Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-20
OUR TRAMP.

OUR TRAMP.
aOur tramp came to us foot sore and
dust begrimmed one evening last June.
Perhaps it was the title of madam
prefxed to his petition for something to
eat and a chance to sleep on the haYmow,
which moved Mrs N-'tO acqulesce-
somehow against your own Judgment
crit might have been the WEAKNESS visible
in his air and speech. Be this as it may,
he was indicted kitchenward, with in
structions to wipe his feet carefully, where
I judged his performances with the knife
and fork gave rise to Bridget's remark
the next morning, that he'd breed a
famine in any community inside of
week!
What can you do, Jim!" I asked of
by a breakfast, he begged for a jo0.
Almost anything, sir, that's hard
work." was his answer. Them as goes
to sea for livin' gently speakin', can
turn their hands to all Sorts
"There's the strawberry bed to be
weeded, JOHN" suggested Mrs. Y,
seemingly interested in the wandercr. who,
barring the loss of two front teeth, and
hair suggestive of brick-1ust in its hue,
was not a bad looking fellow.
lido not assert that Mrs. ks gentle
will is law in our family, but find it
more conducive to harmony to fall in
with her suggestions with as much dig
nifty as possible; so, with an air of indif-
ference, ac4uiesced, and jim proceeded
to his task, which, being accomplished
with celebrity and neatness, my wife
conducted him to the flower garden the
pride of her own heart, and, as far as
keeping the same free from weeds is con-
cerned, the detestatiOn of my own.
'Ain't they han sum, num- said Jim,
kneeling and turning with his rough
foreinger the modest face of an English
daisy outward. Minds me of that ere
young lady on the yerandy this mornin',
as must be your twin sister2'
His reference to Tesem b!ance between
Nellie and herself was not at all displeas-
ing to Mrs. Y, who is five years old.
er than her sister, although she effected
incredulity at the doubled barrelled COM
pliment.
"He has rough sense of refinement,
quite uncommon for one in his station Of
life," she said to me afterward, by which
knew the leaven of fattery was work
ing; and when, the next day, she decid
ed that we had better keep him till the
gardening was over-"It will save you so
much hard work, john" she remarked
en- p0rentbeSe-I knew that Jim, our
tramp, had found favor in her eyes
"Shall you ever go to sea again, Jim! Z"
asked Mrs. X, as we made a family
group on the piazza ia the cool of sum-
mer's evening, while Jim loitered near
by, picking up the garden tools, and
whistling softly to himself.
'Yes'm," was the answer, somewhat
constrained withal.
"You must have met with some strange
adventures in your life," said Nellie, VINO
was Just crossing the threshold of an age
when all things are touched with a CLAM
our of romance; moreover, anything per-
tanning to the sea had of late been full OF
interest to her--ever since the dashing
Captain Hanson had made her acquaint.
ance at Hastings, where she had spent
part of the summer.
had lately learned through the medi.
UNI of Mrs. x, that Captain Hanson
was daily expected to favor Leybridge
with his presence, ostensibIy to see one O
his ships oWners---possibly and proba
bly, to renew his acquaintance with my
pretty sister-in-law.
"Well, num-" answered Jim, who
have left sitting uneasily On the handle
of the wheelbarrow, adventures is mostly
in sea-yarns, as is writ for the story-p pa
pers; but I've had some considerable
hard pulls, what with bein' wrecked
four times-the las time lusln of as gooC
chist of clos as a Teller would want, t.
say nothin' of bein' in open boat lever
days---me, the mate an four men witt
never bit or sup the blessed time. w
was picked up" continued Jim, "bv
blasted-beg your pardon, mum, TO
swearin'-packet-ship, boun' from Liver
pool to New York. OF Beansole Was tn
cap'n-mebbe you've heerd of him, sir |?
this to me.
wasn't it he," asked, as a dim re
membrance of the name brought to min'
a newspaper narration of cruelties Of
ship-board, which somehow died out yer
suddenly, "who was heavily fined 70
brutality toward some of the emigran
passengers?"
"Wot's fine, that the owners steps IL
an pays" said Jim, in scorn, s'to lettir
a woman die on deck from the wet al
cold9 An why didn't they bring up som
of his other cruelties-shootin' men O
in the tops'l yard, drivin' 'em overboar
in the Mersey. or breakin' rib or an arr
VII an iron belaYin' pin?
"Oh, come now, JIM" said ], "Yo
don't mean that there are men on shi,
board to-day who are such brutes as a
that7 Why, the law would
'sThe law!' repeated Jim. Laws ft
cap'n an owners, not for US sailor
though they did manage to shove th
petty officers of the Jack Frost, Jr., INF
prison, a few years ago, arter they kille
two or three men aboard on the passae
though mind it was said that tt
cap'n and mate scaped punishment b
happenin' to both die-sing'lar, WASH
titus afore the ship was hauled I'M
dock"
"But such men are the exception. The
are plenty of kind-hearted men who s
as captains now-a-days," urged after
short pause.