Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-12-02
NOT QUITE A TRAMP.

mo tramp wanted mere, young chap;
so you MAY just jog along"
The speaker WAS a iine-looking and
apparently an easy-going gentleman of
middle age, who was standing leaning
over a gate looking out on the road.
The ga.. opened on a gravel walk
which led up to a two-story cottage
house. In front of the house, and at
the sides, the ground was overloaded
with trees, shrubs and towering plants,
which, TO say the least of it, did not
show careful attendance. Altogether.
it was a bright, cheerful and attractive
place.
So thought, no doubt, the stranger
whose halt near the gate had provoked
Mr.. Horizons uttcrance. He was not
an Unlocking young man--or boy. for
he could not yet he twenty-onr--hut
his clothes were ragged and dirty, his
shoes worn and muddy, and his gen
eral appearance was mkcmpt and dis
reputable
He had stopped III The road, and had
directed at the man, on at the house, OF
at the grounds, or at all three, wist-
full look, which might intimate wish
or an entreaty. It Mas this look which
Mr.. Horton had answered when he
addressed the young fellow as Il tramp
and advised him to "jog along"
81 am no. tramp, sir" replied The
stranger
"You are not? Then your looks be
lie your nature. You can't deny that
you have all the symptoms
"That is true, sir know that | an
poor and ragged, bnt don't consider
myself tramp. | am looking fol
work"
"That's what they all say. They are
all looking for work, and scared tC
death for fear they will find ii. To say
that you are looking for work is to ad
vertise the fact that you are a tramp
al suppose must be tramp, then
but / wish wasn't"
"You do? That's one good symp
tom, anyway. Are You sure yol
wouldn't run away from work, if yol
should find it, or lie down and 60 [,
sleep by the side of it?"
~ am sure that ] am willing TO earI
my living, and anxious to get a chanc,
10 do So"
"What sort of work can you do?'
asked Mr.. Horton. "Everything il
general and nothing in particularly
u know that | could put that yarC
of yours in much better trim than i
shows now
"Hump! That don't offer any open
ing. The flowers are my wife's pets
and she is like the dog in the mango
about them-won't touch them her
self, or suffer anybody else to toucl
them.'
81 can draw your portrait, sir" sug
gested the boy.
"You CAM" Are you wandering
artist in disguiseY' ..
you asked Inc what | can do, an,
/ know that | can do that"
eS"Any of the tools of that tradePr
The boy produced from the pocket o
his ragged vest some crayons and tn
stump of lead pencil.
"All right" said Mr.. Horton. "
will try you at that job. Come in."
He opened the gate and led the wa
to the house. On the veranda wer
some chairs, one of which he offere
to the boy. NO. ~
Want any more toolsp' he asked.
R"A sheet Of drawing paper, if yo
have IT, sWFt FL R ~
Mr.. Horton brought out the require
article, clamped upon drawing-board
also some crayon-holders and a shar
knife. -...
"I am sort of an architect" h
said, "and keep these things on hant
But hadn't you better eat some lunc
before you begin this business2 Yo
have hungry look"
81 am not so hungry, sir, but that
am willing to earn meal before | ei
it. win you have the kindness to $
DOWN." -.ar
"Side face or front?'
aside face if you please. can
that the best" ......... ..I
Mr.. Horton seated himself, presen
ing his profile to the ragged artist, wi
went to work without more ado. II
strokes were quick, vigorous and arti
tic, and in surprising short time
capital sketch of Mr.. Horizons hea
and shoulders appeared on the pape
That gentleman looked at it and pucke
ed his lips so as to produce a low an
long drawn whistle.
81 am not ready to pronounce you 4
angel, young fellow" he said; "but
may truly say that have entertainC
pretty fair. artist unawares-thouc
the entertainment is yet to come. Her
! Emilyl ,Bellal Come out here M
witness new sensationp
Mrs. Horton hurried out on the pia
IN, with her young sister Bella and h
little girl Lulu. For answer Mr.. Ho
ton handed his wife the crayon sketc
which was hastily scanned with star
Of surprise and calculations of ideligl
What a nice likenessp' exclaim,
Mrs. Horton. "Where did it con
fromp'
wrhis young-person-did ii ju