Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-06-15
AN OBLIGING TRAMP.

There was not another house within a milo
OF the one occupied by her family The
highroad, or turnpike, as we called A.,
was close by, and this in summer time Vcs
much travelled on hy tramus and d!srCp-
utable persons But, as q rule, we at Mas
sizes took little heed Of tramps, and few 70
those who came 10 beg over got served 40
our door. IL any did get served, they g..o
either the very needy or the particularly
cheeky" The former were relieved ont
OF pity for their condition, the latter 10
get rid of them.
But Mrs. Massie could deny even a very
cheeky boggar" If she suspected him Of
being an impostor. No doubt she did it
with moro timidity than tcmoIty, but
then thcrc was usually a big dog or big
farm laborer within sound Of ior voice
Therefore she did do it ionely. Only
that very forenoon she had refused To- sa,o
bury turnpike NAVY who begged Lld
for piece of bread and "a drink OF milk.
You look strong and healthy Why
dom you work." asked Mrs Mas ie
How can folks work when there ain Z
any work for 'em TO dor" said he.
There's plenty to do ii you only look
for it IN alikely place, " she replied.
I've been looking for 80 three months
and amt found ib yet " said hc.
Then look for it till you do find IL, 4"
said the missis, and with that She banged
the door in his face and left him to go his
way.
/ thought it was rather unfccllng Of
Mrs. Massie TO talk like llat, but she had
been in pet over something or other that
morning and was not quite herself.
Well, about an hour after that she came
TO me In quite good humorapd asked me
to go for walk and take the baby, saying
1t would do Us good to get out a bit. SO,
of course, ] got ready, and we were soon
enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine.
For some distance we w0lked on the turn
pike, but before long we came 10 a narrow
lane which led TO our nearest neighbor' 5,
whose farm was about q mile away.
The lane, except fer birds and insects
was as lonely place as any one could
wish for. Therefore we were not q littlo
startled when, on turning a corner, we
camc upon a tramp--thc very navy whom
Mrs. Massio had so rudely dismissed that
morning.
He was lying in the shade OF a thick
hedge, and he looked up as we passed.
When ! saw him through the kitchen win
dow that morning l noticed that he did
not look very refined, neither in manners
nor in features, but now on passing close
to him in that narrow lane l fancied he
looked quite ferocious. Evidently he and
Mrs. Massie recognized each other and it
was plain that this did not please her, for
she turned away from him with shuddcr,
ns though she had seen a serpent.
The navy must have seen that we were
afraid Of him, and 10 doubt this govo him
some satisfaction, but we walked on quick
nd in D. 800 Il
trust ourselves TO speak. Whom we were
Il little distance from him, however, Mrs.
Massie whispered 20 mo 10 lool. round and
see if he was still lying down l turned
my head and saw th..1 the tramp was on
his feet and following us and then
graspod my companions arm, and she
turned to look also.
just then the tramp stopped and picked
up something which looked like thick
stick or q hedge stake, and with this I'm
his hand he came on nc a quicker pace, as
though intending 90 ovcrtalo us. At this
my mistress turned pale ana rcmblcd
with fear, oXclGiming;
'Oh, heaven, he means 10 murder us
both, and this innocent babe as well!
What shall we do Jennie; what shall we
dos"
Give me the baby, and let us run for
our lives!" l cried, feeling sure TINT the
tramp really intended TO Go Us HARM
But in her great fear Mrs. Massic could
not trust her baby out Of her arms and
instead of giving It TO me She pressed thc
little thing all the closer TO her breast
Thus we ran down the lane as fast as our
feet would take us, not daring TO look back /
upon our pursucr. We knew the tramp
was following because we could hear him /
after us in loud and angry tones. /
1t seemed that lac was trying to fgigitou /
us, but we ran on and mover paused mo- /
ment TO hear what hc said.
The farmhouse toward which wc were
fastening was not yet i'm sight bur Wo lied /
swiftly onward, hoping soon tota3 refuge
there and 10 gain tho assistance oi It's u- /
mates. For awhile the tramp ceased Co
shout, so / glanced around TO soo FL DE was /
still pursuing Us, wheIcupou ho raised lis /.
weapon, and fourishiug it above his head /
shouted all the louder and mono algrlly /
and made a more dctermiu-l effort L0 /
Overtakc us
Mrs Mas,io was almost exhausted with /
but still she refused TO lct mo .
have the baby. although ] WAS thc younger f.
and stronger and better able tocarry it, IN /
her terror she seemed 20 fancy Tine baby /
was safer IN her arms than it would be in
mine, though 1 felt sure 30 would have
greatly relieved her if she had allowed me /
10 take the infant from her Almost
)reatllcss with the warmth Oh the day and
-hc eXerion Of her fight, She painted like
A fox that is pursued by the hounds, and
.he pcrspiration tricklcd down her flushed
checks like rain on a window pane. Yet
ihe did not mean to give in, ana the pros
,nce Of the baby seemed 70 make her all
he moro determined 10 escape the fate
which the tramp evidently intended for us.
was just beginning 10 give way 20 de-
pair when heard my. mistress cxclaim,
Thank 90 /, we arc hero at lasti' And
IN looking round I saw the farmhouse
cw hundred yards away. Tho farmers
laughter was standing in the doorway and
surprised ut seeing us running,
% we ceased 10 hurry and approached the
house at walk thinking the tramp would
rive up the chase when he saw Us draw
lear But in this case we were mistaken,
IS we had been all the while in his inten-
ions, for he came on without pausing and
ollowed us close up to the door.
Then we saw what ii was he had in his
land for he held 1t out 20 Mrs. Massic
Xclaiming:
Here missis here's yer umbrella