News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-11-20
The Tramp.

He came slouching through the rus
tic side gate, and up the winding gravel
ralk, gay with borders of vivid autumn
blossoms rags futtering in the
gusty wind, sorry hat pulled low over
his haggard eyes-his haggard face half
buried in a torrent of shaggy beard. The
wretched remnant of coat, buttoned
close under his chin, hid the pitiful lack
of linen underneath; the searching Oc-
tober sunshine singled him out. and
showed him at his worst, and on every
visible vestige of the man was stamped
the brand of abiect want, starvation and
hopeless vagabondism
He shuffled on toward the rear OF the
rambling stone farmhouse, his broken
shoes Gathering on the crisp gravel, his
restless black eyes keeping sullen, fur
tive watch for savage dogs; evidently he
was used to being set upon, and brow:
beaten, and driven from pillar to post,
that he had come to look for little
else.
Screened by the billowy glories of q
riotous multa-fora, slender, tawny-
haired maid of thirteen-busied with o
basket of juicy red cheeks-peeped
through the leaf-curtained window Of
the wide kitchen with startled blue eyes,
at the sudden warning of Aunt Dorinda's
shrill-keyed voice, uplifted in expostula-
ton more forcible than polite.
sect off that stoop with your mud,
you nasty, tramping vagabond! /! I de-
clare, it is enough to try the patience Of
Job; and 'Tura this minute through with
the weeks cleaning You tramps are
good for nothing under the canopy but
traipsing the country, sponging youl
keep, and pestering the public with youl
muses. and your whining r
Poor Aunt Dorinda-who boasted s
microscopic eye for dirt and disorder IL
any shape-cherished a dire antipathy
for all cramps" from the luckless tin
peddler, whose evil star beguiled him
under the lash of her invincible tongue,
down to the abject wretches content to
starve upon the public bounty.
The forlorn creature got meekly of
the keeping-roorn stoop. and stood with
dropping plumage stoically awaiting 3
luli in the wordy tempest.
'1 beg your pardon, ma'am," deep,
mellow voice ventured, deprecatingly
'I am looking for work, and hoped yor
might give me job and pay me with
morsel of food. Liam faint will
hunger"
Sand serves you right, for shiftless
sinking lazy-bones, 1 make no doubt,
struck in the irate spinster. ga pretty
spectacle you be to come asking decen
folks for work Clear out I've no worl
and no victuals for you-nor the likes o
you-a begging, thieving pack"
MADAM" the voice answered, witt
sullen dignity, 81 am starving, bu
could not steal. Only, for the love O
heaven, give me some light task, 1 wi
gladly earn a crust. I cannot go farthe
without food"
"You can't, hey?" interrupted Aun
Dorinda, wrathfully. "We'u see abou
that. Here, Teaser
"Aunt 'Inda," called the sweet voic
of Ismay Hollis--the little maid will
tawny locks and big, innocent blue eyes
like the forget-me-nots down at the bar
berry spring-"please, aunt, send tn
poor man into the kitchen; l will Civ
him some breakfast. And, aunty, I d
believe the biscuits are scorching p
"Hold your tongue, Tsmay, and &c
them apples sorted. Send him into tn
kitchen, heys Just catch me at it
You clear right ont, you tramping fel
low; don't let me find you here when
come back p And with gesture of aw
full import, the elderly termagant skur
ried away to the rescue of the imperileC
biscuits.
The hollow eyes of the vagrant gloves
hungrily as the delicious aroma of home
made loaves, crisp ginger bread and flax,
pies were waited from the open kitchen
doorway. -.
Pretty Ismay, who had routed tn
enemy by q bit of feminine strategy
saw from her snug ambush of leaves an
blossoms, the grimy hands clutch eager
ly, the white teeth glitter wolfishly be
hind his dusky beard. But curbing th
fierce impulse that prompted him t
rush forward and snatch a morsel from
the tempting plenty within his reach, h
turned dejectedly away.
"Poor man p said low voice at hi
elbow. and the troubled blue eyes @
little Ismay, full of soft pity as som
compassionate angels, looked shyly u
from a tumbled mass of eurls. "Poo
man you are very hungry, aren'
| YOU? See, 1 have got you some break
fast. I'm afraid it was wicked, but
had to take it without asking leave.
was so sorry when linda turned yo
away hungryp' p And the red lips quiV
cred, and two big tears fell down and col
secrated the stolen aims proffered frol
the dainty, filed apron. -.
"God bless your pretty face, m
sweet I" the tramp said huskily. :.
can't refuse the food, for I'm starving
But little Blossom, I'm none the LEI
sorry you should trouble your whit
conscience for a wretch like me-"
She looked at him wistfully.
guess God has forgiven mel aske
him to. He used to feed the hung
and heal the sick. And here is IL
pretty gold dollar papa gave me IL
| Christmas before mamma died. The
is a hole through it, you see; used
wear it on my neck, but L don't care +
il now," she added, generously, as &
rough hand gently pushed the go
aside. '1ndeed, it is mine-I may gi
it away if 1 choose. Please take it
buy bread tomorrow" she implore
| ..n.-tr Aupt novin1a ia ral1ino mo.