Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-07-24
THE TRAMP'S FLOWER

"Bcoh! boohl And what you got
there' Can't you give me fowerg'
Lumpie-that was tho way her father
called the chubby little girl-looked up
out of the dark shadow of the vines,
where her face rcsembled white star.
She wondered who it was that leaned
over the fence and spoke to her.
SIT is big moon-face," she said to
herself, ga lot of hair bout it. And, dear
me, wouldn't ware such an orful old
hat. And his cose don't look very flesh
and nice, one Bit"
Whils Lumpic was painting the
strangers portrait, he was looking up at
the sky, and holding out his hand to the
wind to find out the drift Of the latter,
and make a weather-guess. He now
turned and asked again:
"Say, Sis, won't you give me a posy9"
Lumpie picked bright nastnrtium
and gave it to him.
"That's good one, and I'd rather
have it than a lump of gold, Sis"
"My papa don't call me Sis"
'Don't he2 Well, what does he saya"
'Lumpie."
'Lumpiel He beats all at namin'
folks; don't hep
''You got papa2"
"Not that know of. Why, Lumpie, +
if he were livin', he'd be as old as that
tree back of you, and that would fetch
the tree up to seventy years, sure"
"You got mammal" continued
Lumpie, as if taking the census. 5
"No; the old woman, she's gomez
"Old ooman2"
''My--my-mother."
''She gomez"
eyes"
''Gone vare?"
'Whore heaven is. Don't you knowg'
II 'spect it's up, up 'bove dat spooce
tree, somevare.
"That's where she is, a-singin' cherub
there, these twenty years"
"Vare's your homer"
"Home?"
The tones were sad, pitifully sad.
"Where's your homes"
"Here, ware papa and mamma are"
"Where mother is, that's my home.
wish it was. Wei, Sis-Lumpie, your
flower may help me get there"
''Move onr" suddenly called out a
gruff voice. Don't block the sidewalk.
Move onn'
In an instant, the moon face, the big
lot OF halr. the old hat and secdv coat
which Lumpie had been looking at-aIl
vanished, and then appeared man wear
inS Elue coat and silver badge, who
strutted along and raped on the fence
with his billy in an important way.
Lumpie now ran into the house and was
met by Aunt Salome, who was keeping
house for her brother since the beginning
Of his wife's sickness.
'Lunlpie, whom were you talking
with"
II dunno. He didn't have very nice
cose, and hasen't home"
"a tramp! Horrors!"
''Tnmps'
eyes. Sakes aliken
81 give him fower"
"What kind? Not one of those beau
tiful dahlias"
"a nasturtium, all yaller Only he
said twas gold"
81 warrant; for that's what he is
after"
'He's a good man, cause he said sus-
kin about his old mumma's home in
heaven
"Good2 don't want any of his good
ness. Ce-phstsi"
Aunt Salomc had now rushed to a back
SItchen window, from which she could
look out upon the garden where toiled
Lumpic's father, Cephas Bixby. His
face no more resembled his sisters thin,
wiry, nervous v:sage than shingle.
"Ce-phats' Ce-phus Why don't you
hear me2p
81 hear you. What is it2"
"Who do you suppose is round2"
"Folks say am and here Cephus
mischievously contemplated his plump,
round body.
"Now, don't plague me. Who do you
s'pose has been on the garden fence7"
"a fly, Iguess."
Cephls here referred to Aunt Salome's
/ great summer horror.
( ''Salome there has been one special
fly that / know for two days has been
watching your screens and trying to get
In. Get inl II ] am ever hungry, may