The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
THAT TRAMP.

-, .,d tho sound Of the birds singing
,,..,ao ,,,,de me wish hadn't so much
- 90 do in that dusty room. suddenly
hoard The click of the gate iatch' some,
hodv coming. aud me with my head Wrapper
:, a duster and my skirt turned up'
rho, ,bere was the wrap of ,nuckles on
,ton,nel Of the front door, which was open.
Th;ntinc IL was Widow jenkins little boy
come over to borrow the Ratchet to chop
kindlings, for he came regularly every day.
I stepped into the entry.
II was tramp He was young man
with "A heavy beard dressed in blue canvas
and n straw hat. but with that shamblinS
and half ashamed look which vagabonds
seem 20 carry with them everywhere.
Now our home was seldom visited by
tramps. 1t was good piece of the road
and thew generally stopped at the black.
smiths on the corner orat Deacon ihoiii"S
half way up the hill.
''What do You want" i said Sharply
But relented a minute afterward. lie
looked at me so pitcously; he seemed so nov
md tired and dusty that | felt sorry Tor
him.
Twas always considered the fool OF the
family. was eyerybody's slave. II the
bovs wanted an GRAND run or "A button
seyed on il was always, "Sally'll do It,"
Sally WAS always the one left behind when
there was n party and only iincry enough
for two. II 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 kiss or KIND
word would willingly have gone through
fire and water
Now that Uncle Kit was coming from
California TO make us a visit, IL was who
WAS left at home to clean up and make the
bouse smart, while Floss and Peggy had
had gone 10 the village to buy some chintz
for his room curtains and new white
coverlet for his bed.
81 want something TO eat and n rest
replied the tramp.
n only mother had been at homel she
was away consulting over Martha Philips
sick baby, for she was rare nurse, ana
valued the importance of being called upon
on such occasions. Father and the boys
were moving in the meadow mile away.
Nv impulse was mt once TO invite the
stranger in. He really seemed TO have
respectable look under his rags and wretch
cd dress-at least ! thought so for a mo
mcnt. and felt not the slightest fear Of
him. Probably he would 90 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
l., "a
followed me 10 the kitchen. There / quick
IL set a table. The instinct Of hospitality
awoke in me. set before him some cold
beef fresh butter, "a loaf Of bread, and then
drew him some cool cider from the cellar
lie ate leisurely and quietly but made a
good dinner.
don't know what possessed me, but
after he had finished his dinner | asked
himif he would take Il nap on the lounge
In the sitting room. Father always lay
f.ere for short time in the evening.
There / left my tramp and went on with
my work. ! swept out he parlor, busted
the mautelpiece and pictures, set fresh
flowers in the vase on the red cloth Of the
center table and after giving 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 filed with anxiety
lest my mother or the girls or my father
should come home while the tramp was
there II they did, woe betide me- ! knew
] 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
dinncd in my cars night aud day forever.
The tramp l found preparing to go; but
somehow he seemed 10 hesitate.
Are You going, sir!" | asked. "Well, ]
hope YOU feel better" didn't add Call
again" words that were on my lips. Still
he fingered.
"Can do anything more for you?' in
Quirod. Oh, how | regretted that speech a
moment afterwarl.
you've been such dear, good young
lady to me-" lie said warmly, that I'm
going 10 ask loan of YOU
believe looked thundcrstruck
u have no money TO buy ticket 10 Har-
ristown. Won't you be so kind rs To lend
me some"
Dear, dear, what would my folks say if
they thought was going TO lend money to
tramp. But lend IL / did-yes, l put
into his large brown hand the whole of my
six months savings. felt almost afraid
Of my folly at the time, but he took it with
smile, thanked me profuscly, and the
next thing knew he was going down tho
lane, toward the main road. \ sudden
thought occurred TO me.
Come bacl, for "A moment cried. lie
% IA
piaZza.
Are you going TO the depot?' inquired.
Il am, =" lac answered.
'WeH. your shortest way is round the
house. Follow the path through the or
chard, past the barn and down the pas
ture. II viii bring you 10 the back road,
and save yOu half an hours walk in the
sun. Turn to the left az the pasture gate
and keep right on"
lie thanked me, smiled again and was
gone.
Now thought, hes 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 I-yaited for father and the rest
to return.
Mother came home first, full Of the symp-
toms and suherings Of Martina Phillips
baby: then Floss and Peggy drove up in
the buggy, eager to show us their pur-
chases. Father and the boys arrived in
time for supper
That evening the mortgage was discussed
again. 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 hat the mention Of mort
cages makes me sick. That mortgage il
was that rendered my mother old before
her time and made my father appear an
incarnation of cOyetOusness.
The niggardliness and closeness which
necessity had made the rule of his life WIS
not, believe natural to him; but it was
ground i'm him by the mortgage and the
paying the interest Day and night dol
lars ard cents, profit and prices were the
whole topic Of conveisaJi ION. Every penny
was prudsngiy dOled out, every expense
which meant laying out money was cut of.
Everything that could he sold Of the farm
was sold lay. butter, eggs and beef, and
swallowed up by this mortgage. 1t WAS
only by our own private poultry, and the