Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-09-04
i will continue to whirl when

"We always made some remark Ike
that to stranger then; it seemed about
the only natural thing to say.
mo said he, didn't lose any thing
"'You belong here? said l.
"'Nop, said he.
"'Got friends here@
Mop.
"'Look here.' said l, who are you,
anyhow
"'Well, he sort of rnuttered, Pm what
they cali tramp
"Then he seemed TO brighten up and
said:
"'rll toll ye: amt done stroke %
work in more'n four year, but just hap
pened to come along here, an tell you
IL Just knocked me out ] seen all these
people with nothing left an nobody to
help 'em, an ] just pitched in fore l
knew it. / amt much good, but done
all could, an I'm going to stay here
now as long as l kin be of any help
az sort of took an interest in the fell
low at that, and told him who was, and
that II he'd come round TO headquarters
next day ia give him some work to do.
He was on hand early next morning, and
he said he didn't mind what he did, so
we tied white piece Of cotton about his
hat marked 'Morgue' on It in big let
tiers, and told him to 60 and help handle
the dead. You know what awful work
that was, but he looked like ghoul any
how, and he didn't kick at the assign
ment After day or two we noticed that
he was one of the best men we had. He
was patient, industrious and kindly, and
as faithful as a woman. He never
shirked task, no matter how hideous.
and he never stopped as long as there
was work to do, day or night When
we organized regular force, ! wanted
to put him on the pay roll. and asked
him:
whats your name?"
"'Oh, just put me down "Jim,"' he
said; 'that'll do
80 as Jim he went down on the roll.
and that was the only name we ever
knew him by We kept him at work
about headquarters most of the time,
and of forty-hve Of the forty-seven day s
/ was in Johnstown ! had no more
steady. hard working, faithful and
honest man among all the thousand that
were there He did every thing he was
set to do so patiently intelligently and
uncomplainingly that we all got to
think good deal of him. He remained.
in appearance, very tough-looking
citizen, but as he worked among the
sick and suffering and miserable, a good
deal of his toughness wore off. He got
more refined, somehow, although we
didn't think much about it until after
ward.
Zone day the last Of the men were
paid of, and he drew the first money be
had had since he began to work.
What are you going to do now.
Jim2" asked him.
"'Wen, I'll tell you, he said. You
know | amt always been tramp; !
used to have nice home in Massachu-
sets and wife and children, but five
years ago had some trouble with my
wife and ] went away, and-well, !
amt been good for nothing mucn
since
Nov, Jim. look here, said l, what
you want to do is TO 20 right back TO
Massachusetts and see II your wife's
alive, and look up your children and
live like man again
General he said, that's just what
l was comm To- You see, / amt been
caring much what became Of me since
got to trampin' around but seeing
these people SO miserable an workin',
you know, an holpin' EN- what could,
its kind o changed me, somehow, an
want to see If can't be somebody my
self 50 I've got some money now. an
I'll go back an hunt up my folks, an
know can get work, an may be Pll
get along ali right again.
"'Jim, you're just right, said How
much money have you got?
'Sixty-cight dollars, General
"'Now, III tell you what you do;
we're all going away in day or two,
you know. and you 60 down TO the com
missary department and tell 'ern to give
you a suit Of clothes, and fix yourself up
some. and when 90 home I'll take you
with me, and you can stay day or two
with me-, and then go on to Massachu'
setts-'
He seemed very grateful I asked
him:
"What viii you do when you get
there2'
"'Oh, I'll &c work again
"'Well, all rirht; now You go Of and
get new suit, ard I'll take you homo
With me when Igo,' said, and Jim hur-
riei of toward tho commtssary depart
ment
Litter In the day he came back.
You wouldn't have known him OF
course tLe suit wasn't much, but it was
neat and clean, and he'd got his hair
cut and his Deard shaved of, and he had