The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-06-29
oNLYA TRAMP.

encounter. II was the most natural thinl
in the world, though, that he should hsv,
stopped at the Mevins place. All tn,
tramps came there 1t was so near the de
poland they all appeared to be con
sumed with hunger just at that point, SC
that they could not possibly 90 on to the
village, two miles farther without refresh
ment.
It was her great objection to the farm
Mrs Mevins said, its being so near the
railroad. All the dreadful people that it
scared one even to look at, came straight
to the house, and the frst thing she
knew, they were right at the kitchen
door, looking in on her at her work.
$50 that it fairly gave her the tremors,
somtimes," she said, con Rosy's account
more than than her own" for Rosy was
Just toddling about now and Mrs. Mevins
having to do her own housework, had
not the time to watch her every minute,
'and, as she explained TO the neighbors,
what if one of them Eye-talians. who
looked fit to murder folks, should come
and kidnap Rosy one Of these days
Nothing easier, If he was disposed"
What any them might want with
such an eneumbrance as her sturdy little
girl Of three Mrs. N1evins did not seem to
consider.
"But even if they were not dangerous
looking" she said, "they were nuisances
in the way ofinterrupting her work. It
wasn't that she begrudged the bite of
cold vitual's they asked for-it was the
time it took it get it that she minded"
And then, some Of them sat down on
the doorstep TO rest and enliyen their
way with bit of chat, which did not
suit at all so busy a woman as AlIs. New
ins; for Dal and Sam being away most of
the day, cutting and cording their wood,
and "Pa" out at his work in the field, the
pest tramps fell solely to her LOT.
And now, on her busiest day in the
week, here was another, and this time a
boy, to make matters worse. For often
she could dismiss the men with bag of
scraps and a word or two, but these boys
were such hangers-on, you couldn't some
how, get rid of them. This one looked
particularly so; as if he might enjoy
hanging around indefinitely. Tagged
out, thin as a hound, and evidently half
starved; dear, dear what bother in the
midst Of her ironingl
"Could he sit there little while and
rest, and could he get some water, and
and-any little leayin's of bread or any
thing?"
And this with a look as if he would
drop in his tracks in a second more.
Mrs. Meyins could not fly in the face
of duty when it came to the pinch, but
she could grumble amazingly before she
followed the promptings of eonscience.
'You1l have to sit there" she said
grudgingly. "for you don't look equal
TO standin' another minute, anywhere
She walked to the cupboard. "Where
in the world did you come from and
where are you maxim to, boy like youp
"He was going to r, to look for work,
he said; she notices that he did not say
where he came from.
"Ohl 70 the city well. you'd better go
back 10 your ma, wherever that may be /;
cities amt good place for boys o your
age, anyhox," she said, as if she had
summoned his case up and found the
answer in this piece Of advice.
The boy bad sunk down on the door
step and was tanning his brow with his
dilapidated hat, mostly brim, lie look
ed beyond protesting any great deal
against anything.
"He didn't have no mother" he said
in weakly defensive way. Gould he
get the water right nov ?7 looking vague
ly around as if in search oft.
Mrs. Meyins came forward with her
hands full of odds and ends of cold food,
and piling them into his hands, took
him 10y the arm in a business like man
ner.
Here" she said, pointing with her
finger, 81 amt got time to wait on you.
bat you see yonder by the fence? There's
the well. And shut the doors down
a yain when you've drawn the bucket up /;
there's so many young chickens running
round here, some of EN- would tumble
in, sue, if you left it oper," and then she
went on with her ironing.
For, she mentally argued, when he had
got the water and rested a spell, hewould
move on as was his business to.
But he did not 60; he came back
presently and sat down again on the
doorstep and there he leaned YEARLY
back against the frame of the door and
gazed out over the yard and garden to
the field and, perhaps, the sky beyond.
Well, she had no time to fool away in
talking with him, but Rosy-bless the
child!-there she was climbing into the
lap of that tramp boy, jabbering away at
the greatest rate, clinging TO him, patting
him. Mercy Suppose he had some
dreadful feyerl He certainly looked
like it.
"La, Rosy come herel' cried her
mother, and play with the kitten: he's
come on"
But as Rosy clung to his shoulders OBJ
stinately shaking her head and saying
mo, no! in her most energetic fashion,
Mrs. Meyins marched over and gathering
her up bodily bore her into the next
room where Miss Mirandy was, Rosy
screaming most Justify all lhe way.
When she returned to the kitchen the
the tramp-boy had vanished from the
doorway. Thank goodness he was gone
then! She had not thought 70 get rid Of
him so easily ne had looked SO "tuek-
cred out" and as though he were inca
pable of moving. Bat as she cOngratula-
iei herself she heard sound as OF an ak
at the woodpile, and looking out, to her
astonishment, there was the boy with