Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-10-18
MIR. Bowser's Experience With Tramps'

Mr.. Bowser's Experience With Tramps'
Aren't you feeling we'll, Mr., Bow
ser?" queried Mrs. BOwser the other
evening as he came home from the Of
fee looking very sober and a trltie
pale around the mouth.
He waited until he had hung up his
hat and overcoat and removed his rub
bers and wiped his nose and then re-
piled:
They were dragging for his body
in the river as I came along"
Whose body"
"a poor and discouraged mans.
He was out of work and hungry and
cold. He felt that he could not live
longer As he stood on the wharf
ready to take the plunge he cried out
that he had even been refused crust
of bread, and he asked heaven to for
give the heartless women"
That was sad"
"And who was that heartless wo-
man." demanded Mr. BOwser as
he looked down upon her with stern
face.
"Why, how do l know"
Il believe it was you. That's just
your way. II man comes to the door
and says he's hungry and discouraged
and out of work, you bang the door
on his toes and add to the bitterness
Of his woes. The moment heard the
words walled out by that poor man |
felt sure that it was you refused him
bread. Mrs. Bowser, you may be a
murderess ~
"Do you suppose Pm going to feed
and sympathize with every beggar
who comes along?" she spitedly re-
piled.
"You drove that man to his death. "
81 didn't do anything Of the sort.
1t isn't likely that he came within a
mile Of this house. If | fed everybody
who came along, we'd have to turn
the house into hotel and get extra
help"
Mrs. Bowser, when poor and dis
tressed man comes along you can at
least pass him out a crust and say that
you are sorry for him. | wouldn't
have your heart of stone for all the
money
There's one ringing now" she in
terrupted, "Go to the kitchen door
and greet him, Mr.. Bowser.
81 certainly will. The poor man
shall not only receive kind words but
something substantial"
When Mr. Bowser opened the base
ment door, he found woe-begone and
hungry looking man, with his thumb
on the electric button. He was a fair
specimen of the average caller.
my dear man, you are out of work,
hungry and discourased?'' softly OBJ
served Mr. Bowser.
Right you are, Jimmie - replied
the man who was evidently laborlng
under a mistake. HAS the old bird
got home yet ?"
"Old bird?"
Eyes, the old cock-a-doodle-doo,
you know. They say he's as soft as
putty and can be worked for half a
dollar, while his hen Is sharper than
knife"
His hen?"
Eyes, his wife, you know. Don't
speak too loud or she may hear you.
What time does the old bird get
home?"
"Do you mean the owner of the
house,"
"Cert-nice, soft old dufier, with a
bald head and baggy trousers. I've
g.. a tip that he can be worked as
easy as rolling down hill"
'He's-he's home now" stammered
Mr. Bowser, who realized that his wife
was standing at the head Of the stairs
and could hear every word.
"Then 90 and tell him that a hard
working, respectable man Is out Of
work and has a sick wife and four
hungry children. If he comes down
with a half I'll whack up with you.
Strike trot, my bully, for I'm dying
for a nip Of old rye
"Sir / am the nice, soft old bald
headed duffer you refer to = exclaimed
Mr.. Bowser, as his temper famed mp
all Of a sudden.
"Oh, you are l was only joking
YOU know. You behold in me, SIT, an
unfortunate man. Two weeks ago !
lost my job, and on that same day my
I wife"-