The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-09-26
THE TRAMP.
ny MINNIE y. BRIGHAM.

4
one seems to be housed in the small town
of C; but just now there may be
seen the figure of man coming up the
road.
He stops at Farmer Moscs's gatc-stops
| and looks about as though he were a
stranger in the little town. He wears
| long and shabby ovcrccat, and slouched
! hat drawn low over his forehead He
leans against the gate as though very weary.
A small, piping voice, speaking close to
! him, startled him from the reveric into
which he seemed TO have fallen. The
small voice issued from the lips of a lit
tle'girl of perhaps seven or eight years of
age; pretty child, with rosy checks
and bright black eyes, said eyes being in
strong contrast with the bright rings Of
hair, which had escaped from beneath
the little rcd hood.
The child speaks again as the man
turns and looks at her. "Be you awful
tired, sir:' is what she said.
ayes. | am, little one; but what
makes you think soi" The mans voice
is strong and kind, il the figure is shab-
by.
"Why. because you act so you was
tired. Why don't you go home aud lay
down and get rested thcnF
"Alas, don't know that | have any
home, child, he answered slowly, while
the child looked at him in astonishment.
suddenly light dawncd on the little
lace. "lic you IA tramp, siri" she asked.
"Woll, yes, my dear, suppose |
night be called tramp in good faith. "
abe you hungry sir" is the next
question; "if you he, will get you
something to cat, and would
let YOU come in to the
house, and lay down on the lounge, so
you would get rested, but my mamma is
frlid of tramps Oh halloo, Sarah, "
cries the child at this moment, and the
man turns and looks 60 see who she is
speaking to, and sees that il is u young
lady approaching. She may be twenty
eight or thirty years Of age; trim, neat
figure, but the features are sharp, and
the bright black eyes look anything but
kindly upon the tramp.
"What are you doing here, Flossyl"
asked the woman. Before the chile could
answer, the house door opened and a man
slipped out; while woman's figure was
Just disccrniblc behind him in the door
way; then before anyone had time to
utter word, the child sprang to her
fathers side, exclaiming, ''Oh, papa,
he's so tired and he amt got any home to
lay down in, and | guess he's hungry
too" She whispered this last to hel
father: IL asked him but he didn't tell
me; Sarah came just then; can't he comC
in and rest and have something 10 eat
papa"
''No, no, John" said the low timic
voic. 90 ,,oun MoscS's wife, 'don't let hin
,Dm, n; -iyc him something to eat anC
ie. him GO
"Why, Flossy," said the sharp voice
Of the woman, whom the child haC
called Sarah, "want tramp to come il
to your house! why of course not. AN
a,tonishcd to find you out here talking
to one. If | had my way | would pu
them all in the penitcntiary. Why don
you tell that person to tramp on, MIR
, Moses! lwould not give him anything
D to eat and she drew her drapery abou
: her and brushed with scornful mien pas
the man who still stood leaning by tn,
gate.
D Don't bc too haSty, Sarah, callet
. John, after her. ~ have not been askc,
by hlm yet, and it is always III
, custom never to deny before | au
asked" Flossy had not stopped to hea
} Sarah's haranguc, but had rushed pas
her mother into the house, and nov
came ont again with one hand full O
doughuuts, while in the other was hug
piece of pie She went directly to tn
- man and held up her Offering to him.
g He looked at her II minute in silence
y drew his hands across his eyes, then too
!. them from her, saying: Thanks littl
- one for your kindness to the tramp.
Then turning to Mr.. Moses, he said :
% see it will be of no use for me to ask f'
/ nights rest in your house, sir!"
}. The tones of the mans voice impressc
.e the farmcras they had his child.
J. "Wcll, no. said honest John, "n
woman is a bit nervous, and strangers p
II her out great deal" "
+. GLOW far is it to the yillagc'" Il
,e man asked.
i. "Four miles to the tavern" replic
Mr.. Moses "5ut you might get put l
somewhere ON the road, v
"Thank you, sir, | hope | may, for
am very tired and need rest; good nigl
NJ sir.
he "Good night, returned the famer Al
es the tramp passed on. lie had not 90
nc far, when he heard the little voice
-. Flossy ut his side, II know who W
w take you in Mr.. - and let you rest
IT, uight Granny" size cried eagerl
be "Shc lives right there in that house
r. the hill, and she and Grace will ma
No you real comfortable. My Granny "a
Grace are the goodest womans you eN
u see"
is "And who is Gracel Grandm
: daughterl"
us tUh, no, she amt Granny's gi
= She's Grace Seyton, Her mother di
VI ever so long ago, when was
i'' little girl, l guess, and Gran
ie- made Grace come and lived W
to her. She's just awful good
am the time; not one mite like Sarah b
ton. She's as cross rs two sticks, 'cal
i. a,,,i. ,,ot ,narriod Row saws he's