Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-18
A Tramp.

A Tramp.
That is just it. was tramp! In
the light Of to-day l hate to admit it,
but must. l had been machlnis',
with 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
ofthem. l had more means than many
others 1 kuew-food, il it was coarse,
fire enough fox warmth-but what l
wanted, cried out for. ragged, that 1 codld
not get, was delicate living and luXuries
for Annie, for she was dying. l know
now nothing could have saved her; con-
sumption is helpess and hopeless but
one day when 1 went to the Charles
ion steamer tie day she sailed, TO adjust
some little matter in the machinery
that they thought out Of gear, l saw the
wife of one of ;he firm for whom l
worked uptown brought On board 10 60
TO Florida for the winter.
She looked little like Annie her
eyes we're clear and gray, too, and her
face wan and sweet. She was wrapped
in soft shawls ard lying back in a chair
carried by two servants; a kind-laced
nurse was with her, and her husband
beside her. had a glimpse at her
statcroom as 1 passed through the
cabin, for they were arranging it so
that she might be settled before the
rest of the passengers came aboard. II
was Ike nest, crowded with comfort.
If l could have stolen that fur-lined
cloak and that swinging chair l would
have done II; as it was, grumbled.
What had this womvn done TO have
all, aud my patient wife 10 have moth
lug? kept thinking ofall this; brood
ING day and night as wages grew lower
and work less, and Annie faded away.
She was q good woman, that wife OF
mine, and not q bit afraid to die ; but
she was afraid to leave mc in furious
bitterness Of M condition then.
One day came home and found her
paler than ever. l had brought her an
orange, but she could not taste ii. l
sat down by the lounge and size put her
thin, white hands in mine.
Frank she said, in whisper,
when l am dead TRY to be good; try
to know God. Icouldn't talk about it..
dear; but have prayed. God Is good,
Frank, know it. lam going home
Icould not bear this. did not be-
lieye in it. God good, and Annie dy-
ing, while that other women was sayeC
by the money! lad as good a right to
have as jim Lawrence l knew after.
ward that all the luxuries he lavishec
on his wife were as useless as the
coarse shawl and common food l gave
mine. She died before Annie, anc
away from him. 1 stopped down tC
kiss my wife and stop her from sucl
talk. Her lips were cold; her ho
hand grew chill in mine /; her great gray
eyes looked at me with one bright lool
of love, and then closed. Annie ha(
gone away.
1t was May when the Iridion work
closed, but l had not worked there iOi
two months. had lived on what lev
dollars l had left after Annie wal
buried. and now and then l got a por
ter's Job, for l was as strong as horse
Sill, 1 always expected to 90 back Il
the works fthe worst came to th'
worst. and when they closed up 70
t want of orders felt as if had nothlni
r to stay in the city for, and like a grea
many others l made up my mind tina
since l was born into the world
should give me free living. l wen
on the tramp.
1 can't say liked it at first; it wa
, a great while before 1 could sleep vel
in a barn, or under an old musty hay
stack, but l bad grit enough lett TO pei
sist, and the lazy life, the fresh air, tn
}. trees, and creatures, all so differer
from the grlmy shop and dirty streets
did seem amazing pleasant. L suppos
this sort of life changed me inwardll
G. too. I got TO feel more like will
beast. liked to see women shut an
lock the door when they saw me CON
N into the yard, and hand cut the food
asked for through the window. How
" used 10 scare them 1 don't wonde
e, 1 was big, ragged, and full of bf
~ thoughts that showed out in my fa'
st and ran over at my lips. IYould ha'
ie stopped at knocking down any mi
who came across my way, but th'
generally let me alone. After awhl
L got revolver. 1t was never loade
ID but it was just as good to frighten W
men with, and many a one fetched n
warm food and drink when let The
see It. l did like to see them tu
white and shiver. / was so angry wi
everything that liked to terrify a
hurt everybody could, Hateful a
hating one another that is about
!. near my state, then as / can tell it.
So tramped all summer. did q
think often about ANNIE. didn't Ii
=; 10 for good and sufficient reasons.