Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-09-12
THAT TRAMP.

down, sweeping, busting and cleaning it.
The sunlight streamed in through the
creeper over the windows, which I had
opened, and the sound of the birds singing
outside made me wish l hadn't so much
work to do in that dusty room. Suddenly
heard the click of the gate latch. Some
body coming, and me with my head wrapped
up in buster and my skirt turned up!
Then there was the wrap of knuckles on
the panel of the front door, which was open.
Thinking it was Widow Jenkins little boy
come over to borrow the Ratchet to chop
kindlings, for he came regularly every day,
stepped into the entry.
1t was tramp. He was young man
with IA heavy beard, dressed in blue canvas
and straw hat. but with that shambling
and half ashamed look which vagabonds
seem to carry with them everywhere.
Now our home was seldom visited by
tramps. 1t was u good piece off the road,
and they generally stopped at the black
smiths on the corner or at Deacon Thomas
half way up the hill
''What do you want?' 1 said sharply.
But relented a minute afterward He
looked at me so piteously; he seemed so hot
and tired and dusty that I felt sorry for
him.
was always considered the fool of the
family was everybody's slave. If the
boys wanted an errand run or button
sewed OH it was always, "Sally'u do it."
Sally was always the one left behind when
there was party and only 1inery enough
for two. 1t was Sally who stayed home
from meeting and lent her boots to one of
the others Yet believed liked doing
things for them, and for a kiss or a kind
word would willingly have gone through
fire and water.
Now that Uncle Kit was coming from
California to make us visit, it was who
was left at home to clean up and make the
house smart, while Floss and Peggy had
had gone to the village to buy some chintz
for his room curtains and new white
coverlet for his bed.
81 want something to eat and a rest,"
replied the tramp.
If only mother had been at home! She
was away consulting over Martha Phillips
sick baby, for she was rare nurse, and
valued the Importance of being called upon
on such occasions. Father and the boys
were moving in the meadow mile away.
My impulse was at once to invite the
stranger in. He really seemed to have
respectable look under his rags and wretch
ed dress-at least l thought SO for a mo-
ment, and 1 felt not the slightest fear of
him Probably he would go before the
others came home and none would be the
wiser.
"Come in," said. "You do look tired
out Come in and I'll get you something
to eat'' He gave me a grateful look and
Al T.. Il, aJr
" set table. The instinct of hospitality
awoke in me. / set before him some cold
beef, fresh butter, loaf of bread, and then
drew him some cool cider from the cellar.
He ate leisurely and quietly, but made
good dinner.
I don't know what possessed me, but
after he had finished his dinner 1 asked
him if he would take a nap on the lounge
in the sitting room. Father always lay
there for short time in the evening.
There left my tramp and went on with
my work. I swept out the parlor, busted
the mantelpiece and pictures, set fresh
flowers in the vase ON the red cloth of the
center table, and after giving a few touches
to the brass door handles and putting new
ribbons on the curtains | returned to the
sitting room.
The fact of it is was filled with anxiety
lest my mother or the girls or my father
should come home while the tramp was
there If they did, woe betide me. knew
I should never hear the end of it. "Just
like Sally" "Any more tramps been
around, Sally?" "Sally, heard from that
tramp" and such like speeches would be
dinned in my ears night and day forever.
The tramp found preparing to 60; but
somehow he seemed to hesitate.
care you going, sir?" asked. "Well, l
hope you feel better" didn't add "Call
again. words that were on my lips. Still
he fingered.
"Can I do anything more for you?" in
quired. Oh, how regretted that speech a
moment afterward.
'You've been such dear, good young
lady to me-" he said warmly, "that Pm
going to ask loan of YOU"
I believe looked thunderstruck
81 have no money to buy a ticket to Har-
ristown. Won't you be SO kind as to lend
me sonnet"
Dear, dear, what would my folks say it
they thought was going to lend money to
a tramp But lend it I did-yes, put
into his large brown hand theswhole Of my
six months savings. felt almost afraid
of my folly at the time, but he took it with
smile, thanked me profusely, and the
next thing / knew he was going down the
lane, toward the main road. A sudden
thought occurred to me.
''Come back for moment" I cried. He
turned round and hastily approached the
piazza.
care you going to the depot?" inquired.
81 am" he answered.
"Well, your shortest way is round the
house Follow the path through the or
chard, past the barn and down the pas
ture. 1t will bring you to the back road,
and save YOU half an hours walk in the
sun. Turn to the left at the pasture gate
and keep right Oh"
He thanked me, smiled again and was
gone.
'Now," thought, r'he's sure to meet
none of the folks coming home" Then
drew a breath of relief, and after tidying
myself dragged the rocking chair on to the
yeranda and tried to feel as unconcerned as
possible as | waited for father and tbs rest
to return.
Mother came home first, full of the symp-
toms and sufferings of Martha Phillips
baby, then Floss and Peggy drove up in
the buggy, eager 20 show us their pur-
chases. Father and the boys arrived in
time for supper.
That evening the mortgage was discussed
aeain, The subject of the mortgage that
lay on the farm was periodically discussed.
Those who own mortgaged farms and
know their owners will understand what
mean by saying that the mention of mort
cages makes me sick. That mortgage it
was that rendered nay mother old before
| her time and made my father appear an
incarnation of covetousness.
The niggardliness and closeness which
necessity had made the rule of his life was
| not, believe, natural to him; but it was
ground in him by the mortgage and the
} paving the interest. Day and night DR.