Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-19
covered their camp; all of which was

covered their camp; all OF which WaS
listened TO with absorbed interest,"
When he finished. the big tramp spoke
M and said: well, fellers, from this
little chaps account of hisself. don't
see but what him and his old Uucle PIN
is travelling through the country pretty
much the same as we does, like gentle
men of leisure and independent means,
as it were. In fact should call EN-
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 dooty TO help
'em out OF the fix they got into, and
move that we all go down TO the river
first thing in the morning and set their
old scow afloat for them"
AS this motion seemed to meet with
general approval, Arthur was cordially
invited to spend the night in the tramps
carnp. and was assured that they would
guide him to the ark, and that it shonld
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 be could get back to
the boat that night, and thus relieve the
anxiety that he knew Uncle PhiD 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 70 him: sLook a-here, sonny,
why won't you read story to us out OF
your book Just to pass away the time?
If you viii, 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 10 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 fire-light sfione bright
est, with one hand laid protectingly on
little Rusty, opened his precious book,
and read the first story he came 20,
which happened to be that Of the ugly
Duckling."
1t was a striking picture. that Of the
fair-haired, delicate-featured child, sit
ting in the red glow OF the freight and
reading a fairy tale to the rough men
crowded about him. their uncouth figures
half disclosed and half hidden in the
duslSy shadows. Close behind the big
tramp, who was bis father, sat the boy
with whom Arthur had fought, still
looking sullen and crestfallen over his
recent defeat, and occasionally casting
chances of mingled envy and hate at his
rival
As the tale proceeded his hard young
face took on a softer expression, and
when it was finished he heaved great
sigh.
"Well, KidF' 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
duck, yourself, and who knows but what
you may turn out to be swan after all,
some of these fine days"
'Itll be goose, more like" muttered
one of the men; and Arthur, looking
pityingly at the lad, wondered which it
would be.
Now, it was tne 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 @ r. v on piece of birch bark.
Showing these to Arthur he told him
that these were signs understood by all
the tramps of the country, and that
whenever they saw these chaigeG on
yate-posts or fences or other eonspic- |
ious places near houses they knew at
1nce what they meant. This, for in !
stance" he said, pointing to one Of the
signs, ''means 'stingy people in this I
house; won't give a poor tramp any