The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-06
JIM THE TRAMP.

He was a bad lot! Magistrates, Jail
chaplains and police had all at various
times told him so; and he had quietly ac-
cepted their Judgment, knowing II to he
pretty near the truth. An outcast from
his very babyhood, what nance had he
ever had? Left by an unfeeling mother
10 die in a roadside ditch. lie had been
taken to the nearest union to he brought
up a workhouse founding until he was
old enough TO he bound prentice and the
guardians could wash their n oil him
entirely. A drunken saddler covenanted
10 clothc, board and teach him his trade,
and nj his hands poor dim a n dogs
life until, goaded To madness by ever
species Of i'll treatment, he struck his
master and fled. For awhile he tried
hard 10 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 a soldier.
III only he had reached New York an
hour or two earlier her majesty's army
had gained a useful recruit, and poor Jim
would have had a chance TO rise and be-
come a credit to the service. But i'll luck
would not let him go. He was routed out
Of an old stable by a Jealous member of
the city police and charged e day with
sleeping out at night or some equally
heinous crime. the result being hat he
was committed to prison for seven days.
This broke down his last shred OF self
respect, and when that happens To a man
or boy heaven help him, for his doom is
scaled.
Jim came out of Jail utterly reckless,
with a wild hatred of everybody and
everything.
Yes, there was no doubling il; he was
an out and out bad lot. And he looked IL,
too. as he slouchcd along the country
lane with hands deep in his empty peck
cts and his head bent 10 meet the rain,
which the November wind drove in his
face. But he was too much used to dis
comfort To need the weather and plodded
s~ullcnly on through the puddles in the
deepening gloom, half asleep, and so ut
terly careless of everything around that
he never heard the beat of hoofs until a
CHEEKY voice cried. snow, my good fell
low. IN you don't want the whole road To
yourself perhaps You will let me pass"
Jim never looked around, but skunk
closer 10 the dripping hedgerow, expect
other word. but something quite unex-
pcctcd happened, for the CHEEKY voice
said, "ThanksH
Ii was the first time any one had ever
thanked the Rood-for-nothing, and he
stared up in blank amazement and saw a
man Of about his own age, in red coat and
iop-boots, plentifully despatched with
mud, looking down at him from the back
Of a weight-carrying hunter, without the
least CLEAN of aversion or suspicion in
his pleasant, fresh tolorcd face.
"fou look rather done up; been long on
the road?"
"a week an more!' The reply was
surly enough-not that dim resented the
question, but simply because he vas SO
used TO insults and rough speaking that
the idea Of a "blooming swell' speaking
civilly TO such as he took him utterly by
surprise.
.,Goinp home"
Jim gave q contemptuous grunt. "Never
.'Poor chap. But you live somewhcre,I
supPSse%" v.;,, u;m o,,o,,o. .,,,o
neutrality-suspicious.. Use not like
some folks, must ave everything tip-top.
No, that's not my style. we've a big
house. in course, and lots of slavcys To
wait on yc. ! lives just where ! can, and
has To fend FOR mysen, and don often
get my meals regular"
And the cruel contrast between himself
and his companion filled the tramp's
heart with bitter thoughts. Why have
some folk all the good things of life
and Others non Of them: Here was a
man no older than himself with fine
clothes on his back and "A horse TO carry
him; while he, poor fellow, had to trudge
along ankle-aeepl IN mud, win scarcely a
WHOLE tnreau 10 cover MN. Why' the
very morse was u long way pet'er on ana
more care'i Ior' NAV icast nau u warm,
ury su,pie anu Plenty OF 1000 warning ior
H. WINE ns hau ncNera rcstig pace nor
crust OF preaa TO ea,, i,
AGAIN the checry' kihu tones startled
MN. -bm. you nave irieiihs somewhere
suppose
-No-hot me- iheres never a single
soul, guv'nor IN TINS wide world as cares "A
rap lor me ahu wncn lies uowh some
ia! anu uies III ui,cn, 'herni moan oe'
man. woman or enid, ASH miss me.
None oc sorry, ceptin the parish bunis
ASH nave to put me underground, and
theyh grudge doing OF that cven. Jim
gave short, ugly laugh anu slo'lcled on
Inc water squish' squisii' squishing out
OF thc gaping rents OF ms oiu Doots ~
every step. lie quite expected inc swell
Ia ride OH now ana leave MN Ia the
rapidly deepening gloom n the Wild,
cheerl.ss hight. pu' morse was kept