The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-04-11
A TRAMP PRINTERS STORY.

A TRAMP PRINTERS STORY.
He Tells . Tale OF Woe Of the Drink
That Never Came.
We knew he was tramp printer the !
the moment we set our eyes on him,
and when he leaned YEARLY up against
a case and said he was dry and hungry,
and that he had walked from Nampa
without either food or water, we hunted
up our paste-pot and the water bucket
and gave him square meal.
"Had hard luck up tine track" he
said, as he gave the paste stir, and
the devil caught u Whit and tainted.
stopped off at this mile post up here
they call Napa, Numpa or some other
name. Heard they had three papers
there and thought I'd stop and get a
bite to eat anyhow. Well, gol-tlurn if
it didn't knock me out. l found three
papers all right enough, but couldn't
find anything else. I've been in tough
places in my time, but durn me if l
ever failed to get meal before when
had three Offices on my calling list"
And the disguised tourist sat back
with satisfied air snd began to pick
the paste out of his teeth with mon
key-wrench.
Tell us about it, partner" siad the
devil. who had recovered from his faint.
SWELL" said the tourist, as he rolled
a piece of composition in a newspaper
preparatory to having a smoke, 1T was
this way. 1 struck the town busted,
but as had heard up the track that
two new papers had lately started up
there, that fact didn't worry me much.
Well, 1 struck all the offices and to save
my soul l couldn't raise a meal, so I
thought would take drink of water,
tighten up my belt hole or two and
walk to Caldwell. They told me it was
no use to go there as I would starve,
but as didn't seem to be getting very
fat where I was, 1 concluded to try it
for luck anyhow. l asked where I
could get drink and they pointed an
old man out to me, who was digging a
deep hole in his back yard"
"'Digging WE'LL said I, in neigh.
borly way, as l came up to where he
was.'
"Well the d." growled the digger,
II am trying to get through this hard
pan to set out tree"
IF it isn't too much trouble, I would
like to have drink of WATER said in
my oiliest tone."
"All right" said the old gentleman
II am tired and want to rest anyhow
"What he being tired had to do with
me getting drink l could not imagine
but I soon found out. The old man
went into the house and brought out
two chairs and invited me to take q
seat. Twas about to demonstrate when
he said Just wait till draw the water
you know, so sat down. lie got rock
that weighed about ten pounds, put II
in the bucket and turned the old wind
lass loose. Then he sat down and
began 10 tell me about the town, anC
warned me against the wiles and alkal
of Caldwell. Well, we sat there and he
told about the glories of Nampa for Al
least three hours, when he suddenly
cooked up his left ear and said:
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" said I.
II believe the bucket has struck TIN
water" said he, "we'lt risk it anyhow
Give me u lift, won't your"
"Well, what could do but help him
So just grabbed that old windlas'
and ground away. l turned the grind
stone for the original man who had al
IKE to grind, but that was regular
picnic to this. sweat and swOre ant
turned and then turned and swOre ant
sweat, and was encouraged by hearing
the bucket knock against the sides o
the we'll occasionally. as near as coult
determine about two miles down yet
My, how thirsty got. leven imagined
l could drink some of the alkali waite
of Caldwell, which the old man KEEP
telling me about in an encouraging
way. Well, to make long story short
that old bucket appeared just rs wa
on the point Of fainting away from
exhaustion. Thirsty as l was, wa
compelled to sit down and get m,
breath before took q drink, and during