Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-05-23
A TRAMP.

A TRAMP.
She was on the front stoop, mendng Farm
or Thornleys stockings, when Baxter, the
new farm hand, came and sat down on the
d, 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 pipel" he asked Polly
looked up IN surprise more of the farm hands
had ever consulted her on the subject before !;
even Mr.. Thornley, himself smoked, and
smoked without dream of asking her per-
mission; that is, whenever Miss Hannah was
not near to reproach him with turning their
substance into smoke. Everybody declared
that Miss Hannah was the close one, but that
Mr.. Thornley, himself was "mghty nigh"
They used to tell how Miss Hannah had gone
to the DOCTORS, once upon a time, to have an
aching molar extracted, aud bow her heart
had failed her when he produced the instru-
ment of torture, till the impatient doctor was
forced to say, "COme, now, I'll giye you a
quarter TO have 1t out and done with, free of
charged" and Miss Hannah plucked up cour-
age and consented, and returned home
quarter the richer.
"Mind the pipel" returned Polly. "No;
like it better than Mr.. Thornleys."
"There's difference in tobacco" Polly,
not being posted in the merits of the staple
dropped the subject, and the frogs filed the
interval with melOdiOus pipings,
"What are you thinking abOut!" asked
Baxter, as she delayed her needle and med
itated.
III was thinking that Mr.. Thornley's
hand would make two of yours. You weren't
cut out for hard labor, Mr.. Baxter.n
But the hard labor was cut out for me,
eh! It's a mighty fine night, Miss Polly.
Wouldn't you like to walk down by the brook
and find some viOletsin
ayes; but Miss Hannah may want me-"
" Miss Hannah has put on her spectacles
and gone TO borrow NeighbOr Hooker's news
paper, and Thornley, is stealing a smoke in
the orchard. It's as good as play to see
him tuck his pipe into his pocket, at the risk
of setting himself on fire. whenever he hears
footstep." And then the two young people
strolled off to the brook, and listened to
whip-poor-will making pensive 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 Thornley,
farm month or so. He happened one day to
knock at the door and ask for a nights lodg-
ing; he had a small bag slung across his
shoulder, and asunburned countenance, which
quickened Miss Hannah's pulses. " A trampw
said she. "Good gracious, Polly, shut the
door quick! No, no. we don't take dodgers.
Wen be murdered in our beds-and the
spoons my grandfather left me! Didn't tell
you to shut the door, Pollyl No, we don't
take folks in; you'll find 'commodatlon fur
ther down the road, at hooker's, Or" But
just then Mr.. Thornley, came up, cautiously
knocked the mud from his boots, and said,
"a tramp, Polly!"
"pve been tramping some distance" said
the stranger, with frank smile, land I'd
like TO put up for the night somewhere. How
ever, II your familys uncomfortable at the
idea, maybe you'd let me sleep in the hay
mowln
"The lmpudence ~ cried Miss Hannah, from
within. "That would be mighty handy for
him to make off with Lightfoot and the colt,
wouldn't 1t, now! Where's your wits, Hiram
WhV don't M , m onH
"As to that, drawled Thornley,, ga fellow
must sleep somewhere; and then s'pose you
wouldn't mind working it out in the morning,
eh"'-with an eye to the main chance "Ive
got some plowing I'd like to have done right
OFF"
"Tll drive your plow for nights lodging,
and thanks" returned Baxter; "er mend
your fences, or repair your clocks. Pm not
above earning an honest penny"
" Lor', II he's willing to lend hand" ca
tic chamber and welcome. He amt near so
rough. looking as thought" she confded to
handy fingers, II he is forty tramps"
Baxter showed himself so ready on the NOR
row, Farmer Thornley, suggested he shonld
spend another day in his employ and then
the work in hand ran over into the following
day, and as nobody could finish It so well as
Baxter, he naturally staid on and on, till at
the end of a week, Thornley, admitted, May
a
till Christmas; perhaps you'd like steady
work for the summer, with board and wages! %
" You wouldn't be likely to do better,n put
in Hannah, "with no recommendation, you
see-though don't say as you need one"
THANK you. And what do you say." he
~ Why, ~ faltered Polly.
"POlly hasn't nothing to say about t." OBJ
jected Hannah. "Me and Hiram runs this
concern
"Then she's the first woman that hasn't
nothing TO say. Speak up, Polly" com
manded Farmer Thornley,. "Don't never
leave a sentence to loose ends"
family.n
"Two's company, and three's a crowd, eh,
Pollyf said Thornley,, with laugh. And
"'What makes the lamb love Mary sopn
he quoted, as they wended homeward, Polly's |
little eve lamb frisking before them, having |
Joined them in the pastures.
Why, you know" explained Polly, "her |
mother dlsowned her, and she was left shiy- |
ering and hungry out in the cold. And |
brought her In and warmed her before the |
kitchen fire, and fed her with warm milk, Till |
she grew and throye,n
And Thornley, gave her to youln
No; tut he sais, Seems as though she |
belonged 70 Polly But Miss Hannah didn't |
Ike It,. Then s'pose the dishes belong to |
POlly, cause she washes 'em, and the rooms
cause she sweeps em, and the beds she |
makesP she said. Isn't Polly paid her law |
ful wages for doing whatever her hands find
TO do, be II to cosset lambs or cook the VIC
tuals!n w
Have you always lived here Miss Pollyl"
asked Baxter
81 have always lived In this house, but not
always as a servant, Mr.. Baxter. This was the
Ola parsonagei my uncle lived here with lit
Tie or no salary. He didn't care for that; he
came mere TO do good, 10 show the people the
road TO heaYen-there was no church. then
for miles around-and he had money of his
own. My mother and / came with him, and
after she died we two lived on here together,
and ne taught me all knoW-it isn't much
But when l was fifteen, he came home one
day from the city, where he had gone on bust
ness, and told me that some wicked people
ha9 ruined him, that his good work was
endedi ana ne threw his head back sitting I'm
MS arm m-ehair, and gasped once or twice, and
was All alone-quite, quite alone. After
lhat people came and looked at the place. and
lhe ihornleys among them; and was little
ihOplng beggar, not knowing which way 10
turn, and the Tbornleys offered TO keep me
nd0r d0r naid-oIall-work for food and cloth ing.
There was nothing else for me 10 do, andit6e
neighbors all said II was providence; hui
since then ! have struck for higher wages.
ana now 1 have day-dreams; when | get
enough money / mean 10 20 away 10 school,
even IL l'm old as the hills, and then maybe
can DO something nicer than ehurn and
cook for my daily bread.n
And you have saved somethinPqu
"A hundred dollars already.n
Baxter smiled. "And when do Won exnect
uneln 'N' WV
. Do you think 1t will take very longli she
asked anxiously. "shall be too oldtb
should think not" he returned, still |