The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-06
Written for The Ark0us0p TroUeLer.
 THE TRAMP'S TALE
BY THos. BURKE.

.'A nIarterr' That's sublime. Mnst "tell my story iirst?" Iris of misspent life. Iris of constant strlte
 With hellish, hellish thirst. I have been king--a cZar-- Many thanks for the ctgar-
 {Nhy, 'tis Henry tiay.} As was saying, Have been ruler hlgh-
 Well did my slaves obey. This weak, this palsied thlng Ever looked upon as klngE u.r
 A "strangc, strange tale to ieli' ,rns a king. 'Tts true. My subjects were but TWO.
 But they obeyed me well My mother, sir, was one was her only son
 Without fault or flaw My sister was the other I was her hero. brother.
 My word with her was Ia" Twas weak when was young My mother OCT me hung
 Thro'out the night and day She smoothed my pillow then I hear her voice again
 AS she lowly kneels to pray When grew stronger she Cared con stantiy for me
 was her life, her joy. What great things would do: How brave I'd be, and true:
 Her noble, darling boy. She sent me on to school. ,Twas mine, she said, to rule.
 was forgreat things meant To me she bent the knee, I should | ruler be-
 Perhaps a president My sister, too, was proud Of me- Before me bowed.
 In all things did defer. Twas great, Il mighty thing To be sister to king
 was king to her. To be proud, they'd reasons to l was fair, sir, to the view
 When young, long years ago These eyes, blood shot and blear, Were then bright, blue and clear
 was once, sir, great beau. As straight as q pine tree, Educated. rich, and free,
 carried hearts by storm. I could sing, and could dance, And more than one fonu glance
  But, aIasl "took to drink. NOu, on destructIOn's brink,
 All manhood gone, and pride, 1 see how l began, Ere yet l was man,
 To warnings thrust aside At mother would smile. Just wait little while
 Just wait awhile, cried l. When of the proper age, I'll marry, turn the page,
 And temp'rate live and die. My mother cried "I have done, Your lifework has begun"
 But-full of youth and song Wait, wait, was all my cry Wait, wait, till by and by
 Iwaited. Waited too long, At first twas sparkling wine Champagne is "high toned" fine It makes the blood to flow. The ladies sweetly smile On wine. It is "the style"- 'Tis quite the thing, you know" Sparkling wine. Sparkling eyes. Song and perfume. Love and signs. MIrthless laughter. Joyless glee. Squandered charms. Squdndered weaitl Blemished manhood. Vanished health. My sad tales epitome. l sank, sir, down. down, down. A loafer 'round the town
 became. Oh, what fall No task too mean for me If only could see
 A dram behind 1t all. What were a mothers tears? What were her hopes and fears Compared to hellish thirst? What was sisters name? What was a sisters shame:
 My happiness came first. Why should longer dwell And of my wrecked life tell?
 Or of vows-all idle breath. drank up the old place, To my sister brought disgrace,
 And to my m0ther-death. It starts the unbidden tear. q think tll buy some beer
 With the quarter, now my due. To fill up quick's the plan.) That you're a gentleman,
 And & scholar, sir, IS true. Poor Nell Is dead, think. (Hat hear the silver chinkN
 Excuse me, must cry. He has given me halfi Ha, hai-that makes me laugh.
 An here's a s'loon close by.