The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1890-03-27


often get my meals regular"
"But you have friends somewhere,
supposcl"
"No; not me! There's never a single
soul, guv'nor, in this wide world as cares
a rap for me, and when | lies down
some day and dies in ditch, ther, II
moan be, man. woman or child. as'll miss
me. None'll be sorry. 'ceptin' the parish
buns ASH have to put me underground,
and they'll grudgc doing of that even
Jim gave Il short ugly laugh and slouched
on, the water sqush, squish, squishng
out of the gaping rents of his old boots
at every step. lie quite expected the
"swcl' to ride oil now and leave him to
the rapidly deepening gloom and the
wild, cherries. night, but the horse was
kept steadily alongside of him, and his
rider spoke again.
Cant you gct into regular work and
leave this tramp business
"No there, nonc'll have the likes Of
me. don't look respectable enough
Nonsense, man. Don't get down on
your luck, but pick yourself up. Now,
look here; | will give you chance my
self. if you will take IT.
Jim could not believe his ears. Some
one actually talking to him rs if he was
an honest man. and not some sort OF YER
min or ycnomous beast. \ real "tip.tpp
gentleman. too. He must he muidlcd.
But the brown eyes were looking coolly
enough al HIM. aAi their owner was say
ing: ''Wcll. wha; do you .ay!'
eyer don't know what be; I'm n
bad lot. Iyc heoa in quol Oft enough, -
burtcd Oh, jim, feeling somehow he
could not take ms ncw.found patron in.
~ dare say You have, aud deserved it,
too. But believe you can pull round
yet if you like; and, rs said, | will
give you the chance Of regular work and
pay. Will You take it?'
In the depth of Jim's warped nature
there gimmorcl something like spark
of grdtitui, an dim longing after a
new life, for moment; but old habits
were too strong for him. and the clouds
closed darS,r again rs he shook his head
ard said in tone, which tried 80 bc civil :
W. WV sl's NfH lilt VI N'll ihA ~
no - now. I'm no good for anythink
but cidging and tramping, an doan
want to work Tor any ml,ter--ll wont,
ugythcr'
II" expected an angry lecture and
round abuse fox refusing but the other
said quietly, s,roking his boot with the
handle of his hunting crop: That is "A
dangerous way of thinking, my friend e.
and will get you into trouble again. You
are Il fool not to try 10 pull out bit
but you know your own affairs best.
Well, here is supper and a bed for you,
anyway. Look OUT lie tossed half
crown to Jim with careless, easy good
nature, and, shaking up his horse, trotted
OIL with nod aud good luck"
How costlcss word or two Of sympa-
thy are, and yet how priceless they may
become How easy to be gracious, and
yet how far-reaching the results! We
scatter kindly greetings here and there
rs we journey on life's roadway, and To-
they spring up bright flowers to gladden.
some sad, weary wayiarcr.
Iiugh Boynton, smoking his high
priced Havana after dinner that evening
in the luxurious ease of his fayoritc
loulging chair, had utterly forgotten all
abou. the icw words and the silver coin
which hc hai thrown to TIC tramp whom
hc hal oyeriakcu as he rode home from
hounds. Jim, curlcl up under the lee
Of clover rick. turned the half-crown
over and over in his hand, and thought
Of ho% for once in his life he had been
,po,cu kindly to 10y real gentleman.
Five urnary years passed over Jim's
lucElc,s head, their monotony broken by
police colrt, prison cell, and yagraut
ward experiences He had wandered up
and down some dozen counties, and seen
the inside OF most Of their jails aud
now, had driftcl toward York lie had
scarcely tasted food for week, and had
almos, forgotten the feel Of copper
coin.
The afternoon was closing a' he found
himself in the long Struggling village of
Mar.ton, lootsore and done up. The
hight, at the groccra shop threw u broad
band of brightness across the road and
Jim could see Il man in white apron
busily pilng up pyramid of loavcs
which q boy had Just brought in crisp
and hot from the bakchousc. The sight
was too much for the famishcd fellow,
and he pushed his way into the shop.
Now, then, what is it!' cried the shop
man sharply, rs he scanned Jim's tattercd
appearance.
"Will yc give me yan ov them little
uns, guY'nor: I'm aigh cicmmcd;' y and
he nodded toward the bread pile.
no, certainly not; | never give to
beggar, or tgamps,
"l'vc not tasted bite nor sup this
blessed day, God knows"
Cant help that Come, get out oI
the shop, do you hear.-or I'll set the
constable onto you. The likes of you
ought no: 10 be allowed to go about the
country. Come, of with you"
So the social outcast went forth into
the night hungry and insulted, and the
sleek tralesman rubbed his hands anC
stacked his louves, cougratulating him
| self the while on his refusal to couutc-
nance worthless yagabond, who, re
| gardcd from the lofty standpoint %
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