Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-12

VI a oAICA hI-
gan to teach the school the weather was
clear and bright, as September often
is; but with October came Monday
with a great storm. The roads we're
soden, the trees dripped; people kept
their little girls at home. The boys
came splashing in under waterproof
coats, and with rubber boots to their
knees, and boasted of their bravery;
and the teacher lighted a little fire
in the big wood stove that they might
dry themselves. That was fun for all.
Meanwhile, not to lose time, she set
them saying the multiplication table.
Suddenly big voice joined in the
chorus-Twice ten are twenty, twice
eleven are twenty-two; twice twelve
are twenty FOUR and turning with a
start, Laura saw figure, soaked in
mud-mud on its hair, mud on its
nose, mud to its understanding in
the door. A tramp, certainly. She
had heard such dreadful things of
tramps that she turned pale. Still, in
such rain she could have bolted the
door in his face, if it had been in her
power.
"A firep said the tramp, advancing.
/ expected nothing as good as that.
May / come nearer or am | too mud
(dy?'
Bring a chair Johnny said the
teacher. 1t is dreadful weather. He
must have been sleeping out of DOORS
she said to herself.
The tramp confirmed her suspicious
by remarking, as he took the chair:
This is weather, and I've been in
the woods all night, presume I need
washing the worst way
The teacher saw an opportunity for
efforts in the sanitary line.
Johnny said she, show the young
man where the wash basin and water
bucket are, and you may give him a
clean towel from the shelf.
Johnny obeyed. He led the way;
the tramp followed him, and returned
much improved in appearance-quite
clean, in fact-having been, as he
said, 'broomed down by the useful
Johnny.
He was steaming beautifully shortly,
and continued to join in the exercises
of the school, adding wood TO the fire
occasionally, until noon-time came
AS yet he had done nothing desperate,
but, as he eyed the cans and baskets,
he remarked:
4 wish I had my lunch with me, I
assure you. missed my supper and
had no breakfast. l am conscious OF
a vacuum
Now perhaps, thought Laura, the
time has come.
| She few to her desk
Ihave some lunch here she said
offering a napkin filed by good Mrs
Cliff with short cake, cheese and mince
pie, and bottle of milk.
The tramp looked at 1t.
The spirit is unwilling he said
'but the flesh is weak. I'll take half.
And accordingly Laura made fail
division, thinking that this was very
amiable tramp, indeed, intended fol
better things. Indeed, he was hand.
some even in the case of dry mud h
wore. She wished she was of the or
der of people who can give advice
gratis. She wanted to reform him
But she could not bring herself t.
preaching. Only when he arose tc
leave, the rain falling no longer in tor
rents, but having sudsided into driz
, zle, she went to the door with him.
. Take this little path, she said. i
will lead you straight TO the village.
am sure you must be tired of sucl
hardships as you experienced las
: night; and if you will 60 to the par
a sonage, Mr.. Pardon will put you il
, the path of-of-fnding youa way int
, better path. And then she slippee
, twenty five cents into his hand.
! He looked at her curlously.
, You are very kind he said, 'Ihop
, you will never need half of anybody
luncheon
| He was gone. His voice trembled
she was sure; but later she hear
somebody laughing at a distance. I
, could not have been that tramp.
She went home when school wa
y over and told the tale to Mrs. Cliff.
"A trampl' cried that good woman
ITS mercy you are alive. They'v
got the souls of gorillas, and I expec
if you hadn't had so many boys abou
you, you'd not be here to tell it, Thi
region isn't often framed, either. tt
off the track. l hope there's no NOR
in the woods.
Miss Penn sat down TO her supper
Half luncheon had left her hungry
p but while she ate the pork and bean
9 with will there came knock at tn
door. At it stood servant in sol
, of livery. Masters compliments h
said, and handed her boquet of hot
! house flowers, from the stems of whic
q depended little note.
She opened the note at once. With
in was silver quarter of dollar an
, thaca words.