Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-12
What n Tramp Did.

One day, when the work was all done, and
father was sitting at the door, holding
baby, frightful-looking man came along.
thought he was burglar or robber, and
was surprised that my father did not run
away. He asked for something to eat.
"Why don't you get job Of work ?"
al amt well enough | was in the war,
and got wounded"
"Where were you wounded ?"
ain my back can't bend over"
"Bring him piece Of Bread" said my
father.
al want money more than victuals.
want to get home live in Detroit"
"Why, it seems TO me you used TO work
in Reynolds saw-mill. What is your name ?"
Colins-Abraham Collins" was the re-
ply, given with poorly-concealed uneasi
ness. dwell, yes, did work there, and
may as well say was the superintendent"
"And you got good pay ?"
"Well, yes but fell out with Mr.. Rey
uolds, and have been sick, as / tell you"
| "And how about the WARP You had no
trouble with your back when used to draw
lumber Do you remember how you looked
in those days"
To this no answer was given.
"Why, was working hard then for $50
month, and you must have been paid 800
month; weren't you ?"
"Yes, sir, more than that"
DWELL here l am have worked hard
since then, have little house, and wife, and
CT ildren, and can support them. By the
way you had wife and children then.
Where are they2"
Collins looked sad; he sat down on the
doorstep and told his story.
al was manager at the mill aud | well re-
| rnaunhar your comino y yat lumbar | tyot
along well until took it into my head to go
up to the tavern evenings. l got to drink
ing and was soon turned away from the
mill. | got another place and was soon
turned away from that and so it has gone,
and here | am just as you see me, poor
tramp. Oh, have had good places, for know
all about mill my father was mill man.
ager, and / learned it from him. But
have been foolish about drink"
"Why don't you give it up and start
anew p
"Oh it's of no use; can't reform, Pm
too old. am ruined mani"
al don't think so, Mr.. Collins. You could
get another position if you were sober one
year. Is not that true 7"
"Well, suppose it is but don't think
l can reform. | can't stop; I've tried it
good many times"
"Who manages Reynolds mill nowP Is
it not the boy who cleared away the sawdust
when you were there 7"
ayes, he has got to be the manager"
"Could he have got there if he had not
been sober Now you must become sober
set you TO work, and you shall give up drink,
and in years time you will get good
place. But you must keep away from the
saloons and taverns."
Abraham Collins promised that he would
reform, and my father set him at work.
There was a temperance society in the place,
and he attended the meetings. He stayed
home at nights, but he was dreadfully lone
some for he had sat his evenings in bar
rooms and saloons. One night | showed
him my Arabian Nights" and he was Won
derfuly taken with it, and read it through.
Then he read Robinson Crusoe," and my
other story books. He became a sober man
and was very kind to all of us. One day
father went over for load of lumber. and
when he returned he said:
"Mr. Collins" (for my father always spoke
respectfully to bim) they want man over at
the sawmill, and spoke about you to Mr..
Reynolds. He wants you to come back and
help him; he will give you forty or fifty
dollars a month";
~ 10 many years since theu' Aorahaui
Collins has become gray-haired man he
is still at the saw-mill, and is very much re-
spected. often think of the good which
my father did to that man of the evil
which drinking whiskey does of the sure
reward that comes from self-denial; of the
degradation which follows from giving way
to temptation. And | believe that every
tramp could live honestly and happily if he
would only listen TO the advice that is given
to him.-SchOldr's Companion.