Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-07-25
THAT TRAMP.

| down, sweeping, dusting and cleaning it.
The sunlight streamed in through the
creeper over the windows, which l had
opened, and the sound of the birds singing
outside made me wish 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 duster 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
como over to borrow the hatchet to chop
kindlings, for he came regularly every day,
l stepped into the entry.
1t was tramp. He was young man
with heavy beard, dressed in blue canvas
and n 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 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 wantY" | said sharply.
But | relented minute afterward. He
lOOkei db me SO ScCulcu SO hOL
and tired and dusty that | 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 on it was always, ''Sally'll do it,"
Sally was always the one left behind when
there vas party and only finery enough
for two It 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 kind
word would willingly have gone through
fire aud 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 Mt home! She
was away consulting over Martha Phillips
sick baby, for sho was rare nurse, and
valued the Importance of being called upon
on such occasions. Father and the boys
were IN owing in the meadow mile away.
My impulse was at once to invite the
stranger in. He really seemed to have a
respectable look under his rags and wretch
ed dress-at least | thought 50 for mo
ment, and 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 III get you something
to eat" He gave me grateful look and
followed me to the kitchen. There quick
ly set d 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 a
good dinner.
| don't know what possessed me, but
after he had flashed his dinner ] asked
him if he would take 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. swept out the parlor, busted
the mantelpiece and pictures, set fresh
flowers iu 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 filled with anxiety
lest my mother or the girls or my father
should come home while the tramp was
there. If they did, woe bctide me. knew
| should never hear the end Of it. "Just
like Sally" amy more tramps been
around, Sally?" "Sally, heard from that
trampt" and such like speeches would bC
dinned in my ears night and day forever,
The trampI found preparing to go; but
somehow he seemed to hesitate
Are you going, sir?" l 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 your" in
quired Oh how regretted that speech q
moment afterward
you've been such IA dear, good young
lady TO me-" lie said warmly, that I'm
going to ask a loan of you"
believe looked thunderstruck.
Il have no money to buy a ticket to Har
ristown Won't you be so kind as to lend
me someY
Dear, dear, what would my folks say il
they thought was going to lend money tc
n tramp. But lend it | dd-yes, put
into his large brown hand the whole of my
six months savings | felt almost afraid
n 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 a moment" ! cried He
turned round and hastily approached the
piazza.
"Are you going to the depot9" Inquired
Il am, ;" ho answered.
"Well, your shortest way is round the
house. Follow the path through the or
chard, past the barn and down the pas
turc 1t will bring you to the back road,
and save you half an hours walk in the
sun. Turn to the heft ut the pasture gate
and keep right on"
He thanked me, smiled again and was
gone.
Now" thought, "he's sure to meet
none of the folks coming home" Then ]
drew breath of relief, and after tidying
myself dragged the rocking chair on to the
veranda and tried to feel as unconcerned aa
possible as ] waited for fathe< and the rest
TO return.
Mother came home first, full of the symp-
toms and eufferings Of Martha Phillips
baby; then Floss and Peggy drove up in
the buggy, eager to show us their puls
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 aud
know their owners will understand what |
mean by saying that the mention o. '5rt-
cages makes me sick That mort il
was that rendered my mother OIL Ot!ore
her time and made my father appear an
incarnation of covetousness.