The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-06-03
Tramps Again.

Since Marshall Brenner's death nave
nearly always held to my resolution, then
formed, to feed no more tramps. l haye
sometimes questioned them, and although
they always claim to be anxious tor work.
BY testing them do not find that they are
willing to work at all at anything | have
which a needy person would be supposed
to be willing to do. Piling wood, split
ting kindlings, digging thistles or plan
tain out OF the lawn is not congenial EN-
ployment for these leisurely travellers
This morning l suggested that the last
mentioned work would be good ex-
change for lunch, and carried plate OF
NICE food and glass Of water asking him
to sit on the porch to eat. / haye not sul-
ficient sentiment about me TO take so dirty
a person into my house and watch the
portable valuables while he takes my time
as we'll as my food.
| said: 81 hope you have not spent your
earnings in drink and tobacco that you
have come to want" THAT is jist what |
bev done ma'am or l wouldn't be here"
he replied My work was such that
could not give him warm breakfast, aud
this epicure who insisted that he had not
tasted food for "a hours, put all / gave
him into the blacklist Tag ever saw do
duty for handkerchief, and went on 10
impose on my neighbors in turn, as one
had done last Sunday morning, each sup
posing herself the only one that had fed
the man. II had not taken five minutes for
him 10 forget hat he was to work to pay
for his lunch. have always noticed the
alacrity with which tramp will get out
Of sight when work Is suggested. 1t
is the exception when work is really the
object Of trampiug.
1t is dreadful! thing for even cat or
dog TO be hungry, but they never tell us
falsehoods or come TO our doors with the
taint Of liquor ana tobacco on their
breath. Ifa clean, honest mau should
ask Tor food or work it would be a thous-
and pities to refuse either, but when the
alphabet OF u vicious life is written all
over man, what good is II TO help him
to be content 10 travel? Most of US are
too poor TO take vacation, and cannot
get money enough TO go far or often
from home.
The strikers are bringing about their
own destitution. They throw up job for
shorter hours and larger pay, while The
average Of people, Of whom they may be
forced TO beg, work from IA to 10 hours
day, and for enough TO meet expenses
If they are prudent and prospered.
There are a great many false ideas
about labor and Its equivalent in wages.
Many Of the people who are expected to
help the improvident and unfortunate
could never do so at all II they had been
gwen to such habits of self.indulgence
and thriiuessness as prevails with the
majority who come to want II in this
thickly settled countrya lazy man could
not gel free dinner at every second or
third house, perhaps he would conclude
that II was best 10 stay In one place long
enough 10 earn his bread. This tramp
told me he had not cent, yet he started
of with Just as confident an air 10 get a
warm breakfast as though he could order
II at the hotel. He knew that there were
timid or sOfthearted women enough to
give him Just the kind Of meal he asked
foI. He insisted that he should eat this
also, but II may haye gone where my
neighbor's last meal 10 tramp did, into
the street, when he thought himself out Of
sigh. HoUsEKEEPER.