Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-19
The Tramp.

tht1 Wtic W HlliilOHo Dtolut iuc, bub uiu
not think Of them. had more means than
many others knew-food, If it was coarse,
fire enough for warmth-but what wanted,
cried out for, ragged that could not get, was
delicate living and Injuries for Annie, for
she was dying. know now nothing could
have saved her; consumption is helpless and
hopeless but one day when | went down to
the Charleston steamer the day she sailed,
to adjust some little matter in the machinery
that they thought out of gear, saw the wife
of one of the firm for whom worked up
town brought on board to go to Florida for
the winter.
She looked little like Annie her eyes
were clear aud gray too, and her face wan
and sweet. She was wrapt in soft shawls
and lying back in chair carried by two
servants kindfaced nurse was with her
and her husband beside her. had a glimpse
at her state-room as | passed through the
cabin, for they were arranging it so that she
might be settled before the rest of the pas
sengers came aboard. 1t was like nest
crowded with comfort. If l could have
stolen that fur-lined cloak aud that swing
chair would have done it; as it was,
swore.
What had this woman done to have all,
and my patient wife to have nothing2 |
kept thinking of all this brooding day and
night as wages grew lower and work less,
and Annie faded away. She was good
woman, that wife of mine, and not bit
afraid to die; but she was afraid to leave
me in the furious bitterness of my condition
then.
One day came home and found her paer
than ever. | had brought her an orange, but
she could not taste it. sat down by the
lounge and she put her thin, white hands in
mine.
Frank" she said in whisper, when
am dead try to be good; try to know God.
couldn't talk about it, dear; but have
prayed. God is good, Frank. l know it.
| am going home"
could not bear this | did not believe
in it. God good, and Annie dying while
that other woman was saved by the money
| had as good right to have as Jim
Lawrence knew afterward that all
the luxuries he lavished on his wife were as
useless as the coarse shawl and common fare
gave mine. She died before Annie, and
away from him. stopped down to kiss my
wife and stop her from such talk. Her lips
were cold her hot hand grew chill in mine
her great gray eyes looked at me with one
bright look of love, and then closed. Annie
had gone away.
Well, why should work after that?
went to hear communist harangues, and
learned the stale old story that property was
robbery. Why was Mr.. Lawrence rich and
| poor2 1t was an outraged Society owed
he. did not stop 10 consider that he wa
once poorer than |, and had worked success
| fully for his money, or to ask why society
| owed me living. | took the specious ar
guments of demagogues for what they wer,
on the surface. They suited my fury agans
man and my ignorance of God too well moi
to be adopted 1t was May when the Iridior
| Works closed, but | had not worked ther,
| for two months. / had lived ON what few
dollars had left after Annie was buried
and now and then got porter's job, for
was as strong as horse. Still, always ex
pected to go back to the works if the worst
came TO the worst, and when they closed uI
for want of orders felt as if | had nothing
to stay in the city for, and like great many
others made up my mind that since | was
born into the world it should give me free
living. went on the tramp.
can't say liked it at first; it was a
great while before | could sleep well in a
barn, or under an old musty hay stack, but
had grit enough left to persist, and the
lazy life, the fresh air, the trees, and grass
and creatures, all so different from the grimy
shop and dirty streets, did seem amazing
pleasant. | suppose living this sort Of life
changed me inwardly, too. got to fee
more like wild beast. liked to see wo
men shut aud lock the door when they saw
me come into the yard, and hand out the
| food asked for through the window. How
| used to scare them l don't wonder.
was big, dirty, ragged, and full of bad
| thoughts that showed out in my face and
ran over at my lips. l would not have
stopped at knocking down any man who
came across my way, but they generally lei
me alone. After while got revolver
1t was never loaded, but it was just as good
to frighten women with, and many a one
fetched me warm food and drink when lei
them see it. did like to see them turn
white and shiver. | was so angry with ev
erything that liked to terrify and hurt ev
erybody could. "Hateful and hating one
another" that is about as near my state
then as can tell it.
So tramped all summer. did not think
often about Annie. didn't like to, for good
enough reasons. BY September had got
way up into Vermont, among the hills, and
began to think | must work back TO the
Sie1b WhVu ohC hal L oetpRth Nv I'll oio iOt
farmhouse between Tyson and Ludlow to
get some dinner.
There was a little sort of stoop built out
under the roof of the ell part, and the kitchen
door opened into it. There was row OF
bright milk-pans standing against the wall
to sun, and bunch or two of herbs hang.
ing by the door. A great yellow cat ran
away when it saw me, and eyed me from
under bench in the woodshed. 1t was a
poor place enough, but looked thrifty and
comfortable. knocked, and a young woman
opened the door directly. | never saw such
a steady face her eyes were brown, and
looked straight at you like robins; her
mouth was as pure and clean as child's,
and her firm cheeks showed healthy, even
color of pink. Her hair was so tidy, SO
shining, her calico gown and check apron so
pefectly neat, that she seemed somehow as
II she was Just new, every way. did not
say anything at once, for felt so dirty and
so bad the minute looked at her.
"Wel 2" she said, in cool sort of voice,
do you want anybody? 7"
Iwant something to eat" said |, gruifiy.
ave never give to tramps," she answered,
without any change of tone.
"I'ye got to have |" said |, as Grossly as
| could.
ave have nothing for you," said she,
quite unmoved.
"Come. hurry upl I've got to have my
dinner, and you'd better get it for me pretty
quick" called out with an oath, taking
out my pistol, and handling it as threat
Her eyes grew a little darker at that, and
she smiled she was not scared mite she
only said, very quietly;
"lf any man will not work, neither should