Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-06-14
SAvANNAH HARDIN COUNTY, TENNESSEE, THURSDAY JUNE

"Will you stay here and work for
your board and sleep in Che hayloft? 1t
Is getting warmer now, and | will see
that you are comfortable," she added.
Yes" was the only reply he made
her.
What is your name2'
John smith, he said, after n little
hesitation.
THAT is le,' she snapped back at
him, tiercely. "But John Smith,
tramp, or whoever you may be- she
continued, 81 have this farm; the spring
is here, it is time for the blowing and
planting to begin. My husband lies
yonder in the churchyard, she nodded
her head in the direction. "My chill
dren are too small to help much ! can
do good deal myself, but not all II
you will stay and work the place for
me will give you food and clothes,
and ask no questions. But mind you,
stranger, you are to know your place
and keep it, for 1 am afraid OF neither
man nor devil, and would shoot you
like dog ii you ever forgot it," AS
she finished speaking her voice took on
its high, sharp tones again.
SIS it bargain?" she asked, brusque
ly, in conclusion.
Yes" John Smith, tramp, or who
ever he was, answered, perceiving be
hind the woman's rough and forbid.
ding exterior a few traces of human
kindliness and glad enough to avail him.
self of her proposition, which would
serve both her purpose and his own for
the present.
So it came about that he took up the
work about the place, doing this WON.
ans bidding, who in her secret heart
was often sorely tempted to break her
word with this stranger and question
him concerning that past that was as a
sealed book. But she dare not, for
the forlorn tramp had now grown
full, handsome and almost rosy with
his out-of-doors life, with blonde beard
and hair well streaked with gray, his
dark, fathomless eyes only adding to
his distinguished looks
But they had both held fast to the
, bargain made that spring morning, he
working away through the golden
hours patiently steadily, always ST.
: lent but never moody; she nagging,
scolding, driving the household about
as the whim seized her, including the
. stranger, until one sparkling morning
= in autumn, when the white hoar-frost
, !, trimmed the fields and chill east wind
! came up from the water, drying up the
= sap in the trees and rustling their
leaves like paper, he disappeared as
mysteriously as he came Gone away
into the wind and night, even as he
. came with them Several months later
the postman left this note at the door;
:. 81 was a stranger and ye took me in; naked
}, hungry and thirsty, ye>elothed, fed and gave
1 me TO drink. Inasmuch as ye did u unto one
of the most unfortunate and least deserving oi
a Gods children, who but for your kindness
would never have known the great JOY the
world yet held for him, ye did it unto Him.
t beg you to accept the nclosed check in his
. name, JOHN SMITH, Tramp
. 1t was some years later when hand
: some gentleman with snowy beard anG
. hair, accompanied by a lovely young
|, woman, lifted the gate latch and came
j. up the same walk that the tramp Johr
|; Smith, had come one fresh spring
a morning, and confronted the fierce
!, looking woman at the door, who now
J. greeted them, and who learned thai
d the tramp, who submitted SO meekly tC