The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-11-10
HIS TALE.
n Dshy's HAos Wa naess. Drssh ssa Lsh
essy for . Fesser~a TRAMP.
Prom the Minneapolis journal.

n D.hy's shos Wa Meat. Dpssh ssa lib
ersy for . Fesser~a Trasap.
Frum the Minneapolis journal.
&C. Vanderbilt"
court ms his name was called. lie Was n
tramp. Just like amy other tramp wh6 In
middlc-aged. ragged, sloochy and dirty.
HUT le stood firmly. almost defiantly. in
b dock and looked the judge straight In
the rye.
"Yer honor said Officer Mulcni,y. 81
folnd the man wanslcrin' round the strate
last night. an he wouldn't give TAO account
Of hissslf. He warn't drunk. but l run
him i'm ON gincrsal principles. Ne didn't
have no valuables except a '~sni,s,' an
this" and Officer Muicahy laid tho object
ON the table i'm front OF the judge.
Only n baby's shoe!
Worn and fraycsl il was. with the hut
tons missing and the lining torn. And
yet thcr, was an unusual quiet in the
stuffy court room as the judge, with sim
prisoner and said:
self"
The tramp turned tn the judge with an
appealing look. His fingers twitciictl con-
vuisiyciy and his lip trent he'd as he said:
"That shoe. judge. tells the whole story.
lis my hs,by's shoe. and it's all l have i'm
the world. Let me tell You my story:
Five years ag" l was prosperous and
happy. 4 had n good trade and steady
work. ! had the incest little wife i'm the
world and the rrctsicst little baby girl
I tf:lt ever came mo tne wstrlu W. ttlsthe "
brighter and better. Fool that I was
did not appreciate my blessings.
I thought il was s,nar. and manly To
go out with the boys and drink my
glass and stand treat with the rest of them.
Sometimes l would come home drunk.
Would hr a ,"nk in har .y..-on. that i
could tear il from my mcmory-an
-h. grew pal. and drroping. still nncon,-
"Onc night I came home drnnk-'fcel-
ing good asi used tn call II. My wife
Game to the door tn let me i'm. She said
nothing. hut the tears came tn her eyes as
she saw the condition, l was in. That en-
ragged ma and ! swore at her. The noise
awokc my little. one and frightened her
and she commenced tocry. Grasping her
from her crib l tossed her high mp tai the
ceiling. intending To catch her as she
came down. had forgotten that l was
drunk. and II missed her. Down to- the
harl floor she fell with "a crash and las
there without ~ n,otiup. while the blood
pushcd from her nostrils. l had killed IN.
child!
my wife saw il all. From that monnen,
stricken and sobs.rs.d for AN instant. then
rushed from tine house. l never saw il
again. 1 have become II wandering dew
cannot stay in one place. ] cannot work,
l cannot sleep. Df,cntimcs ! have been
flowing bowl. but that little shoe, has KEEP
me from drink. That's all I've. got tai say
Judge; do with m" as YOU will"
There was u suspicious moisture. in the
Judges eyes and Officer Mulcaliy wa
blowing his nose vigorously on his bil
bandana.
"Iou can Co."
&. Vanderbilt made tracks for the door
not forgetting tn take the little relic of hi,
sorrowfnl tale. When lac got outside ia.
door hc made ~ suspicious gesture will
his Thumb and finger aud muttered Il
himself:
II thought that yarn would fetch him
This ere shoe il meat and drink and lh
crty tn me-. Gets m.. anything I want
I'm glad the Judge didn't ask me how .
got the shoe. when l left the house," An
with "a farewell Hip of his ingcrrs tn,
tramp started for ST. Paul.