The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-04
A TRAMP.


She was on tho front stoop, mending Farm
on Thornley's stockings, when Baxter, the
new farm hand, came and sat down on the
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 piper" 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 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 mighty nigh
They used to tell how Miss Hannah had gone
to the doctors, once upon time, TO have an
aching molar extracted, and how her heart
had failed her when he produced the In
strument OF torture, till the impatient doctor
was forced to say, "Come now, Ill gtcc 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 O.
quarter the richer.
"Mind the piper returned Polly. mo; 1
A
"There's o 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 about2" asked
Baxter as she delayed her needle and medi-
tated.
sI-I was thinking that Mr.. Thornley, 5 hand
would make two OF yours. You weren't cut
out for hard labor, Mr.. Baxter"
"But the hard labor was cut out for me, eh !!
It's mighty fine night, Miss Polly. Wouldn't
you like to walk down by the brook and find
some vioets2"
Eyes; but Miss Hannah may want me-"
Miss Hannah has put on her spectaclee
paper and Thornley, is stealing 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 q
footstep" And then the two young people
strolled of to the brook, and listened TO
whip-poor- making pensive music In the
edge Of the woods, and watched the even
ing star push the tilmy clouds aside and step
forth.
Young Baxter had been on the Thornley, farm
a month or 50. He happened one day to
knock at the door and ask for a nights lodg-
Ing: he had small bag slung across his
shoulder, and q Sunbhrned countenance, which
1aickened Miss Hannah pulses "A trampl'
ys
donr quick No, no, we don't take dodgers.
.eH be murdered In our beds-and the
poons my grandfather left me! Didn't tell
,,u TO shut the door, Poly2 No, we don't
her down the road, at Rockers, or" But
lust then Mr.. Thornley, came up, cautiously
knocked the mud off his boots, and said,
"a tramp. Polly?"
'Iye been tramping some distance said
the stranger, with frank SMILE land I'd like
to put I'D for the night somewhere. However,
liz your famiIy's uncomfortable at the idea,
maybe you'd let me sleep In the haymow?"
"The impudenceH cried ISIS Hannah, from
within. THAT would be mighty handy for
wouldn't 1T, now? Where's your wits, Hiram2
Why don't you say No. UP and DOWN."
"As to that" drawled Thornley,, "a fellow
must sleep somewhere; and then s'poSe you
wouldn't mind working 1t out in the morning
eh2"-with an eye to the main chance. "fve
Ill iii so'Ae p'o"'D : ''Ne = ICY w. - -
sIlI drive your pillow for a nights lodg-
ing. and thanks, returned Baxter. "or
mend your fences or repair your clocks. I'm
not above earning an honest penny"
"I.or', Ii he's willing to lend hand" capit-
ulated Miss Hannah, I'D give him the attic
chamber and welcome. He amt near 50
Polly, later. He's got an honest face and
handy fingers II he Is forty tramps.'
Baxter showed himself SO ready on the
morrow, Farmer Thornley,. suggested he
should spend another day In his employ, and
then the work In hand ran over into the fol-
lowing day. and as nobody could finish it SO
well as Baxter, he naturally staid on and on,
till, at the end of the week, Thornley, admit
ted, Maybe you're as good hand as Ia get
II waited till Christmas. perhaps you'd like
steady, work for the summer, with board ana
.'You wouldn't be likely to do better" put
in Hannah, with no recommendation, you
see--though don't say as you need one,
Thank you. And what do you say?' he
asked, turning to Polly.
II? Why, T." faltered Polly.
"Polly hasn't nothing to say about it, OBJ
iected Hannah. Me and Hiram run this
concern
nothing to say. Speak up, Polly" COM
manded Farmer Thornley,. Don't never
leave sentence to loose ends.
II was going to say that four makes coy
family
"Two's company. and three's crowd, eh, |
Polly" said Thornley,, with a laugh. And |
Baxter staid.
What makes the lamb love Mary SOP"
ne quoted, as they wendell homeward, Polly's !
little eve lamb frisking before them having
joined them in the pastures.
ny, you know" exclaimed Polly. cher
anuseiler ulsowned her, and she was left shiv
ssrlns ana hungry out Ia the cold And
a giitouknt her Ia and warmed her before the
4 grew and throye.'' - "t.A 800 $50 s'ae
ENC ma NM hn.orrnley gave her to your"
lon.,s5, wv ~ ae said, Seems as though she be-
Ike + 7. srb roiy But Miss Hannah didn't
Polly cause she washes e el sns % belong 70
m cadse she sweeps ,em, and the he beds o she
m I Ne she be- said Isn't Polly paid heS law ~
10 DO s. iGr df e whatever her hands ind
Eietuals?p ips OF cook the |
vss lax Rsy you always lived here Miss Pol,v2,
. nave always lived IN this house, bu. not