News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-02-16
The Donation Party at HuStlGr'S
Camp.
RYKATE W. HAMILTON.

/
Hustler's Camp was somewhat exer-
cised over the newcomer who, in truth
did rot look as if he belonged there.
A number of men pa7ased in their
work and gazed after the figure in
rusty black as it ascendeG the rugged
path on the hillside-a figure slender
and slightly stopped, with gray show
ing plainly in the fringe of hair be-
meath the well-worn hat.
"He said he was a colored porter,
but he was a-lyin',' y observed Dirk
Collins, judicially. "He amt no more
of a nigger n am -
(Which amt sayin' DO great for
the difference" interposed cOmpan-
ion, with a glance at the naturally
dark face, now long unshaven, and
Drowned and roughened by years OF
exposure.
Dirk waited until the laugh at his
expense had subsided, and then calm
ly proceeded:
"An' he amt no porter, neither,
never was; anybody can see that by
lookin' at him. Nj gh as can make
out he's some kind of peddler."
cone O them tract-singers, likely;
an he's come to a poor market,
said brawny fellow named Sam.
Little Jim leaned on his pick and
looked wistfully after the retreating
form. Jim was the only boy who
had drifted into the camp, nobody
quite knew how or from where, and
they had all fallen into the way of
calling him Little Jim," tho he un-
dertook mans work with courage
and determination which showed he
intended to ask no favor. The
pluck of the young beg gar as Sam
phrased it, had won for him what no
| amount of asking could have won,
and he was allowed to stay. 1t was
not the proper place for such a boy,
one would have said, but there was
no proper place on earth for Jim, SO
far as his Few years had enabled him
to discover; and this one, rough as
| HliShb be, was not the worst he had
known. If, occasionally. ill-luck or
much drink rendered some one ty-
rannical or abusive, there was usual
Iy somebody else sufficiently generous
or sufficiently quarrelsCme to inter
fpre in the boys behalf.
can they're a good deal like this
we're mine-mighty rough an un-
promisin' on top, but with good, rich
streaks, if We can once git down To
/ 'eln, said Jim. " l Nish that book
man could do it"
1t did not seem a probable consum
nation. The colpOrter was gentle
patient, but persistent, and very
much in earnest. If has attempts tc
enter into conversation were rudely
repulsed one day, his zone the neX'
day had lostnothing of its kindliness
If his invitation to a meeting was re
fused with curse or sneer, it did no1
prevent the proffer of aleaflet. ThOs'
white leaflets! 1t seemed as if he
scattered them everywhere.
''Ye can track that feller all ovel
the diggin's by 'em," grumbled Dirk
holding up one. Its all the job
want to scratch along in this world
an l hain't no time to tend to nc
other. It's gittin' monot'nous, an
wish he'd git out O. this"
"He won't till he's starved out
but that ought to be fore long," de
clared Sam. "He's gittin' thinner Z
more bent over an bleached lookin'
an his old black coat SINNER every
day. If he hain't sense enough tt
know when he's struck a place tha'
won't pay, 'twould be a mercy tt
give him hint"
GA good h'istin' one what would
skip him out lively" interposed an
other voice.
The irritable wish and rough ics
were banded about, until they gradu
ally changed to a purpose-a plal
born of the moments caprice; the ir
responsible mood of a crowd.
"The next time we git sight of hin
anywheres We'll lay down the law, an
give him twelve hours to skip out o
this"
Little Jim listened uneasily.
"You don't have to wait to gi
sight of him; | can tell you where tt
find him." he said, with sudden reso
luton. "He lives in that little OLE