St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-21
A Tramp.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.


That is just it. was tramp! In
the light of to-day hate to admit it,
but must. l had been a machinist,
with a pretty, gentle wife, good wages,
a pleasant home; and then the hard
times came. Hard enough they were
to millions beside me, but l did not
think of them. had more means than
many others l knew-food, it was
coarse, fire enough for warmth-but
what l wanted, cried out for, ragged
that l could not get, was delicate living
and luxury for Annie, for she was dy-
ing. l know now nothing could have
saved her; consumption is helpless and
hopeless; but one day when l 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 l worked up
town brought on board to go to Florida
for the winter.
She looked little like Annie; her
eyes were clear and gray too, and her
face wan and sweet. She was wrapped
in soft shawls and lying back in chair
carried by two servants; a kind faced
nurse was with her and her husband
beside her. l had a glimpse at her
state-room as l passed through the
cabin, for they were arranging it so
that she might be settled before the
rest of the passengers came aboard. 1t
was like nest, crowded with comfort.
If could have stolen that fur-lined
cloak and that swing-chair l would
have done it: as it was l swore.
laI II Ii.
all, and my patient wife to have moth
ing? | kept thinking of all this; brood
ing 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 fu-
ri0us bitterness of my condition then.
One day l came home and found hel
paler than ever. l had brought her an
orange, but she could not taste it.
sat down by the lounge and she put hel
thin, white hands in mine.
Crank" she said in whisper,
"when l 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. lam going home
could not bear this. l did not be-
lieve in it. God good, and Annie dy-
ing while that other woman was saved
by the money | had as good right t,
have as Jim Lawrence! l knew after
ward that all the luxuries he lavished
on his wife were as useless as the coarse
shawl and common food l 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 hands grew chill in
mine; her great grey eyes looked at me
with one bright look Of love, and then
closed. Annie had gone away.
Well, why should | work after that
1 went to hear Communist harangues
and learned the stale old story that
property was robbery. Why was Mr.
Lawrence rich and poor? 1t was al
outrage! Society owed me a living
and would have it as well as he. ]
did not stop to consider that he was
once poorer than l and had worked sue.
cessfully for his money, OF to ask why
society owed me living. 1 took the
specious arguments of demagOgues fol
what they were on the surface. They
suited my fury against man and my ig-
norance of God too we'll not to bt
adopted. 1t was May when the Iridior
Works closed, but l had not worked
there for two months. | had lived on
what few dollars l had left after Annie
was buried, and now and then 1 got {
pOrter's job, for l was as strong as {
horse. Still, always expected to &c
back to the Works if the worst came tC
the worst, and when they closed up fo
want of orders / felt as if had nothing
to stay in the city for, and like grea
many ethers 1 made up my mind tha
since | was born into the world i
should give me free living. 1 wen
on the tramp.
l can't say liked it at first it was :
great while before could sleep well il
a barn, or under a 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 differen
from the grimy shop and dirty streets
did seem amazing pleasant. 1 suppos,
living this sort of life changed me in
wardly, too. got to feel more like ;
wild beast. l liked to see women shu
and lock the door when l came into tn,
yard, and hand out the food | asked fo
through the window. How | used t,
scare them! l don't wonder. 1 wa
| big, dirty, ragged, and full of bat
thoughts that showed out in my fac,
| and ran over at my lips. 1 would no