The representative., 1895-01-23

to work and 1 did as little as sufTiced to
keep me from starving, or too great dis
comfort.
l had drifted far from the few who had
known me. down among the poorest. but
not the vile. And at last ! was ragged and
shelterless. Poor living and exposure had
wrought their work. l was too feeble for
any physical eXertion, and l turned to-
ward great town to find refuge among
its charities. But the way long, the
nights and days were cold and often
stormy, and my strength failing. Here and
there a little food was given me for the
asking, and l allow ed to sleep in a
| barn on the hay. But the most OF my
nights were spent in deserted sheds with
| the ground for a bed-a ragged, haggard
tramp, l was feared and suspected of evil
intention, and the way was long and my
strength fast failing. But now only a day
lay between me and the town-a day to
my slow dragging feet, though in my
strength half that time would have carried
me easily over it. Colder and keener grew
the air. and it was hours since l had been
near a fire had eaten, Tor L was now
among wide stretching farms and homes of
| the prosperous and wealthy and prudent
servants ever wisely suspicious OF rage
and beggars, denied me entrance. illness
pressed upon me and l came to the door OF
| a comfortable farm house ana Knocked.
portly farmer answered my knock, for the
| day was rough and bitter and only neces-
sity drove them out. A frown darkened his
face as he saw me, and to my request for
| food he answered BE of.
Il am sick and starving l said.
He laughed hoarsely. when tramp
dies there's room for an honest man..
BE off, he said again: and. as in my
extremity l would have urged my need
again. he stepped out and around the cor
ner of the house and in moment with a
| rush a fierce dog sprang upon me. l had a
| stick in my hand, but 1 was too weak to
| fight the great creature and he pulled me
| down. His strong teeth mangled my arm
| and tore off part of my ragged coat
| | heard womans voice cry, "Oh, father,
| YOU shouldn't a done THAR
| Now will you go?' said the farmer,
| and as l staggered toward the gate he
said to the woman:
"Why didn't he go when 1 told him to?
| Whoever tramp before that couldn't
fight dog OFF," and then the door was
| shut.
On a little way in the stinging sleet and
| then hay cart gave me lift almost to
| town, but, although the great city was SO
near, although l could almost hear its
| roar like a night wind, it would never
| shelter me. When the cart reached the
| turning that led it away from my track it
| stopped an instant to let me down, for the
| driver / had no strength to tump 1t
| went on. and l crawled to a pile of lumber
| and lay down in the shelter formed by some
leaning boards. The pain, the hunger and
the cold We're heavy me, then a numb
ness came over me, then there was a flash
of warmth and l was sitting in the autumn
| sunshine the broad door stone listening
| to the chirp Of the crickets, and then-dd
| 1 sleep?
Where was II In glittering sunlight
| cold sparkling snow all around, but 1 felt
| no cold. What was l? What was thai
| white-faced, rag-clothed body without
breath or motion lying on the frozen
| ground under those ice-covered boards
Surely that was l. And yet 1 was here
in the air. cold, pain, hunger
was dead, yes, that was it surely.
l did not wish this thing that had been
should lie there for the dogs to tear. Peo
pie would treat it roughly, no doubt, for i,
was the body of shrk; but they would
| give it a coffin and a grave.
Some men were driving by in sleigh
toward the city and l went to the heads OF
the horses. They stopped quick with a
! backward motion and stood with shiverine
bodies and startled eyes 1 passed to the
men. The driver speaking to the ami.
mails and trying to quiet them, while all
| alarm. AS l passed among them they shiy.
cred and sad What is it?' and looked a
| each other
l drew them toward the pile of boards
| They stopped and looked silently into the
| face. They felt under the ragged coat fol
the heart. They saw the tern arm He i:
dead," they said slowly. Poor fellow. h,
| has suffered
Why, they pi:ied it, they said poor fel
low!' Yesterday one pitied it.
saw them lift and carry that dead thins
| slowly and carefully if it could be hur
by jolting step. They spread blanket OF
the floor Of the sleigh. laid the senseles