Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-22

vi a ISu llCt
covered by &
pieary eyes were peering at me over the
garden fence. 1t was a tramp and about
the dlrtiest specimen of Il taterdemalion
mad seen for many a day.
What" 1 said when l had sufficient
ly recovered from my establishment to fine
my voice.
- asked if you had any pie in the house
IL so, the sooner you trot it out the bet
ter, and, by the way, while you are doing
1t you may fetch along pitcher of milk
for me to wash 1t down with. Be spry
now, it isn't every day you have chance
to entertain royalty. l am the Prince OF
Wales in Disguise"
Yes, and very thorough disguise, too,
you impertlnent scoundreI," / said with
considerable emphasis, for the fellow :
cool impudence was terribly exasperating.
cob, I'm an artist, be said, and it
always touches the heart of an artist to
feel that he is appreciated. 1t isn't every
one I'd do the honor to dine with but
can tell real lady as far az | can see
her.
You needn't try to whecdlc me, you
scamp. Why don't you go to work? l
should think great hulking fellow like
you would be ashamed to go about
sponging living off the public
My good dame" he said, with saucy
lcer, it isn't given royalty to work. The
world is honored in giving them a living
Work! Do you think I would soil these
delicate hands with work.
"No. l don't think you could, if you
tried, 4" l said
He began to grow angry. Undoubtedly
he knew that all the men folks were
absent. l have always been opposed to
keeping a dog; but 1 repentcd Bitterly
then, ard there.
"Now, old lady you've plavered long
enough" said the tramp. I'm either
going to have chat pie and glass of milk
or y kiss--I Il rather have the pie though. :"
Wait there " | said 1t was useless to
argue with him 1 surrendered, and
brought him the pie and the milk. He
ate them with evident relish.
Thanks he said as Re rose to GO
" You re q woman after my own heart
I'll remember you in my will. tn TIA ,
Think of me kindly, and he ambled
away down the road, leaving me speech
less with indignation.
When the circle met I related the in
cident with some warmth. Why | asked
was it that able bodied men, were allowed
TO go about our State sponging livcli-
hood from its industrious citizens and
insulting defcnceless women and children,
Surely such fellows are menace to
society especially in the rural district,
and were probably responsible for no
small number Of the mysterious thofts
and other crimes committed in various
sections of the State-espccially in its
rural communities. Why should the tax
payers of our counties support great
strong men in idlcness through the long
winters-mca who were professional
Migrants and who come to our State every
fall for the express purpose of finding
comfortable winter homes in our jails.
1t certainly seemed as if something were
decidedly rotten in Denmark when such
condition of affairs was permitted to
exist 1t was high time that the citizens
of the State aroused themselves on the
subject, and gave it the wholesome airing
that it was evidently in need of.
Mrs. Amiahclla timidly suggested, that
II she remembered CORRECTLY d tramp Ia"
was passed by the Maine Legislature
few years ago TO rid our State OF just
such pests She hadn't heard much about
it since, however, and really didn't know
what had become of it. Certainly 1t
never seemed to have been enforced
Mrs. Wasp said there was some such
law; but if it ever had any teeth she
guessed they'd been pretty efectualiy
pulled,
Mrs. Peppersqucezer said that she
Guessed there would be less tramps in
Maine. if they were not such prolific
source of revenue to some OF the officials.
~nPAC~