The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-10-23
THE TRAMP.



"Do unto others as we would that
they should do to us.
The short wintry afternoon is
drawing to a close; the wind is
chilling. and there are signs of a
snow storm; every one seems
to be housed in the small town of
C-;bnt Just now there may be seen
the figure of man coming up the
road.
he steps at farmer Moses's gate
stops and looks about as though he
was a stranger in the little town.
He wears long and shabby over
coat, and a slouched hat drawn low
over his forehead. Heleans against
the gat as though very weary. A
small piping voice. speaking close
to him. startled him from the rev
erie into which he seemed to have
faIien The small voice issued from
the lii.s of a little girl of perhaps
seyel cs, gllt years Of age; a pretty
child, with rosy cheeks and bright
black eyes, said eyes beinginstrong
contrast with the bright rings of
hair, which had escaped from be-
meath the little red hood.
The child speaks again as the
man turns and looks at hcr. aBe
you awful tired sir?" is what she
said.
ayes, 1 am, little one; but what
makes you think SOP The mans
voice is strong and kind, if the fig.
ure is shabby.
aWhy, because you act SO you
was tired. Why don't you go home
and lay down and get rested then?"
aAlasl 1 don't know that / have
any home, child" he answered
slowly, while the child looked at
him in astonishment.
Suddenly a light dawned on the
little face. "Be you tramp, sir?'
she asked.
aWell, yes, my dear, l suppose 1
might be called tramp in good
faith"
aBe you hungry, sir2" is the next
question; "if you be, will get you
something to eat, and 1 would let
you come in to the house, and lay
down on the lounge, SO you would
get rested, but my mamma is 'fraid
of tramps. oh! halloo, Sarah, .
cries the child at this moment, and
the man turns and looks to see who
she is speaking to, and sees that it
is young lady approaching. She
may be twenty eight or thirty years
of age; a trim, neat figure, but the
features are sharp, and the bright
black eyes lood anything but kindly
upon the tramp.
"What are you doing here, Flos-
sy?" asked the woman. Before the
child could answer, the house-door
opened and man slipped out; while
a woman's figure was just discerni-
BILE behind him in the doorway;
then before anyone had time to
utter word, the child sprang to
her fathers side, exclaiming, "Oh,
papa, he's SO tired and amt got any
home tolay down in, and / guess
he's hungry too" She whispered
this last to her father to her father:
~ asked him but he didn't tell me;
Sarah came just then; can't he come
in and rest and have something to
eat. Papa2'
mo, no, John, said the low tlmid
voice of John Moses's wife, ssdon't
let him come in; give him something
to eat and let him go"
"Why, Flossy," said the sharp
voice of the woman, whom the child
had called Sarah, "want tramp to
come in to your house2 why of
course not. / am astonished to find
yon out here talking to one. If !
had my way / would put them all
in the penitentiary. Why don't
you tell that person to tramp on,
MIR. Moses? / would not give him
anything to eat" and she drew her
drapery about her and brushed with
scornful mien past the man who
still stood leaning by the gate.
'.Don't be TOO hasty, Sarah" called
John, after her. "I have not been
asked by him yet, and it is always
my custom never to deny before
am asked" Flossy had not stop
ped to hear Sarah's harange, but
had rushed past her mother into the
house, and now came out again with
one hand full of doughnuts, while
in the other was huge piece of pie.
She went directly to the man and
held up her offering to him.
I I.