The morning times., 1896-02-02
An Interesting Tramp at
the Door.

opened without the ceremony OF
III a knock and entered the summer
kitchen OF the house to find IL cold and
unoccupied As no sign, Beware of the
dog" greeted his one good eye, he kept
on and climbed a short flight of terres-
tlal stairs. where dilapidated saucepans
and other culinary utensils had been igno-
miniously abandoned by the cook. Then
he knocked at the second closed door which
confronted him. and was almost immed-
ately after faced by the entire household.
For his coming had not been observed.
Everybody was there to meet him, but no.
body was there to greet him-at least
with a kindly welcome. The several pairs
or feminine eyes focused upon him cX-
pressed various degrees OF wrath, Tear,
contempt and repulsiun. The mistress Of
the house was young and pretty, but her
face was set IKE a flint Yet she had
the kindest heart in the world.
But when the tramp asked her for bite
To eat she ordered the cook to hand out
a cup OF coffee, a boiled egg, left over from
thcfamly able, and some breadand butter.
Then she gave the cook-by a glance of
warBing--a tip regarding the silver. The
forks and spoons in that family We're genu-
inc and heirloOnS, SO the tramp ate his
breakfast n the primitive fashion Which OBJ
tained before knivesand forks wereinvented.
He seemed tD have refined instincts in table
etiquette. and theegg, which was soft boiled.
rather bothered him, until he made hit OF
the bread serve as a spoon. 1t was embar-
RAISING, too. TO eat with the mistress of the
house watching him. il was more embar-
RAISING To have her suddenly ask:
why are you a tramp
Il cannot get work, ma am
Have you tried?''
'Yes'm. Look at my ha nds."
She started back. for be ing versed in the
socialfad of palmis try she read in the palms
he showed her the story Of failure nd de-
feat nd 81 W IL lifeline broken ruhely ere 1t
had rea ched half its natural limit.
Where did you sleep last night?'
"In the station in the town beyond
Again she though, of the silver, and half
closed the door which she held as a barrier
between her and this alien of his kind, who
was making paper napkin from torn
sheet lying near. 1t struck the young host
ess forcibly that her guest was consistent
with his surroundings. He was eating from
a bread board laid over flour barrel, his
implements being the ten servants that wait
on man-his fingers.
lit was my first night in the station
house. he continued apolgetically. y
had money of my own until last week
enough TO buy lodgings. II being the h"li-
days. it's hard to get work. Have you any
work / can DO Ia pay for my breakfast?''
She wanted 10 test him and prove that he
was lazy and worthless. 50 That her con-
sciencemisht never reproach her Judgment
and she bade him carry a large packing
trunk, on une end of which he was seated,
tn the attic. distance OF three flights Of
stairs.
Il couldn't do II, ma'am.'
She noticed that he didn't say lady
as professional tramps' do.
lam too weak from want of regular food
TO lift or carry anything heavy. but / could
30 light chores. l can carry coal in, or
etGpty ashes, or clean-the silver
There was Il spark of caustic mirth-it
could hardly be called impudence-in his
black luster eyes. and the hostess actually
shrank in alarm at his suggestion.
You are welcome Ia your breakfast"
ihe said. coldly, and moved as II to close
he door.
Thank you. ma'am; I'm going on, so you
won't see me again, bat | want TO say some
hing. The church bells sound grand. don't
hey? And you are going to church TO put
money in the plate for the heather and to
pay for charity. And you have fed the this
morning in His name. If He came TO ask
one single meal OF your charity would you
iave given him a cold bite outside in the
freezing blast. or asked Him in and seated
Him by warm fire."
Christ would not have robbed, and per
iaps, murdered me, for doing good
Nor would /. There are despcradoes
In the highest circles of society as well
as in the ranks of the outcast. But do you
not think il kinder to keep dog and not
put your charity to such a severe strain?
'The greatest of these is charity reads
in the revised edition the greatest of
these is love- Have been enjoying
Christian charity or Christian love this
morning.
As she did not answer he resumed his
side of the discussion.
lit would have taken a few moments
of your servants time to warm the cup
Of cold coffee YOU gave me: and is
silver spoon Of more account than the
comfort of a being who has soul? l
would not have stolen the spoon. but you
could not know that. Perhaps, a'am,
you have read Les Miserablcs,' and recall
the old bishop. the silver candlestick, and
Jean valjean?"
At this moment the houScmaid thrust
something into the hand of her mistress
not the one hcidmg the door, but the
other which. held back. seemed asking for
assistance. II was a toy pistol in silver
aud ivory which now reposed in the pink.
upturned palm, which resented the in
trusion.
Take il away and bring me my pocket
book she said in half whisper. When
that came she opened it and took dollar
from its folds.
THAT is the amount I would have given
to the collection this morning. Take it,
and at the first opportunity buy warm
meal. And if you come this way again
will trust you to eat under my roof and
give you a spoon
give me half the money, and save the
rcGt for my brother
You have a brother, then, who is a
tramp
Every tramp is my brother and yours. in
Christ, or the religion taught is farce.
He had not where TO la y His head: neither
have we. shall not come this way again
To tax your hospitality. but you will re-
member me and hereafter make yourself
a cheerful giver whom the Lord loves"
He put on his disreputable cap and hob