Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-12
Democratic Northwest.
AND HENRY COUNTY NEWS.
A TRAMP.

the light of to-day l hate to admit it,
but must. l had been q machinist,
with pretty, gentle wife, good wag-
es, a pleasant home; and then the
hard times came. Hard enough they
were to millions besides me, but |
did not think of them. | had more
means than manyothers knew-food,
if it was coarse, fire enough for
warmth-but what l wanted, cried
out for, ragged that l could not get,
was delicate living and Injuries for
Annie, for she was dying. know
now nothing could have saved her;
consumption is helpless and hopeless;
but one day when | went to the
Charleston steamer, the day she sailed
to adjust some little matter in the
machinery that they thought out OF
gear. l saw the wife of one Of the firm
for whom | worked up town brought
on board to 60 to Florida for the wlns
ter
She looked little like Annie; her
ewes we're clear and gray, too, and her
face wan and sweet. She was wrap
ped IN soft shawls and lying back IN
q chair carried by TWO servants: a
kind-faced nurse was with her, and
her husband beside her. | had a
glimpse at her state loom as passed
through the cabin.
One day I came home and found
her paler than ever. | had brought
her an orange, but she could not taste
it. sat down by the lounge and she
nut her thin white hands in nine.
Drank, she said, in whisper,
when am dead try to be good; try
to know God. I couldn't talk about
it dear; but l have prayed. God is
good, Frank. | am going home
could not bear this. | did not
believe in it. God good, and Annie
dying, while that other woman was
saved by the money | had as good a
right to have as Jim Lawrence! |
knew afterward all the luxures he
lavished on his wife were as useless
as the coarse shawl and common food
I gave mine. She died before Annie,
and away from him. stopped down
to kiss my wife and stop such talk.
Her lips we're cold; her hot hand
grew chill in mine; her great gray
eyes looked at me with one bright
look of love, and then closed. Annie
had gone away.
It was May when the Iridion works
closed, but ! had not worked there
for two months. l had lived on what
few dollars | had left after Annie was
buried, and now and then got por-
ter's job, for I was as strong as
horse. Still, l always expected to go
back to the works If the worst came
to the worst, and when they closed
up for want of orders l felt as if
had nothing to stay in the city for,
and like great many others | made
up my mind tina; since | was born in
to the world 1t shold give me free
living. / went on the tramp.
can't say | liked it at first; it was
a great while before | could sleep
we'll in barn, or under an old musty
haystack, but had grit enough left
to persist, and the lazy life, the fresh |
air, the trees, and creatures all 80 diff
ferent from the grimy shop and dirty |
streets, did seem amazingly pleasant.
/ suppose this sort of life changed me
inwardly, too. l got to feel more
like wild beast. | liked to see
women shut and lock the door when
they saw me come into the yard, and
hand out the food asked for through |
the window. How l used to scare
them! ! don't wonder. | was big,
ragged, and full of bad thoughts that
showed out in my face and ran over
at my lips. l would not have stop
ped at knocking down any man who
came acroes my way, but they gem
orally let me alone. After awhile
rot q revolver. 1t was never loaded
,ut it was just as good to frighten
vomen with, and many q one fetched
ne warm food and drink when let
hem see it. / did like to see them
urn white and shiver. ] was so angry
nth everything that ] liked to terri.
: and hurt everybody ] could. Hate
il and hating one another that ~