Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-01-28
RAMBLING ROBIN"
BY JAMES DAVENPORT

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. Some
times 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 a
doctor, whilst many maintained that
he was a man who had gambled away a
large fortune. Whatever he might
no common vagrant.
/ do not know whether the peace and
good will which are supposed to come to
all men at Christmas-time had anything
to do with it, but when l passed him
one Christmas Eve few years ago, as
was hurrying off home, sudden i'm,
pulse led me to stop.
"il yOu COluc uOIlc WIN me anu
have your supper, Robin ?" said.
He stopped and lifted up his head.
Poor fellow! 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 at
any tilhe, should not have contradicted
him.
But make an exception tonight"
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. towards my
home.
At last we reached the house, and my
wife opened the door. My little Mabel
came totsdling to meet me, and as
lifted her up and carried her back or
my shoulder, I told my wife l had
brought eriend home for supper.
Robin ard 1 sat talking together
whilst Annie was getting the mea
ready. His face had frightened, and
his brilliant conversation confirmed the
opinion l hae formed of him, that he
was n man of culture.
Mabel climbed down from my knee
and went across to Robin.
Have 90 no little dirl?" she lisped.
La ctr no hoiy nf
shook his head.
"And no mammal" she asked, look
ing first at me, and then at the smil
ing face of my wife
Robin turned his face away. Trus
child for finding the way to man
heart.
mo, no mamma" he replied, after
pause.
Mabel sighed, and came across to me
is zee poor MANI" she asked.
The intervention Ct my wife with tn
information that supper was read
saved me from replying.
The meal over, my wife rose to tax
Mabel to bed, but before she left tn
room the little girl ran back, and climb
ing on Robins knee, kissed him "Doo
night" Then Robin and pulled GU
chairs to the fire. His eyes were shin
ing. He seemed different man.
handed him cigar, and we sat smol
ing for awhile without speaking.
"Would you like to hear the histor
of Rambling Rcbin?'" he asked, benz
ing forward. IF you would, will tie
you the first part. The second PAL
only begins tonight. You sha
hear that in a year or two"
/ did not quite understand him, bu
nodded and waited for him to start.
1.-TWO lines" he began, frequent
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 wri
ten," he said, and he stared into tn
fire for time without speaking.
Listen, and l will tell you how
fell. Five years ago i was youn
man. Do l look young now?" and b
pointed soais suaken cheeks, and gray
streaked hair. "And yet five years hay
made the difference.
My name is Robin Alerne. wa
living with my father in Scotland, an
it was there met my Flora. can sc
her now, as she was the day l first me
her. 1t was glorious day in Jun'
had sauntered out with my rod in til
morning. and was whipping the streaI
which ran along the outskirts of tn
wood, when the sound of sweet must
fell On my ear. ! turned round, an
saw woman She had not seen M