The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-24
THE TRAMP'S CHRISTMAS EVE.
4 True Story for the Children who Read the
Eagle.

Six years ago. Chris;mss eve in Wichita,
came on clear and biting cold. Just as the
sun went down the frost gathered on the
walks, on the roofs of the houses and on
the trees: and when the moon rose an hour
cater you might have imagined you were
gazing upon the jewels of the we'll dressed
and be-dsmonded danes upon first
night" in New York opera house.
1t was a fine night for the rich and COM
Portable. where there were shining win
dows that you might look through and
see the tables OF plenty and
the grand fires in the CRATES;
For the happy boy, warmly dressed and
comfortable it WAS first-rate night ana
he could whistle and sing as loud as he
liked; and many CHEEKY voice was call
Ing and answering some other voice Tar
away. AS it sang out Bar ba-ree, Bar-ba-
Ce-e-e.
IL was too cold and too late for girls, but
noisy boys were out in force.
In AT the sand House, AS it is called
was "A strange crowd gathered. The build
ing WAS kept warm that the sand for the
engines might run smoothly on the track.
ms The trains went back and forth IN the
frosty air. Here were ga, hered the tramps
from far and near: scores or poor home
less fefiuws, without shelter or food.
Most of them, to be sure, were lazy dogs
who should have worked through the
Summer, and SO have been able TO take
, care of themselves through the winter.
But hereIhe Were. and the kind rail-
road people let them stay in the house,
-there they slept on the great piles oil
,grm sand. Outside the wind blew, and
Nhl>iled, and sang, and roared down the
bed OF the Big River in gusts which would
seem almost certain to tear the house to
pieces; but the trampS slept on. Many a
Stomach ached from emptiness and dis
lurbed The dreams which may have been
Of home.
On this Christmas eve one poor fellow,
driven by hunger, had left the sand house
aud had given Gimid knock at many
kitchen doors but had been repulsed with
more or less ceremony by those who were
happy within. AT last he turned in at
Il gate and approached a door to make one
more request for food. \ child opened
II; IA boy who WAS standing near. and with
his bucket in his hand, WAS waiting for
the milk for which he was sent every
3ight
But the tramp was told there was
nothing for him; supper WAS over and all
were too busy and happy TO mind such a
sorry looking object on Christmas eve.
All were too busy except the boy, who,
when he had secured ms bucket OF milk
followed the ragged and hungry man out
hi'bh AhN SAicN'. ohA "hAhAbs w " ~ III,
said:
say, MIR. Tramp, am awful sorry they
couldn't give yoa something II eat back
there. bur I'll tell you what I'll do. III
take you home with me and my mama
Will give you your supper.
NO, said The tramp. they are all too
busy, and your mother would be like ali
the rest They don'S like tramps"
well, know they don't, laid the boy.
"hut you come anyway and I'll ask her,
and she'll do 1t because ii Is Christmas
eve
so they walked to the back door of the
boys home and the tramp stood in the
dark kitchen till the boy Il did not SAY his
hanle WAS Harvey did ~ iuterceGed with
bis mother. The ilre was out. sure enough:
supper WAS over and the mother was busy.
But told him mama begged the boy.
THAT Won would do IL because lt was
Christmas" And so | will my bow"
sald he mother, and because il is Christ.
mas.
SO the fire was lighted. the table WAS
nicely laid, and the tramp Sat down
- smoking hot coffee. Not
ally that, but lie mince ana -unpkiu
pies Were out for him, and the big white
frosted CAKE watch made yot.r NOUN
water JUG. 20 loo6 at il.
by TINS nme the younger children began
~ IDinA oi tbcif stores OF good things, ana
candy, nuts, oranges and bananas were
heapec upon him and filled his pockets,
with the WORDS Here, poor tramp, take
this, and this. Mr. Tramp."
The tears ran down his cheeks. and at
last his head went upon the table aud his
sons nlled the room. Poor Mr. Tramp.
Far behind him in his dirt and rags NAV
nave oeeh h's own happy childhood and
his innocent child-fsce. In some home far
away the Christmas JOY might have been
complete If but he had raised the latch AT
the door OF the old homestead, where hi.
dirt aud rags would have counted Cor
nothing. and the father and mother would
have welcomed their wandering bov
20 or Mr. Tramp.