The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-12-06

noon, and he's walked all the way from
Augusta here trying to get work; but if
he can get to Chicago he says he knows
he'll get work Mother will you lend
me so cents to give him, to help him
along aways toward Chicago on the
cars? I'll pay you back Saturday night
when I'm paid for my work. :"
"Why, Phil, so cents!" his mother
said. ''You know nothing about the
man; he might take the money and get
"No he won't mother, I know he
''He's got a good face, and he didn't
beg. The boys questioned his story
out of him"
"But it seems little strange, Phil.
that he can't get work this time Of
year"
..Mebbe it seems strange to folks
about u.s." Phil answered; "but 1 do
wish, mother, you'd lend me fifty cents. "
'.I haven't fifty cents, Phil"
'Then borrow it, mother" Phil urg-
ed. You're more used to borrowing
than am"
mo, Phil, can't do it"
Phil said no more, but his mother
noticed that he carried his slice of bread
away with him instead of eating, it, and
at night he told her that he had bor-
rowed fifty cents of a boy down town,
and had given it to the man who had
so excited his sympathy.
81 hope you don't care, mother" he
said. I'm sure he's good man, he
was awful grateful, and tears choked
him all up. Anyway I'm glad I gave
it"
Another year rolled away, and during
the time Phil and his mother had paid
the house-rent promptly, and none of
them had gone hungry. The last of
September came, and Phil had saved
enough to take him to the Chicago
Exposition. g
us it auful mean in me to want to
go, motherp" he asked one night.
"Hadn't better give you the money
and stay at home"
"You have worked hard and faith
fully, my boy, and have been great
help and comfort to me-" his mother
fondly answered; land you deserve a
little recreation; but, Phil, / am afraid
to have you go to Chicago. You know
if your father should see you he would
take YOU from me if he could" 9. =.
But Phil was brave, and he quieted
his mothers fears, and the next morn
ing started for Chicago on one of the
early excursion trains, expecting to
come back at night. But he did not
come, and Mrs. Dendam feared the
worst. The following morning brought
her postal card It read:
Dear Mother: am safe and we'll, and
I xyou irDt xunrriod QhNut Tr1Q thong h
1 know you have. l am having boss
time. Pve seen my tramp. Pm going to
stay two or three days. It won't cost me
anything. It's surprise.
Phil came home the third day, and
after the first greetings, when his moth
er kissed him and cried over him, and
the twins pulled him about in bolster
GUS glee at his return, he told his ''sur-
prise"
sIt was while 1 was in machinery
Hail. at the Exposition" he commenc-
ed, Il was looking at the different ma
chimes, when man came up to me and
said, Look up here, boy, let me see if
l know you,' and was little bit scar
ed, mother, for thought right away of
what you said about father. Then the
man said, Yes, thought | wasn't mis-
taken. Boy, do you remember that
something over year ago you gave a
piece of bread and fifty cents to a
trampp' And then l saw that he was
my tramp; but he looks different now,
because he's well and dressed up
good"
'And, mother, he was awful good to
me, and he went all through the Expo
sition with me, and told me lots about
it that never could have learned alone,
and he took me to restaurant to din
ner, and to Lincoln Park on the street.
cars to see the bears and alligators and
everything, and to the North Side
Waterworks, where there's a big en-
gine, and then he took me to Pullman,
where he lives, and his wife and two
girls were just as good to me, too.
They all do sewing, and he works in
the carshops, and they live in real
nice place; flat they call it; and Mr..
Andrews'-that's his name-said he'd
come and see you as soon as he could
get away day, and he knows he can
get place for me there to work, where
| can live with them, if you'll let me,
and-oh, mother! amt you glad bor-,
rowed that fifty cents for him?'
Phil was almost breathless when his
story was finished, he had talked so
fast and excitedly. His mother answer,
ed him by stroking his hair and smil-;
ing-her eyes were full of tears.
Mr.. Andrews came to the little Mich
igan home one day. He told Mrs.
Denham his story of sickness and bad
luck that had brought him to the con-
dition in which Phil had found him; of
his discouragements and the timely
help Pills so cents proved to be, and
of subsequent success. He had found
a good place for strong, trusty boy
like Phil. He bought Harry and Willie
good warm clothing, and Phil went
back to Pullman with him, dressed in
o new gray suit.
Phil is working away industriously,
and looking forward to the time when
he can rent fiat and have his mother
and the twins with him in Pullman
Chicago Inter Ocean. T.