Smyrna times., 1890-06-18


ing the plain and the smouldering de-
bris at the bridge, saying nothing and
trying not to think. Presently some
one pulled in few pieces Of wreck to-
gether and built fire. We could see
each other then, and one Of the tough
est men l ever saw in my life, and it
took pretty ragged and dirty and mis-
cradle man to attract the attention at
Johnstown then, hunted around until
he found a battered old can, and in it
he made coffee over the fire and han
ded it around to US. l said when he
handed me mine
4 suppose you've lost every
thing ?"
I'VE always made some remark like
that to a stranger then; it seemed
about the only natural thing to say.
=" No. said he, didn't lose any
thing.
"'You belong here 2 said I.
" Mop said he.
"'Got friends here ?
Mop
Look here said I, who are you
anyhow p
=" Well he sort of muttered, Tn
what you call tramp
Then he seemed to brighten up
and said
I tell We amt done stroke O.
work in more'n four year, but I Just
happened to come along here, an [
tell you, it Just knocked me out. I
seen all these people with nothin' left
fore l knew it, I ain't much good, but
I done all could, an In goin' to
stay here as long as | can be of any
help"
Il sort of took an interest in the
fellow at that, and told him who I
was, and that if he'd come around to
headquarters next day I'd give him
some work to do. He was on hand
early next morning, and he said he
didn't mind what he did, so we tied a
piece of cotton about his hat, marked
'MOrgue' on it in big letters, and told
him to 90 help handle tie dead. You
know what awful work Chat was. but
he looked like a ghoul anyhow, and he
didn't kick at the assignment. After
day or two we noticed that he wa.
one ofthe best men re had. He wa.
patient, industrious and kindly. and a,
faithful as a woman. lie never shirkeC
a task, no matter how hideous, and be
never stopped as long as there was
work to be done day ornight. When W,
organized a regular force I wanted tC
put him no the payroll, and l aske(
him:
" What's your name?'
" Oh, just put me down Jim" h,
said : 'that'll do.
80 as Jim he went down on the roll
and that was the only name we eve
knew him by, We kept him at worl
about headquarters most Of the time
and for forty-fve of the forty-sevel
days 1 was in Johnstown I had no NOR
steady, hardworking, faithful and hon
est man among all the thousands tha
were there. He did everything h
was set to do patiently, intelligent,
and uncOmplainingly, and we all 90
to think a great deal of him. He re
mained in appearance, a very tough
looking citizen, but as he worke,
among the sick and suffering and mis-
erable,a a good deal of his toughnes
wore off. He got more refined, some
how, although we didn't think mu cl
about it till afterward
Zone day the last Of the men wer
paid off, and he drew the first none,
he had had since he began to work.
what are you going to do now Jim
1 asked him.
We'll, l tell you,' he said. 'Yo
know l aint always been a tramp
used to have a nice home in Massachu
setts and wife and children. but fiv
years ago had some trouble with m
wife, and I went away, and-we
1 amt been good for nothin' muc
since
" Now, Jim, look here said
what you want to do is to go rigl
back to Massachusetts and see if you
wife's alive, and look up your childre
and live like a man again
" General he said, that's Just wins
I was comm to. You see amt bee
caring much what became Of me sine
l got trampin' around, but seein' q
these people so miserable an workil
you know, an helpin' EN- what coul
its kind o. changed me, somehow, al
want to see if l can't be somebod,
myself. So I've got some money nov
an I'll go back an hunt up my folks
an l know | can get work, an mayk
III get along all right again.
" Jim, you are just right salt
How much money have 20 got
Sixty eight dollars, General
Now, I'll tell you what you dc
we're all going away in a day or tw
you know, and you go down to ii
CommissaFy Department and tell EN-
give you a suit of clothes, and fix you
self up some, and when 90 home L
take you with me, and you can stay
day or two with me, and then go on
Massachusetts,.
"He seemed very grateful. l askJ
him,
"'What will you do when you q
there
oh, III get work again.
We'll, all right; now you so 1
and get new suit, and I'll take yo
home with me when / go / said, al