Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-04-04

TOR Une service you nave uene me ann -
today" U'
NO" said "Reddy' in softer tam.
his former abrupt refusal. "Pm 49, 't-la
to call it even, and let bygones be- by,,a..la
but all the reward want for bringin, ~
little girl ont l'vagot here" and le pIass'
his hand upon his breast.
Every one present, excepting nvs..,
thought he referred only to a conscis-1
ness Of duty done; but / bad not fo,.-,
ten his act Of secretiug something be,,r.s.
his shirt and that breast as | stennsd
TO return his flask knew his words ~
other meaning He went over 10 y.
wharf boat. picked up his coat. and NJ.
ting it on as he walked, passed nm ~
levee toward the business part Of town
Mr. Simpson, with grieved look on n.
face, turned away and Joined his wifi a.
friends Mile was smiling as she lsvt.
her mothers arms. She needed onlv A..
clothing and little care, TO avoid co1
to be in a few hours as well as She sv.,
was The trip up the river lad been 49,
doned for that day, so far as the Simpssr
family was concerned. The little PM,
hat, shoes and other articles Of anna
which had been removed were ratbsrs3
up, all but one little stocking. That coma
not be found, / knew where it was M
so did "Reddy;" but kept his secret
least until after he had left town.
The Mollie had once more started IN N,
stream, but there was no singing M,
time. The superstitious darkies war.
dumb for the time being In a few min
utes all the women and most Of the mo,
had left the wharf About a score Of youpy
men still fingered near the old dock tslk
ing. One of them, who had overheard tbs
conversation between Mr.. Simpson and
Freddy" asked If any one knew the mean
ing Of it. | gave q partial explanation
and then it was proposed that we make M
a purse right there for the brave follow
A collection was at once taken, and a sur
which more than equaled Mr.. Simpsons
'sawbuck" was the result.
We hurried off to find our man, and soon
learned that he had gone into Steve,
Yes. there he was-in the kitchen. sitting
as close as ne could get TO the big co0s
stove, and steaming like Broadway man
hole with the cover off.
Morgan" said, ~ have given your al
mirers here an idea of why you refused %
accept anything from Mr.. Simpson, and
they have made up this little purse f1r
you, and we all hope you will accept it,
"You heard me say didn't want to Be
paiu for what any square man who could
swim would do"
eyes, we heard you; but listen to me,
and | stepped close to him and WHISPERED
81 know what you've got inside your shirt
saw You pick it up. Shall l tell the boH
or will you take the pursef"
He put one hand over my mouth, and
jumping quickly TO his feet said
Friends, I'll take it, still think yoa
overestimate what / did, but you meal
we'll and l like you for it. If | didn't haYs
to be continually travelling on account q
my health I'd stay here and be elected
mayor, so that | could tear down that Old
calaboose or turn it into a soup house
But, jokes aside, want to ask one thing
of you, friends. Don't be too hard on TIE
tramp. They're not all like me; Pm one
from choice But in the last two or tbrss
years many a good man has been forced on
to the road There's great big world out.
side of your quiet little town, and there's 8
good deal of hardship and misery in it
Lots Of poor devils are trying to get away
from it, and they keep walking and walk.
ing. When a seedy looking strange
strikes you for a lift don't be in huuY
to refuse him Find out if it wasn't want
of work that pulled him down, and his IN
successful hunt for it that made hin
seedy."
There was perfect quiet in the little res
taurant for moment, then some one pm
posed three cheers for 'Reddy' Morgan,
which were heartily given, and all filed
out.
An hour later the Tom Jasper touched
at the old wharfboat, two hours behind
time. AS she steamed away down the river
one of her passengers was a hero and the
first tramp printer / ever saw.
never met him again, but do not think
shall ever forget him. While overhaul
ing some old papers today the grotesquf
card Of the Typographical Tourist" met
my gaze, and the events which have tried
to relate in the foregoing passed before my
mind as distinctly as if they had happened
only yesterday r. Buchanan in New
York Printers Annual