River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-03-13
JIM, THE TRAMP.


work OF His hands
Celia Thaxter. in y. \. Independent
JIM, THE TRAMP.
Although Worthless Vsgabond
He Never Forgot a Kindness.
He was bad lot, Magistrates, Jail
chaplains and police had all at various
times told him so, and he quietly ac-
cepted their Judgment, knowing ii to be
pretty near the truth. An Outcast from
his very babyhOOd. what chance had he
ever hadi Left by an unfeeling mother
to die in a roadside ditch, he had been
taken TO the nearest union, to be
brought up Homework founding, I'M
til he was old enough 10 be bound
prentice and the guardians could wash
their hands of him entirely. Adrunken
saddIer covenanted 10 clOthe, board and
teach him his trade; and at his hands
poor Jim had dogs life, until, goaded
to madness by every species of i'll
treatment, he struck his master and
fed. For awhile he tried hard to get
work in the villages through which he
passed: but no one would take on the
strange friendlcss lad, and so he made
up his mind TO enlist for soldier.
II only he had reached York an hour
or two earlier. Her Majesty's army had
gained a useful recruits and poor Jim
would have had a chance to rise and be-
come a credit to the service. But ill
luck would not let him go. He was
routed out Of an old stable by a jealous
member of the city police, and charged
next day with sleeping out a night or
some equally heinOus crime, the result
being that he was committed 70 prison
for seven days This broke down his
last shred of self-respect; and when tina
happens to man or boy. Heaven help
him. for his doom is sealed
Jim came out of Jail utterly reckless.
with a wild hatred of every body and
every thing. lie thought no more of
soldering or getting work, but let him
self drift resOlutely to the bad. He
soon got into vicious company. and be-
fore many weeks were over was again
in the clutches of the law. The down
hill road is an easy one and the pace
always rapid, and so at thirty years of
age he was pretty widely known TO the
authOrities as confirmed rogue and
thief who would not stick at trifies
when once he was reused.
Yes; there was TO doubling IL, he was
an Out-and-Out bad lot! And he looked
il. too, as he slOuched along the country
lane with hands deep in his empty
pockets and his head bent to meet the
rain which the November wind drove in
his face. But ne was too much used to
discomfort to heed the weather, and
plOdded sullenly on through the pud-
dies in the deepening gloom, half
asleep, and so utterly careless Of every
thing around that he never heard the
heat of hOOfs until a CHEEKY voice
cried: ''NOS, my good fellow. if you do
not want the whole road to yourself,
perhaps you will let me pass"
Jim neye- looked round. but skunk
closer to the dripping hedgerOw, ex-
pecting the horseman TO ride on with
out another wOrd, but something quite
unexpected happened, for the CHEEKY
vsice said: Thanks"
IL was the first time any one had ever
thanked the good for-nothing. and he
stared up in blank amazement, and saw
a man OF about mis- own age, in red coat
and tOp-bOOts plentifully despatched
with mud. looking down at him from the
back OF 4 weight-carrying hunter with
out the least CLEAN of aversion or sus-
picion on his pleasant. fresh-colored
face.
you look rather done up; been long
on the rOad?'
"a week an more" The reply was
surly enough, not that Jim resented the
question, but simply because he was so
used to insults and rough speaking that
the idea of : blooming swell" speaking
civiIly TO such as be took him utterly by
surprise
Going homer
Jim gave a cOntCmptuOus grunt
Never had van. guv'nor."
Poor chap. But you live somewhere.
] SUPPOSE
.sOh. yes''-with a grim chuckle-''T
lived sOmewhcres-anywh Use not
like some folks. must have every thing
tip-top. No: that's not INV style. we've
big house. incourse, and lots Of slaveys
70 wait on yc. ! lives Just where can.
and has 70 fend for mySen. and don't
often get my meals reg lar
And the cruel contrast between him
self and his companion filed the tramp's
heart with bitter thoughts Why have
some folks all the good things of life
and others none Of them? Here was a
man no older than himself with fine
clothes on his back and horse to carry
him: whilst he. poor fellow. had to
trudge along ankle deep in the mud
with scarcely whole thread to cover
him. Why. the very horse was a long
wav better of and more cared for; il AZ
least had a warm. dry stable and plenty
of food waiting for il. whilst he had
never reSting-place nor a crust Of
bread 70 eat
Again the CHEEKY kind tones startled
him: But you have friends some
where, suppose?"
No; not me. There's never sin
gle soul. guv'nor. in this wide world as
cares rap for me; and when l lies
down some day and dies in a ditch.
there'll moan be, man. woman or child.
as II miss me NoR Il be sorry.
'ceptin' the parish buns as II
have TO put me underground, and
they'll grudge doing Of that even" Jim
gave a short. ugly laugh and slouched
on, the water squish, .squish. squishing
out Of the gaping rents Of his old boots
az every step. He quite expected the
swell" 10 ride Of now and leave him TO
the rapidIy-deepening gloom and the
Wild, cherries night; but the horse was
kept steadily alongside of him, and his
rider spoke again
Can't you get into regular work and
leave this tramp business"
NO; there's nons'll have the likes OF
me. don't look respectable enough "