The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-12
A TRAMP.

ana 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 Il
dream of a-king her permission; that is,
whenever Miss Hannah WAS not near to
reproach him with turning their sub
stance into smoke. Everybody declared
that Miss Hannah was the close one, but
that Mr.. Thornley, himself was "mighty
nigh" They used to tell how Miss Han
nah had gone to the doctors once upon a
time, to have an aching molar extracted,
and how her heart had failed her wien
he produced the instrument OF torture,
till the impatient doctor was forced to
say, Come, now, Pll give you quarter
to have it ont and done with, free OF
charged and Miss Hannah plucked up
courage and consented, and returned
home a quarter the richer.
mind the pipew returned Polly. "No;
| like it better than Mr.. Thornley's."
"There's 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 ?" asked
Baxter, as she delayed her needle and
meditated.
"I--I was thinking that Mr.. Thornley's
hand would make two of yours. You
wern't cut out for hard labor, Mr.. Bax-
ter"
'But the hard labor was cut out for
me, ell? It's mighty fine night, Miss
Polly. Wouldn't you like to walk down
by the brook and find some vioIets?
ayes; but Miss Hannah may want me. y
"Miss Hannah has put on her specta.
cles and gone to borrow Neighbor Hook.
er's newspaper, and Thornley, is stealing
a 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 tine two young people strolled of tc
the brook, and listened to whlp-poor'
will making pensive music in the edge OF
the woods, and watched the evening stal
push the flmy clouds aside and steE
forth
Young Baxter had been on the Thorn
lev farm a month or SO. He happenec
che day to knock at the door and ask fol
nights lodging; he had a small bae
sIung across his shoulder, and a sun
burned countenance, which quickenec
Miss Hunnah's pulses.
"A tramp said she. "Good gracious
Polly, shut the door quick! No, no, We
don't take lodgers Well be murdered
in our beds-and the spoons my grand
father left me! Didn't tell you to shu
the door, Polly? No, we don't take folk.
in; you'll find 'commodation further
down the road, at Hooker's, Or"
But Just then Mr.. Thornley, came up
cautiously Knocked the mud off his boots
and said:
"A tramp, Polly?
"Tve been tramping some distance,
said the stranger, with frank smile
"and I'd like to put up for the nigh
somewhere. However, if your family
uncomfortable at the idea, maybe you't
let me sleep in the haymow?'
"The impudence!" cried Miss Hannal
from within. THAT would be might,
handy for him to make off with Light
foot and the colt, wouldn't it, now
Where's you wits, Hiram? Why dom
you say No. up and down"
Gas to that" drawled Thornley,, g
fellow must sleep somewhere; ard then
s'pose YOU wouldn't mind working it ou
in the morning, eh?'-with an eye to tn
main chance. "Pve got some plowin
| I'd like to have done right off,
I'll drive your plow for night
lodging and thanks" returned BaXte
"or mend your fences or repair yor
, clocks. Pm not above earning an honei
penny" ,
, '"Lor', if he's willing to lend hand
capitulated Miss Hannah, 'Id give hi
the attic chamber and welcome. i
amt near so rough-looking as | thought
she confded to Polly, later ''He's e
, an honest face and handy fingers, if
! is forty tramps."
Baxter showed himself so ready on Il
morrow that Farmer Thornley, suggestt
he should spend another day in his Ell
: ploy, and then the work IN hand r;
l over into the following day, and as
one could finish it so well as Baxter,
naturally staid on and on till at the el
of the week thornley, admitted, "May
you're as good a hand as I'd get il
y waited till Christmas; perhaps you'd Ii
S steady work for the summer with boa
r and wages"
e "You wouldn't be likely to do better
\. put in Hannah, "with no recommend
b ton, you see-though | don't say as y
S need one"
f dThank you. And what do you say
e he asked, turning to Polly.
Il? Why, L" faItered Polly.
a "Polly hasn't nothing to say about i
t; objected Hannah. "Me and Hiram +
IS this concern"
,s "Then she's the first woman that has
Il nothing to say. Speak up, Polly" co
IS manded Farmer Thornley,. Don't neN
!. leave sentence to loose ends"
Il was going to say that four makes
h cozy family"
Il Il "Two's company, and three's crov
IL IL eh, Polly" said Thornley,, with laul
: And Baxter staid.
- "What makes the lamb love M
= !. SOP" he quoted, as they wended hor
l. l. ward, Polly's little eve lamb friski
Il before them, having joined them in
j., pastures.
). "Why, you know" exclaimed Pol
t, cher mother disowned her, 'and she '
Is left shivering and hungry out in
n cold. And | brought her in and warn
Sc her before the kitchen fire, and fed
rs with milk till she grew and throve."
II "And Thornley, gave her to you"
is "No: but he said, Seems as thov