The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-31
A TRAMP BRIDEGROOM.
From mc Arkansaw Trare,cr.

One afternoon tramp printer entered
the Office of the Franklin (Ky.) Patriot.
The regular corps of compositors was
sufficient to do all the necessary work,
but the boys were lazy and wanted to go
fishing, so the tramp was given temporary
employment. When the boys returned
next day they were surprised and not
little ashamed to see that the tramp had
''set up the entire paper-work which
would have taken the entire force several
days to perform. When the proof sheets
were brought in they were found to be so
clean that the editor of the Patriot sent
for the tramp.
"What is your manner" the editor
asked.
oscar Howell"
"Where are you from?'
Mr.. Howell waived his hand around in
complete circle.
"What does that mean?"
"Means that am from everywhere"
"Do you want work.
'Thats the reason | came here.
81 mean regular work"
Eyes; but don't want to throw any
body out of job
"Glad you are so honorable, but those
boys out there are my sons, and | am
Oh SpUuluH Ilclu W SCHOOl.
"All right, them Pll take their place"
do you drink"
81 wound up the ball Of an extended
spree the other day, but am not going
TO drink any more"
81 hope your resolution may hold
out"
81 will give it many half soling"
"Well, you may begin regular work to-
morrow morning"
IAN right, sir"
- Within two months from that time
Howell was one of the best dressed
- in the town. Peoplewho had COM
Tented on his shabby appearance now
II ed him handsome. He joined the
Templars' lodge and mingled in
Society of the tittering madens of the
age Doctors and lawyers sought his
|hpany. He had brought literary
shness to the town. His jokes were
h. his courtesy marked
One year passed away. Mr.. Howell
" engaged to marry the handsomest
most intelligent young woman in the
in. The girls father and mother were
GIFTED Howell was envied by all the
ing pen. The day for the wedding
e. Nv near. The popular and enterpris-
ktailor'' had made Howells wedding
One day another tramp entered the
q. Howell dropped his makeup
and sprang forward to meet him.
Thy Shorty, how are your"
brter Slow" the tramp replied, as
aced his elbows on the imposing
ve GLOW is it with your"
Oh, l am flying. Going to get mar
ried tomorrow night"
"Glad to hear it. When we separated
that day with carefully divided quart
didn't think your lines would fall in
such appreciativc places"
"Neither did l. 1t is due, though,
Shorty, to my sobriety. tell you there
is no hope for the drunkard. I'll never
drink any more
"Glad. Expect to quit pretty soon
myself. What sort of wedding toggery
have you got W
"Finest you ever saw"
"Would like to see EN-. Where's
your room?"
"Just across the street."
Suppose we go over"
"All right. You ought to see my
trl."
They went to Howell's room.
"By Gcorgel" exclaimed Shorty; "you
will be fixed up in style, won't your"
81 should say So Well, it's time, for
have been fool long enough"
Say, put 'em on. | want to see how
you VIII look as bridegroom.
II don't want to rumple en-
go ahead and put 'em on. You
know that in my present plight can /
go to see you step off,
ITO please you, Shorty, Pll put 'em
on, but you are the only person that
could cause me to yield in this matter. -
He put on the clothes.
"By George, Oscar, you look like a
French dancing master We'll, l am
going to take little nip"
He took bottle out of his pocket and
shook ii,
Here's some old stuff fellow gave
me at Iopkinsville, Fifteen years old L.
Remember the time we struck that old
negro for pint of peach brandy Well,
here's to you. All, hah, hah, Would
you try a little"
mo"
Wont hurt you. Wouldn't hurt a
flea. l tell you that when fellow feels
little bilious a little Ticker is a mighty
good thing for him"
"You don't mean to tell me that you
have had that Ticker for several days?''
Yes, that's fact, A man doesn't
want but little Of this stuff, and the
beauty of it is it keeps him from drink
ing bad Ticker"
''Let me smell of it,"
Howell held the bottle to his nose;
then, with a sudden impulse his lips
closed over the neck
"Ah, that's good. What sort of q
time have you had since SAW you last?"
Tough, tell you. Take another
pull and hand it over here. Recoleot
that song old Patsy Bolivar used to sing,
When This Old Coat Was New2"
Yes" Howell replied 81 was think
ing about it the other night. Let me
taste your ware, as Simple Simon re.
marked. Getting pretty low, too"
Eyes, too low"
'rhat isn't bad, Say can you sing
Patsy song?
Might II had Ticker enough"
Lets slip down the back stairs into
that saloon"
All right; but amt you going to take