Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-02-20
QURTRAMP:

i 5 SoAv AAV@A44AAs
Our tramp came to us foot sore and
dust begrimmed one evening last June.
Perhaps it was the title of "madam"
preixed to his petition for something to
eat and chance to sleep on the haymow,
which moved Mrs x to acquiesce-
somehow against your own Judgment
or it might have been the WEAKNESS visible
in his air. and speech. Be this as it may,
be was indicted kitchenward, with in
structions to wipe his feet carefully, where
l judged his performances with the knife
and fork gave rise to- Bridget remark
the next morning, that he'd breed a.
famine in any community inside of a
week!
"What can you do, Jima" I asked of
him the next morning, as, emboldened
by breakfast, he begged for a iob.
"A'mosr 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
weeaed, John," suggested Mrs. x:
seemingly interested in the wanderer, who,
barring the loss Of two front teeth, and
hair suggestive of Drick-'1ust in its hue,
was not a bad looking fellow.
I do not assert that Mrs. ks gentle
will is law in our. family, but I 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, I acquiesced, 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, NUMB said Jim,
kneeling and turning with his rough
forefnger the modest face of an English
daisy outward. "Minds me of that ERE
young lady on the verandy this mornin,,
as must be your twin sister?''
His reference to resem blance between
Nellie and herself was not at all displeas-
ing to Mrs. K ~, 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
l 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- pnrenthese-I knew that Jim, our
tramp, had found favor in her eyes.
ttShall you eyer: go to.seaIagain, Jim?"
asked Mrs. x, as we made family
group on the piazza in 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. - s>i':',j J.:
| on must nave met with some strange
adventures in your life," said Nellie, who
was just. crossing the Threshold of an age
when all things are touched with CLAM
our of romance; moreover, anything per-
( tanning to%the~ sea: had ofIate; 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.s';., z; IL: -
had lately learned through the medi.
UNI of Mrs. x, that Captain Hanson
was daily expected to favor Ley bridge
with his presence, ostensibly to see one OF
his ships -owners--=possibly and proba.
bly, to renew his acquaintance with my
pretty sister ins]aw.;g At
J"sWel1y mum, tanswered. Jim, who I
have left sitting uneasily on the handle
cof, the fwheelbarrow; adventures Eis2mostly
in sea- yarns, as is writ fol. the story. pa.
. TIN ho1 Il, ~
hard pulls, what with bein' wrecked
four times 1.-THE las time lusln'' ofas good
| a chist of clos ,as Teller would want, to
say nothin' Of beif' in a open boat 1eveu
days=---me, 1.-THE mate oan1 four men with
never bit or sup the, blessed. time. We
was picked up" continued Jim, "byia
blasted beg your pafd0n;2 mum, fol
swearin' apacket-ship, boun' from. Liver.
pool to New York. OF Beansole was the
cap'nlT7mne'bbbe you've heerd Of him, sir9'
this to ME: % !"
"Wasn't it he,'FI asked, asia dim re.
membrance Of the name brought to mind
|=a,nnewspapera narration ~cruelties Oh
| ship board, which somehow died out very
! suddenly, 'swhoI was heavily fined. fo1
brutality toward some of the emigrant
passengers9" - .:s,@=e4s:;@ % =, =
"Wot's fine, that the owners steps III
an pays" said JimTin scorn,i ito lettin
a'wonan1 die on deck from the wet an
cold2 An why didn't they bring up som.
| of, his other, cruelties- shootin' men of
in the tops'l yard, driyin' 'em overheard
| in the. MerseY. or breakin' a rib or an arm
wiz an iron belavin' pin9sa" h"h i
I'aq"Ob, come now, Jim )" said I, '.Yor
I don 7 mean that there are men on ship
/ board to day who are such brutes as al
,that2, Why, the, law WOULD -,
IGa1 'sEheq law u repeated Jim. t.Laws fo,
cap,n b an,sbowners,s not for lsG sailors
though they did manage to shove. til.
petty officers Of the Jack Frost, ,Jr., init
!. prison, 8 few years ago, arter they killei
| two or three men aboard on the passsp,
! thought: mind it was said that til,
cap'n and matea ;scapedp punishment b,
| happenin, to both Gle singular WASH
itsIisa a .o1s tie ship ship was hauled int
such men are are the exception. Their
are plenty OF kind hearted men who q
! as captains now-aedays,p I urged after
E6hoft pause. 3 sssYiEas9a9I sis91 pa
Exi.aIndeed there areI' suddenly broke i,
/ Miss Nellie, with energy. aChar- tina
rs, captain whom I know" she said, in