Connecticut western news., 1889-10-23
MIRRORING A TRAMP.

aAhDONlNU A 1IlANI, It was near the night of Q raw, gloomy day, in the autumn of 1886, that a seedy looking tramp turned up to a lonely farmhouse, on the Ken lucky side of the Ohio river, and asked for something to eat and place to sleep. A widow with two children, a son and a daughter, lived there. The son, young man of twenty-two, had gone to Maysvillc with a small drove of cattle, which he expected to dispose of in that place in time to reach home at an early hour in the evening, and he intended to bring the proceeds of the sale with him. The daughter, a rather pretty girl of nineteen, was del icate and timid.
 ''I'll give you what you want to eat,n said the widow, whose name was Chalmers, after she had looked the man carefully over and taken little time for reflection; "but as for lodg- ing you I wouldn't like to agree to that before consulting my son, who may not be home till 8 or g o'clock. {" "How far is it to the next house?" he asked.
 '.Which way!" -..-
 "South."
 "Nearly two miles," "And night just coming on," return ed the other. ssI don't like tramping a lonely road after dark. Won't you let me stay till your son comes home, and take my chances with him?"
 "I don't know that ought to object to that" was the somewhat reluctant consent of Mrs. Chalmers.
 She gave the tramp good supper and persuaded him to sit by the gen. eral fire-she or her daughter, one or both, being constantly in the room. Eight o'clock, g o'clock, 10 o'clock came, and the son and brother had no, returned.
 ssOh, mamma, what can be keeping George?' at length exclaimed the daughter, in the anxious tone ot alarm.
 s'I don't know, Mary dear," answer. ed the mother, in great anxiety, as she glanced at the clock for the twentietf time. "1 suppose be didn't get through with his business as quick as he -ex pected to. Surely he will be here soor now !"
 She got up and went to the door, ant her daughter t1midly followed, looking over her shoulder.
 "What dark, dreary night" shud dered Mary, as gust of wind came il bringing little rain with it. ooh mamma, do you think any thing seriou has happened to him2"
 "I hope not,n replied her mother feeling more alarmed herself than sh chose to have appear. 1.-The night very dark, and it may be he has to wall his horse.'
 'sWhere did your son go?" inquire the tramp from his comfortable corne beside the blazing fire.
 "To Maysville."
 "That's good distance of and tn night is dark and the road none of tn best. don't think you have any oc casion for alarm yet awhile."
 "Thank you!"
 s'Ah, hark!" exclaimed Mary, ju: as her mother was turning back shut the door. "I think I heard th tread of horse."
 Her keen ears had made no mistake The tread of horse was soon audibl to the others, and shortly after the so and brother rode up to the door. Afte some warm greetings on both side and the brief explanation that he Ina been delayed in starting, while tf darkness and condition of the roa compelled him to move slowly, he pr ceeded to the stable and fed his horl and then came in.
 On seeing the tramp and learnin why he was there, he felt more uneas ness than he cared to show, for he ha brought home with him a considerab sum of money. His decision, hoy ever, was prompt, and full of tf kindness of charity. After two ( three pointed questions to the unwe come stranger, which were satisfa torily answered, he said:
 ssCertainly you can stay through u night. could not find it in my hea to turn adrift any well-behaved hums being on a night like this."
 s.Thank you kindly, sir," polite responded the man. sYou will not I gret your hospitality"
 The language and manners of t poor fellow indicated 8 certain degr s7 rsdnsd culture not in keeping wi