The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-26
Tho Traveiias man.

bede's Budget
The travelling man ia the forcrunner OF
prosperity. and the envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary TO all whom
II may concern. He halls from the house
OF light and is commissioned by all the
joberrs In Joy. He goes forth In the
springtime and fertilizes the earth with
unctuous story, and in the autumn he Joins
In the harvest song, covering his person
the while WITH fine linen and velvet cut
OF MS expense money. He knows bis
rights, and knowing dares maintain. There
iore he lives on the fat OF the land. de-
spising small things, and cultivatcs the
,nperai arts, or the art OF being liberal,
which Us much the same. Like the bvsy
| pee that bears the pollen from flower to
iio"er, SO he bears seed thoughts from
man TO man, and tho world fructifies and
is more glad and bountiful for his being
into IT,
lie is ever pilgrim but never stranger.
he sings In the church. talks politics on
the street and plays cards on the train. He
cneers the country merchant, oducl.es the
CROSSROADS politician. and by dropping a
dollar among the Peter Pence throws ray
OF light athwart the pathway OF the man
OF God. homeless wanderer, his grip
Is no less embarrassed In the check room
than he among the children OF men. He Is
easy and informal In his manner and
often engages the attention Of the waiter
girls without the ecoentricity OF alt in
PRODUCTION. Probably he has met them
elsewhere on his route, and II makes him
feel at his own freside TO hear their gen.
tie voices calling roast beef, roast mutton.
veal and Irish stew. And II he Is true
knight of the grip he will aptly answer,
GIVE me Irish, too. So there is new
music on the porcelain cymbols and Joy
about the board OF the wayside i'm that
day.
But beneath the gay and nonchalant de-
mennor there Is ofttimes serious vein.
Some little locket holds the counterfeit OF
those who have a story, or In his watch
| case is a face that is much to him. More
than one dependent relative may be n
pensicner on his purse, and now and then
he takes n flyer In the market just TO
chance little Christmas present tor the
freside folks at home. He troubles not
the world with his own affairs, whether
OF grief or g,adness. but bears TO all about
him the spirit of romance and knight
errantry of which he is the only repre-
sentative extant. He sits at the same
| board with farmer and pays twice as
much for his meals without a murmur,
and has no intention of starting a political
party to right his wrongs. Now and then
| he drives across the country and after
| buying the team presents 1t to his hest.
| He travels nights and Sundays, spells a
| dream of home to catch train, and worse
| than soldier campaigns in wet and dry,
| hot and cold. He eats oleo for butter
| drinks abominable, lukewarm coffee with
out cream, devours eggs that any hen
| ought to be ashamed to cackle over and is
| RECALLED with spring chicken that was be-
| headed In the presence OF her mourning
| grandchildren.
| mol In brf ia
hero of the grip. His vices are known,
| but his virtues are al intold. Like the
| turtle, his voice is Heard In ;he land. an
| he is soup for many. lie goes forth from
the ark when the waters subalde, 10 pluck
| the first green leaf and blaze the way for
| the children Of men. Those who can't see
his blaze will do we'll to follow his smoke.