The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-02-06


God would ask him why Martin IA
away.
PART II
When Martin left Sam Black cryini
in the road. he walked rapidly past tn
Black farm, past the country church
past all familiar landmarks, and wheI
the sun came up behind him, there wa
not thing in sight which he had eve
seen before. Leaving the main road 70
fear some one might see him, and crawl
ing into hole in an old straw stacl
near by, he cried himself to sleep. Sew
eral times d'cring the day he woke up
but soon went to sleep again, and wheI
at last he found the sun going down be
hind the tree tops, and when he though
it dark enough to shield him from sight
he went back to the road and again tool
up his dreary march. The moon came
up to keep him company, and he felt {
certain sense of relief with each addi
tional mile he placed between himself
and home. Near daylight he come to &
small town, and found railroad run
ming in the direction he was going. He
felt sure now that he would not get lost
Lost? No, Martin could not well gel
lost. When person is going nowhere
and merely wishes to avoid some partic
ular spot, there is not much danger OF
getting lost. Martin had no more idea
where he was going or where he would
stop than the reader has. He had but
one idea, one desire-to get away from
Hampton; the further the better Mar
tin followed the railroad until near the
middle of the forenoon, vile he got so
hungry, tired and thirsty that he knew
he could fast no longer. He went to a
farm house and asked an old lady who
came to the door if she had anything he
could do for something to cat.
Can you saw wood - she asked.
"Oh, yes, mann! l can do anything"
"Wcll, there's the wood and here's the
saw Pitch in and I'll get you some.
thing"
Martin went To work and the old lady
soon came to the door and called him in.
Eat plenty. now" she said, "and
then you can work better"
When Martin finished what he thought
to be the best meal he ever eat he went
back to the wood pile and sawed wood
until lac began to wonder how much a
dinner was wortlrin that country. For
"a lnr1tr finn. Lo al. ill
come on; and tell HIM he could go; but
lac saw nothing OF her until he had near
ly run out of wood, when the old lady
came out rubbing her eyes
"Why, mcrcyr" she said, you here
yet? / sat up with the sick folks over
yonder last might, and dropped to sleep
when you went out. Goodness! 1 didn't
mean 10 let you saw more than six or
eight sticks. You're not a regular tramp,
that's sure, OF you'd have been gone long
ago"
fyou don't care I'd like to finish it
for something to take with me-"
NO, never mind; I'll give you some
thing anyhow. Sit down, now, till 1
come back"
The old lady soon returned and hand
ing Martin a generous bundle said,
you're an honest boy, l know Pm
sorry l let you work so hard Here's
quarter-yes, take it, and welcome.
Where are you going?"
"Oh, thank you. Well, l don't Just
know" Martin said. Good bye, MAN,"
and the old lady kept looking after him
until he was out of sight.
1t is wonderful what an effect money
has on human nature and charity. Mar
tins quarter bought dozen meals, and
on one stormy night bed also. Each |
time he offered it in payment for food it
was refused or returned to him, until !
one day, after offering the money and |
being told to keep it, and after getting
out of sight of the house, he was fol- |
lowed and overtaken by boy much |
older than himself, who told Martin |
that his mother sent him after the money. |
Martin gave it TO him, and noticed that |
the boy looked very mean and guilty as
he put it in his pocket and walked away. |
The very next house at which he stop |
ed to ask for food and work he was fiatly |
refused both. While the quarter held |
out he felt certain independence, but
now he thought everybody knew he was
broke" and when ne asked for work |
his voice was not as steady as it had |
been. One evening it began to rain as
Martin came into town. He went in
to the waiting room of ii depot and lay
down on II seat and fell asleep. When
the station agent went to close up for
the night he stirred Martin up and tell
ing him that there was IL car down on
the side track with a large iron smoke
stack on it big enough to shelter him,
he locked the door and went away
as though it was an everyday
occurrence to turn people out in the
rain, and perhaps it was Martin found
he car and crowded into the great iron
cylinder, and as he had made long
march that day he soon fell into sound
sleep.
He awOke to find the iron monster
urching, creaking and Gathering as
hough it had gone mad. II was several
minutes before Martin could gather up
lis frightened wits enough to realize
hat nothing very dreadful had happen
ID, after all. 1t was getting light, and
rawling to the end of the smoke-stack.
he SAW fences, trees and all manner of
objects going by at what seemed to him
o be a dreadful speed A great fear
anne over him that he might be going
Jack toward Hampton; bat just then
he train slackened speed and crossed a
ong bridge over a big river which he I
new he had not crossed before, so he |
Fent back and lay down again. After |
while he was startled by a single word, ,
Thich is not so dreadful to man with ]
honey, but awful to one Without
Tickets!' Martin looked around. a 7
1t face appeared at the end OF the smoke
ack and n voice said, "Come out of I
lere, kid" !
Martin crawled out. f
"Where are you going?" d
Don't know, sir"
when do you expect to get there?" \
Martin hung his head e
well, it's only seven dollars and V
llE Come, get out your pocketbook." n
ooh! haven't any money, sir" i.
give US your watch, then" n
"I've no watch.'
"Any diamond pins"
''No, sir'' n
POCKET knifeg"
mo, sir.''
"Can you singg" "
mo, SIR q,
UCan vo,, danco -,