The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-24
LIFE OF A TRAMP.
\ Minister Tries 1t in Order to Find Out
How 1t Goes.

\ Minister Tries 1t in Order to Find Out
How 1t Goes.
The Rev. Mr.. Delano, of the New York
Baptist Conference, did not believe that the
tramp was as bad as lie was painted or that
lie was treated like a brother by his fellow
man. In order to prove the matter TO his
own satisfaction he spent several weeks of
his last vacation On the road. Among his
experiences as a tramp were these, says the
Detroit Free Press:
Il came to one house at the close OF
peaceful summers day and saw an old
couple sitting together within. My beard
was a week old and my hair short enough
for a graduate Of Sing Sing. My rather
prominent nose was burned and frayed in
the contest The old lady had a sweet, be-
nign lace, framed in white cap border. She
told me 10 come in and sit down. But the
old farmer looked his prejudices.
- " hat has brought you TO such a state
| as this 2" he asked sternly
Before l could answer him the old lad Y
! bless her-remarked i'll an audible aside
| Perhaps he knows our Ned
1t was her kind aud womanly way of
| disarmng him. | did not know Our Ned
| but hope ne was worthy of such a mother.
- Isn't 1t about time for our bread and
mllk? suggested the farmer, and L was in
| vlted to partake OF the sinaple and most vel
! come meal. As was going, after thanking
them, the old man said earnestly;
." You will be all right if you'll just leave
whisky alone
This 10 me, a respectable minister of the
| GOSPEL! l wanted TO drop nv assumed
| character and assure hin | never tasted the
stun, but 1t was too early in my experiment,
so Kept silent and resumed my tramp.
Alter that went to houses where the
door was opened crack, and the narrow
lace OF woman was thrust out tor second,
then the door was slammed. Cats arched
up their backs and spat at me. Dogs
groWled at me. | cut hickory wood harder
than iron for bread that must have Jour
neyed with the children of Israel, aud |
slept on 4 carpenters bench in the basement
through the Christian charity of the owner
OF the house.
The last venture / made was into field
wnefe q IRE was burning and three tramps
lylhg beside 1t. | was glad of a chance to
meet the tramp on his own ground and learn
something OF his history and traditions One
| vi the men Jumped up and met me- He
ala not holo out his hand in fraternal way
WIN d s.liIe OF welcome and put it there,
para. lie eyed me 18th suspicion, and asked
| me sIuffly what l wanted. lie was bigger
| than l, and the other two men Joined him
50 Kept civil tongue, and they gradually
warmed to me- The big one was a clergy
| mans son, just rs | was, aud he knew as
much Latin and Greek as / did, and had
studied more classic literature ana spoke
more languages. The other WAS the son Of a
millionaire iather. The third was an out
sldtr. we slept around the haystack that
night, aud in the morning | told them who |
was. The clergyman's son remarked: Il
noticed that you didn't swear | heard how
every mans hand was against them. and
how they were against every man-Ishmaels
OF the world, s0urpd and embttered by
treatment that would not be given to dogs.
In MY true character L reasoned and prayed
with them as lave since pleaded for them
Treat the tramp kindly, and he goes
away with blessing in his heart. Shut the
door in his face and his prayer turns to a
curse. This is my experience and belief"