The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-16
A TRAMP'S COURTING.

He was hungry. That is not an
alarming condition when one is in
easy reach of restaurant or the
home table But hungry, cold, and
not overclean, in little Wisconsin
settlement, with not a cent in ones
pocket, is to any but professional
tramp an embarrassing position to
be in.
1t was in just that position that
Tom Hamilton found himself one
summer morning. He, with three OF
four others, had been spending a
couple of weeks among the famous
trout streams of Wisconsin. He had
made friends with two noble red men
who served them as guides.
At last these pleasure-seekers sep
arated. Toms vacation had not
quite ended, so he was to remain a
little longer
The next day he discovered that he
had lost his purse. Then be lost his
hat in going over the rapids. His
coat was demoralized; his boots had
lost the shine that distinguished
them on State street.
What few effects he had brought
with him were either in the hands OF
the rest of the party, for they had
taken charge of the luggage, or in the
hands of his aboriginal brothers.
That morning his cogita tions were
something in this wise:
"Well, Tom Hamilton this is a
rather interesting state of things.
Twenty miles from railroad station;
with no money, no clean clothes, no
friends.
II do charge you, Tom Hamilton,
with being a tramp. That's what
you are; and now be true to your
character, sir, and make a successful
tramp. Perhaps, however, you had
better take an account of your stock;
in other words see what your re-
sources are.
First, two soiled handkerchiefs,
evidences of former respectability; a
bit of rhyming composed and sung
by our campfire, evidence of extra
ordinary mentalpower; photograph
of Cousin Bessie, showing that 1have
known the refining influence of female
friendship; a copy of Tennyson, a
couple ofcigars, and an empty match
box. These are my possessions this
a. IN. Now here is little hamlet
where ought, according to poetic
tradition, to find every latch-string
out and every man ready to clasp me
in his arms and call me brother.
ready to share the last crust ofbread
and the last cup of coffee with me-"
Tom reconnoitered a little after
the fashion ola thoroughbred tramp,
One woman offered to give him his
breakfast in return for an hours de-
votion to her wood-pile, but he fully
intended to be consistent, and so he
declined her offer.
He noticed a large, pleasant-look-
ing farmhouse, set well back from the
road. The lawn in front was as
smooth as a floor. He noticed a
fiower-bed in the distance, gay with
bloom. He saw the hanging baskets
in the porch, and he looked upon the
place critically as though he had
meditated purchasing instead of ask
ing for breakfast.
This looks inviting. This house
has a fine expression, for houses have
expression as we'll as their inmates,
and there is a young lady swinging
in that hammock. l know she is
young, because she has on a light
blue dress, and any one not young
ought to know better than to wear
ight-blue. She has also fair hair and
blue or gray eyes.
''This is a somewhat ridiculous way
for hungry man and a temporary
beggar to reason, but it shows that
my exposures and privations have
not impaired my powerful intellect -
He tried his fate at the kitchen
door.
! "Sure, now, it's hungry you are,
and it's something to ate ye're want
ing
'If you please
"Then I'll be asking the MISTRESS y
Cant you give me something
without?"
CAV coorse / could, young man,
but ISIS Nora O'Flaherty that obeys
orders"
Certainly, Nora, give him some
thing" he heard a very sweet voice
say in answer to Nora's inquiry
What sort of a looking man is hep
"Ah, Miss RUTH he's a wicked-lOok-
ing chap, wild the blackest eyes ever
see in a living cratur's head, and he
just takes in everything at a glance.
I'm afraid he's a thafe, Miss Ruth"
"Did you leave him alone?"
"Not |. Maggie is there and she'll
kape her two eyes on him."
"Go and give him something to eat,
and I'll come out and take look at
him. But watch him well.'' ~
In a minute or two more Tom was
sitting on the back porch eating q
bowl of bread and milk and black
berries. Norah had given him seat
at the kitchen table and had set
forth other food, but he had taken
this pastoral dish and retired to the
porch.
"He may be a dacent fellow after
all" Norah soliloquized.
Pretty soon he saw approaching
him as fair a vision as had graced his
eyes for many q day. 1t soon
materialized into dainty little lady,
apparently about 10, with q cloud
! of light-brown hair, large hazel eyes,
and a sweet but resolute-looking lit
tie mouth. She wore a Gght-b blue
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