The Globe-republican., 1891-04-01
covered their camp; al scf which was
listened to with absorbed interest.


listened to with absorbed interest.
When he finished, the big tramp spoke
up and said: "Well. Sellers, from this
l.txle chaps account of hisself, don'g
see but what him and his old Uucle Phin
is travelling through the country pretty
mscn the same as we does, like gentle
men of leisure and Independent means,
as tt were. In fact should call 'em a
couple of honest tramps. as is making
their way through the world without
asking no odds of nobody"
''That's So" assented several voices.
''Such being the case" continued the
big man. lit is clearly our 6ooty to help
'e,n out of the fix they got into, and l
move that we all 60 down to the river
first thing in the morning snd set their
old scow afloat for them"
As this motion seemed 70 meet with
general approval, Arthur was cordially
invited to spend the night in the tramp's
camp, and was assured THAI they would
guide him to the ark. and that it should
be started on its voyage the very first
thing in the morning. AS there really
seemed nothing else for him to do, the
little fellow accepted the invitation,
though he wished he could get back to
the boat that night. and thus relieve the
anxiety that he knew Uncle Phin must
be suffering on account of his unex-
planned disappearance.
In the meantime he had recovered his
book from the big tramp. who had held
it during the fight, and it now lay on
the grass beside him. He had mentioned
that he sometimes read stories from this
book to Uncle Phin. and now the big
tramp said to him: Look a-here, sonny,
why won't you read 4 story to US out of
your book. just to pass away the time?
If you will, I will give you some in
formation that may prove useful to you
in your travels, but which you can't find
in any book in the world"
Arthur said he would gladly read to
them if they cared to hear him, and at
the same time he wondered what valua-
BILE Information the man could possibly
give him.
Then all the tramps gathered as near
to him as they could, and Arthur, sit
ting where the freight shone bright
est, with one hand laid protectingly on
little Rusty, opened his precious book,
and read the first story he came to,
which happened to be that of the ugly
Duckling."
$ 1t was striking picture, that OF the
fair-haired, delicate-featured child, sit
ting in the red glow of the freight, and
foiv fo1n 70 hn
crowded abOuthim, their uncouth figures
half disclosed and half hidden in the
dusky shadows. Close behind the big
tramp, who was his father, sat the boy
with whom Arthur had fought, still
looking sullen and crestfallen over his
recent defeat, and occasionally casting
glances of mingled envy and hate at his
rival.
As the tale proceeded his hard, young
face took ON softer expression, and
when it was finished he heaved a great
sigh.
''Well, Kidr' said the big tramp. turn
ing to him at the conclusion of the
story; 'what,do you think of that for
yarn? You are pretty ugly sort OF
UuChs SOuISCl1s duu WIZ huOWS OuG w udI
you may turn out to be swan after all.
some of these fine days"
It'll be goose, more like" muttered
one of the men; and Arthur, looking
at the lad, wondered which it
would be.
Now, it was the big tramp's turn to
fulfill his part of the bargain. This he
began to do by taking bit of chalk
from his pocket and drawing with
it several rude figures like these:
Xxx o. v on a piece of birch bark.
Showing these to Arthur he told him
that these were signs understood by ali
the tramps of the country, and that
whenever they saw these challicd on
gate-posts or fences or other conspic-
uous places near houses they knew at
once what they meant. This, for in
stance" he said, pointing to one of the
signs, ''means 'stingy people in this
house; won't give poor tramp any