Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-11-13
Tramps In Poplar Blun.

Tramps I'm Poplar Bluff.
A knock at the door. It is just pas
six O'Clock in the evening. With tel
as with breakfast we are late, for W.
have had long, tedious ride and are
wearied from the journey.
"Good evening, sir. What can dt
for you Tonight"
Something to eat, if you please, sir
Pm starving for food"
'0'olne IN, my good fellow. Hungry
are you? Had nothing to eat? WHAT
the matter with the folks down here.
Another of your ilk just left my door
He, too, begged for food. turned him
away. I don't keep hotel nor sour
house; but why do you beg fol
food? You look able to work. Yot
have a good muscle and look the pict
ure Of health. And you can't be more
than 20 years Old"
II can't get work anywhere. I've
been travelling several days; just came
from Bloomington, and can't get a jot
anywhere. This is the first time / was
ever out of q job"
"Oh! see; you are what we call in
Poplar Bluff q tramp-a vagrant, who
goes from door to door to beg his food
rather than work for 1t as / have to
for mine. Come in and take q seat at
our table.rv-It iss-tsfe first timeI ever
invited tramp in to take meal with
me, but come along and l'll try to put
up with you, dirty and repeilant as
you are, this once, while / give you
some advice. Here is some hot tea;
help yourself to the milk. And here
is meat and potatoes and bread. Try
and make out meal. At the next
house you stop they will probably set
the dog or you or meet you half way
with shot gaH. 1 don't like tramps
myself. No one hates them worse.
You are the first one l ever fed and
you will be the last one. 1 only in
vited you in to tell you how much
admire g strong, healthy, robust,
young scalawag like you who hasn't
manhood to make a simple
living for himself. You haven't any
Trade, you say? Call yourself a COM
mon laborer but can't get a job--can't
get even enough to buy your bread.
Great heaven, I'd go to the peniten-
.iary before I would beg for my food.
Luok at those hands and arms of yours
and can't earn living for yourself.
Why, Oh street west Of town lives
ady whose husband recently left her,
md she is sickly and in destitute cir
besides having three or
our small children to support. How
10 you suppose she does it? By tramp
ng about from door to door in the edge
If the evening appealing to the SYM
,athies of her neighbors? No, not at
Ill! She starts out for work and gets
t? She gets sundry jobs for herself
md children. She brings home a
She does some ironing for a
leighbor. A friend brings in gar
nent to be stitched on her machine.
And in that way she makes her living,
,ays her rent and grocery bills, and
never whimper is heard from her,
,ut here you are great. lazy lnnax,
,ealthy. hearty and dirty as a hog that
vallows in the mire, begging from
Ioor to door for something To eat!
DON'T you feel dis graced? What would
cur parents think did they know
where you We're and how you were
letting your food tonight? And look
It the company you are keeping! You
with the outcasts of creation.
What are they good for? You say you
anne from Bloomington. Going South,
III? But you don't know why you are
,oing in that direction. You don't
know why that is your objective point.
The wild goose has IN object in going
North and South at different seasons
# the year, but you haven't. The
Wind blows You as it does chaff. You
ire like chaf, inasmuch as there is no
rood in you. Aren't you ashamed of
Yourself? Begging from door to door
o-night. Eating my food without
paying cent for it. Do you suppose
here is a saloon In Poplar Bluff. that
would give you tree drink? Not one
IF them. Why do you come here for
your food? Now you have finished
your supper and you can pass on TO
.rawl into some hay loft and spend
he night!
Now I'm going to give you some nd
vice. Quit this daanfcahle. itinnranf