Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-24
THE TRAMp"S NEW SCHEME.
How lie Makes Living at "Famiiy Gath
crinr-."

How lie Makes II Living at "Famiiy Gath
cring-."
81 'sposc You don't remember me-"
said man in the park as he came up
and graspcd reporter by the hand.
Tho voice was family familiar and the
speaker who was dcccntly dressed,
though evidently not particular about
harmonious colors or perfect fit, had q
sIouchy movement that Indefinitely re-
called some person he had met. The
man smiled and drawlcd out, 81
thought you wouldn't know me; don't
you remember couple of winters ago
when you'd be comm out of that
printin' Office over there, how you used
to stop and 'bu2' me about what YOU
called the noble army of trampsP l
don't forget you, sir, for when you'd
got through talkin' you'd put up for
coffee and cakes, and more than once
for lodgin'. I'd be real glad if you'd
90 and have 4 schooner or cigar or
suthin' with me. I'm fixed" said he,
pulling out q handful of coin and bills,
land would like to set 'em up"
Tho reporter declined, but upon
calling to mind the cmanciatcd, dilapi-
dated tramp he had once known. was
forced to inquire how so marked
change of condition had come about.
'Wcll,' said he, "if you won't givc
it away ri tell youEthouch | don't
care if you do, for | am going west on
the same lay. For the past two years
l'vc been working the family gather
ings-thosc folks, YOU know, who ad-
vertiso for everybody of their name to
meet at some one place to chin about
themselves and have picnic.
"iou see, ono day last summer !
was KILN time roadin' newspaper I'd
found when | run across one of these
mcctin's. Well, it must have been,
must have bccn-what is't that gives
them poets a stccrP'
"lnspirationP" suggested tho re-
porter.
Yes, that's it, it must have boon
that; for all of a sudden suthin' said?
That S the racket for you, my boy, 20
make believe you're one of the gang!
You sec, before | got way down where
l was when you first saw me | used to
'supe' around thcatcrs; that made mo
think how easy 'twould be for one of
them actors to put up such job.
Well, the first lot | tackled was on
big farm up tho North river. got a.
piece of blue pencil, made an anchor
on my wrist. and put their name un-
der it, so as to look like India ink, you
know. | had on sailors blue flannel
shirt when l went on tho grounds.
There told 'cm had always follorcd
the sea, and had lately had hard luck;
had read about tho mcctin' and como
to SEQ if knew anybody of my name.
"Woll, they're always jolly and free
At these places; so thcy asked me to
rest myself, and raised mo some better
clothes than | had on; after that wo
had some bully grub. walked around
and answered questions as well as |,
could. Now and then, when no ono
was lOokin', some good old maid would
como up, unlock her satchcl, and slip
dollar or two in my hand. I've been
goin' from one place to another. sum-
mcr and fall, ever since. keep the
run OF EN- by tho papers and what l
loar around, and l get plenty of good
luds and lots of cash. lplay tho sailor
lodge most always. Sometimes fix
Ip, but it isn't good way. for they
expect you to chin too much.
Say, if ever you 90 on this racket,
ct mo give you straight tip, don't be
fresh, don't talk moro'n you can help;
,ct them do the chinnin' made
mistake that way whore was last
week. | was gcttin' along irst-ratc,
had been there two days. At lunch
under tho trees the last afternoon an
Did lady squntod at me through her
specs for while, and then said | put
her in mind OF Ike who went out
west somo years ago to sec some cous-
ms who were not known out this way.
Well, | was fool enough to say be-
Iongcd to the western branch, as they
called it, and remembered Ike That
settled it; they all sourcd on mo at
once, and | found out that the western
blokos had got Ike drinkin and
gamblin', and that branch OF the family
was looked at as n. &. So, didn't get
n rake that timo.
Another thing; don't take in any
folks with long hightalutin names, with
de or van to 'om; they generally have
their families down fine and you'll get
left sure; better 20 for the Smiths,
Thompsons, or Browns.
"Onc timo down east, though,
struck swell crowd and got good
stake when thought I'd no show at
all. A big chap with diamond studs
saw mo and asked me what ! was
doin' thorcH | gave him ghost
story about lookn' for my relations,
And I'm blamed if he didn't shake
hands with mo and said he'd help mo
look 'cm up, Then he took mo little
| 80, ui ia a bod "A a IN,