, but l
deny that the apparel proclaims the
man in my case"
Tom reconnoitered little after the
fashion of a thoroughbred tramp.
One woman offered to give him his
breakfast Ill return for an hours de-
votion to her wood-pile, but he fully
intended to be consistent, and SO he
declined her offer.
He noticed a large, pleasant-look-
ing, brown farmhouse, set well back
from the road The lawn in front was
smooth as floor. He noticed flow
er bed in the distance, gay with bloom.
He saw the hanging baskets in the
porch, and he looked upon the place
as critically as though he had medi-
tated purchasing instead of asking for
a breakfast.
"This looks inviting. This house
has fine expression, for houses have
expressions as well as their inmates,
and there is a young lady swinging in
that hammock. l know she is young,
because she has on a light blue dress,
and any one not young ought to know
better than to wear light blue. She
also has fair hair, and blue or gray
eyes.
"This is a somewhat ridiculous way
for hungry man and q temporary
beggar to reason, but shows that my
exposures and privations have not i'm
paired my powerful intellect"
He tried his fate at the kitchen
door.
"Sure now, it's hungry you are, and
it's something to ate ye're wanting"
"If you please" "
-"Then I'll be asking the mistress"
Cant you give me something with
out?"
cave coorse I could, young man,
but it's Norah O'Flaherty that obeys
orders"
Certainly, Norah, give him some
thing" he heard very sweet voice
say in answer to Norah's inquiry
"What sort Of a looking man is he?"
"Oh, Miss Ruth he's wicked
looking chap, wild the blacklist eyes I
ever see in living creatures head,
and he just takes in Everything at
glance. I'm afraid he's thafe, Miss
Ruth"
"Did you leave him alone ?"
"Not I. Maggie is there, and she'll
kape her two eyes on him
Go and give him something to eat,
and I'll come out and look at him.
But watch himswell."
In a minute or two more, Tom was
sitting on the back porch, eating a
bowl Of bread and milk, and black
berries. Norah had given him seat
at the kitchen table, and had set forth
other food, but be had taken his pas
toral dish, and retired to the porch.
"He may be a dacent fellow after
all" Norah soliloquized.
Pretty soon he saw approaching him
as fair a vision as had greeted his eyes
for many day. 1t soon materialized
into dainty little lady, apparently
about nineteen, with cloud of light
brown hair, large, hazel eyes, and
sweet, but resolute-looking little mouth.