The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-19
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People called him Rambling Robin"
You could have seen him almost any
day walking along with his head hang
ing down, and his eyes fixed on the
ground. Nobody spoke to him, nor did
he speak to anybody. His clothes were
In rags. He wore no collar. Sometimes
a red scarf was fastened round his
neck, but oftener than not his neck and
chest were bare to the cutting winds.
Nobody knew where he came from, and
nobody cared.
Some said he had been an actor at
one time-others that he had been
doctor, while many maintained that he
was a man who had gambled away
large fortune. Whatever he might have
been, we could all see that he was no
common vagrant.
do not know whether the peace and
good will which are supposed to come
to all men at Christmas time had any
thing to do with it, but when passed
him one Christmas eve few years
ago, as 1 was hurrying off home,
sudden impulse led me to stop.
"Will you come home with ME and
nave your supper, Robin?" said.
He stopped and lifted up his head
Poor fellow! l noticed the tears spring
to his eyes. Kind words were
strangers to him.
"My-my support he gasped. 81
never have any supper"
quite believed him. In fact, If he
had said he never had anything to eat
H.
dicted him.
"But make an exception tonight" I
urged. christmas time, you know.
People break the ordinary routine Of
their lives at Christmas. Come along"
He made no answer; at least, not
with words, but his eyes spoke plainly
enough, and, quickening his pace, we
strobe along together toward my home.
At last we reached the house, and my
wife opened the door. My little Mabel
came toddling to meet me, and as I
lifted her up and carried her back on
my shoulder 1 told my wife I had
brought a friend home for supper.
Robin and 1 sat talking together
while Annie was getting the meal
ready. His face had frightened, and
his brilliant conversation confirmed the
opinion I had formed of him, that he
was man of culture.
Mabel climbed down from my knee
and went across to Robin.
"Have 90 no little dirl?" she lisped.
He stroked her hair gently, and shook
his head.
"And no mamma?" she asked, look
ing first at me and then at the smiling
face Of my wife.
Robin turned his face away Trust
a child for finding the way to mans
heart.
mo, no mamma" he replied, after a
pause.
Mabel sighed, and came across to me-
els ee poor MANI" she asked.
The Intervention of my wife with
the informal ton that supper was ready
saved me from replying.
The meal over, my wife rose to take
Mabel to bed, but before she left the
room the little girl ran back, and climb
Ing on Robins knee, kissed him "dood
night" Then Robin and pulled our
chairs to the fire. His eyes were shin
lu&. x1c cCCulCu d ulAGISuL i
handed him a cigar, and we sat smok-
ing for awhile without speaking.
would you like to hear the history
of Rambling Robin 2" he asked, bend
ing forward. "If you would, will tell
you the first part. The second part only
begins tonight. You shall
hear that in year or two"
l did not quite understand him, but 1
nodded and waited for him to start
1.-TWO lines" he began, frequently
occur to me. You remember them:
"'Who falls from all he knows of bliss,
Cares little into what abyss
''They are the truest lines ever writ
ten," he said, and he stared into the
fire for time without speaking.
Listen, and 1 will tell you how fell
Five years ago 1 was young man-do
1 look young now?' and he pointed to
his sunken cheeks and gray-streaked
hair. "And yet five years have made
the difference.
my name is Robin Alerne. l was
living with my father in Scotland and
1t was there I met my Flora. can see
her now, as she was the first day met
her. 1t was glorious day in June. I
had sauntered out with my rod in the
morning, and was whipping the stream
which ran along the outskirts of the
wood, when the sound of sweet music
fell on my ear. / turned round and
saw woman. She had not seen me,
and as she came along she sang in a
voice as sweet and pure as was the
singer:
Her face Is fair, her heart is true,