The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-09-17
THE TRAMP'S ROMANCE.

huge pile of long hickory sticks,
tiny little heap of sawed wood, long,
lazy boy lying in the grass beside the
idle saw and buck-that was what the
tramp saw as he looked over the high
board fence into the barn yard.
"Oh, how | do wish pad let me go
fshin' after dinner, and then I'd finish
this wood pile tomorrow! But he
wontv'-that was what the tramp
heard as at last the big lazy boy got
I'D and went to work again.
"Say, sonny, don't you want some
body to saw that wood for you?" asked
the tramp.
"You bet! responded John, turning
around.
'I'm the man will do it, if you'll give
me bite to eat"
"All right" assented John, eagerly.
Why not give poor tramp his dinner,
besides securing for himself the prom
ised dime with which to buy fish hooks
and such?
Over the fence came the tramp with
bound, and at once began work. He
had the appearance of being happy
fellow-and not one bit sad, nor bad,
nor hungry looking, such as tramp
generally is. He was smiling all the
time he worked, or else was whistling,
and millionaire could not have
seemed jollier or better contented with
his lot in life. He had curly, black
hair, clean shaven face, dark blue
L. xse a. 90 oh
the average for a tramp. Johnnie
laid down in the grass again and
stared at his employee-not that
tramp was by any means a rarity in
Dubdale, but this one was such queer
tramp.
Guess you can get me my grub
now, sonny" he remarked after bit.
I'm most through with this job, and
as l ate remarkably early breakfast,
and have tramped twelve or fifteen
miles, I'm about ready to dine"
Chance favored Johnnie as she does
many worse rogue, so that just as his
mother returned from a neighbor's,
where she had gone to borrow some
little thing for dinner, her scheming
son disappeared through the barn yard
gate.
"La-that boy couldn't wait till din
ner!" exclaimed the good lady as she
brushed up the crumbs Johnnie, in his
haste, had left behind. Poor child! he
must be hungry" SO she poked up the
fire, and made everything burn for an
early dinner.
Johnnie brought his tramp a cup of
hot coffee, and good substantial lunch.
How long have you been trampingw
he inquired, as the tramp began his
meal.
about six years, 1 reckon
"Gee whiz! don't you get awful
tired?'
stop and rest when 1 get tired. No,
like tramping first rate-always
something new going on, and, besides,
I'm always free to do just as please
Amt it pretty tough in winter?"
was Johnnie's next question.
Il generally steer southwark when
winter is coming on. I've been in a
good many places in these United
States, youngster, and 1 bet get more
Fun out of life-more real, honest fun,
hat don't hurt nobody, than a dozen
Pf these fellows all put together, that
ltay at home''
"Ye-es," assented Johnnie, 'but don't
lou want to see your folks, nor nothin'
Ike that?'
NO. Amt got any folks. That don't
eed to worry me any"
Yes, but I'd think you would want
stay in one place and get rich and
ave nice clothes, and all that" per-
sted Johnnie, who was almost con-
inced of the glories of tramp life.
See here, sonny, I've had more
oney than you ever seen," retorted
be tramp, looking toward the house,
which he could form some estimate
its financial standing. 'Ten years
30 | was worth forty thousand dol
rs.' And the tramp looked impress
Ee.
My stars! calculated Johnnie.
itching his breath. "Well, you amt
1t now-whats gone with it?'
'Oh-no need to talk about that"
Piled the tramp airily. "Had jolly
pa time with it, and amt one bit
ny it's gone. Dress nice? There
sn't bigger swell in town than me,
drove fine horses, and all that
OF thing, you know. But when
cash was gone, and you bet I made
ny after | was 81, my aunt, who
sed me, didn't have any more use
such as me, so I skipped out, and
been skipping ever since"
ute little pause. then he contin-
Some Of these days when ! get