St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-12-09
John Paul.

He was doubtless tramp. His worn
and dusty dress, his crushed felt hat,
his dirty shoes, and the checkered
muslin shirt, tied at the neck with
bit of rusty black ribbon, and the little
bundle borne on his shoulder from the
end of a stout stick, told the story
plainly. Added to this was the beard
of weeks growth except the NOUS
tache, which had not been touched by
razor. He was rather a gay and
good looking fellow for all that, with a
keen eye, an open cOuntenance, and
well knit figure, and he strobe along
us though the wandering idler was
really the king of other men, and
tramping a superior art.
Presently he threw down his stick
and bundle, and made a leap in the
road just in time to stop II runaway
horse, with the long reins Tapping
about his feet, and the wagon behind
him swaying from side to side. The
occupants of the carriage, couple as
old-fashiOned as the carry-all in which
they sat, had been frantically crying
to the old horse to stop, and now that
some one had stopped him were pro
| fuse in their thanks.
"Bob is not vicious" said the man,
whose language and dress showed him
to belong to the Society of Friends,
''but two geese flew across the road
and before | knew it he had ierked the
reins out of my hands and started on "A
run. Pm obliged to thee, for if thee
hadn't caught him, he might have
spilled us over the high bank below
there"
The tramp nodded, and turned to
go, when the woman spoke.
Friend" she said, "thee hath split
thy coat up the back"
.'Have 7" returned the tramp, feel
ing for the rent. $50 | have. | must
get it mended somewhere"
GAS thee did it helping us'-said the
man, putting his hand in his pocket.
II bar that" said the tramp, raising
his hand, and showing with laugh Il
set of white teeth. 81 don't take
money for stopping horses, but thank
you for your intention"
II tell thee what to do, friend
don't know thy name," said the woman
The tramp smiled again, and said
"You may call me John Paul, if you
choose"
.'Well, friend Paul, does thee SEE
that white house among the trees, of
from the road back yOnder Thee &c
there and say to Rachel-that's Oul
niece-that her uncle and aunt, MahloI
and Naomi Stacey, sent thee, and ask
her to sew thy coat for thee. Shell
make it passable at least"
"Thank you, ma'am I'll do So"
The tramp removed his battered fell
hat, made a bow rather more cOurtly
than might have been expected, anC
the parties pursued their several ways
. A brisk two minutes walk brOugh
John Paul to the lane leading from the
road to the Stacey farmhouse. Dow
this lane he turned, and when half way
! in it he heard a woman scream. The
next minute pretty young girl, Will
her hair flying over her shoulder, raj
. out of the house, pursued by grea
burly, rough fellow, who stopped whel
= he saw the other tramp coming. The
girl kept on, but when she observe,
the newcomer, stopped also, in dOub
whether it was not confederate.
! "Anything wrong 7" inquired JOIN
Paul.
"That- that man !" gasped the girl
7 There be tramps and tramps. Th
! one to whom Paul advanced belonge,
: to the baser order, brawny, whisky
, sodden, and brutal.
. "What do you mean by frightening
: this young lady 2"
B. "Take it easy, pard," rejoined tn
+ big tramp, grinning. "The gal CAV
me a lunch, an | wanted to sweete
the victuals with kiss. There's IL
d bones broke"
4 John PauIs face Redeemed. He too
off his coat and threw it on the paling
q of the lane fence.
"Now," said he, quietly, "yOu wi
:. leave"
r. ''When git good an ready" al
swered the other, insOlently.
!, "No, sir-now."
IS "Ha ha Suppose you spell abb
a. Do you see that ?" and he thrust h
rs fist under the nose of the younger MAJ
:, 1t was dashed aside suddenly, an
a. the right hand of John Paul fell wit
rs full force between the eyes of I'll
; tramp, who fell, doubled in a heap. +
was up in an instant to go down agai
or by another facer. Picking himself u
he made rush with both arms exten'
p ed, toward his opponent. 1t was in
an possible to parry this, and it was N,
ia attempted. Paul stepped suddenl
'e- e aside, and before his antagonist cOuI
re- recover himself, caught him on Il
co throat with his right arm, and suddel
ly bending him over his own bendt
- knee, threw the great mass of flesh
the ground with a force that ma,
quite an audible sound. The ruff;
lay there for a moment or so motion
less.
"Thee hasn't killed him ~ timid
inquired the girl.
III. ''NO, MISS" said John Paul, "but
in have given his backbone a jar tn
es. makes him sick of fighting. Come, 81
'Ss,i get up" he added, as the man beg;
Cs- to stir; ''pick yourself up and go,
% or I'll give you more of it, and worse"
" 'I'm going" said the other, risil
slowly, and rubbing his back-''T
l"i ad gOin', boss. But say, you amt ma
you're steam engine, you are"
:. AS soon as the fellow had dragg
an himself out of sight, John Paul to,
OF his coat, and finding on inquiry tn
o' the girls name was Rachel, gave h
!. the message of her aunt. He follow
LOT her at her request, to the house, whe
md he seated himself on the back veranC
ms while Rachel, coat in hand, disappes
I Il ed in the kitchen.
in In few minutes she came out.
''There is thy coat, friend, as go
as new il was only riDDed in the sea