Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-12-31

day and had not been well treated. Al
many houses he had been turned away
without ceremony; at others work had
been offered, Only one m had
taken him in and fed him for nothing.
and she had given him soda bread
which always disagreed with him, and
cold tea. The profession was not what
1t had been cracked up to be, thought
the tramp. and he began to think that
the burglar had the best of it after all.
He had always called himself an honest
man, and he o and then sNit wood,
when he could not get food without,
but, after all, was honesty the best pol
icy? He knew burglars who had their
little houses as neat ard pretty as any
one would ask to see. Texts round the
walls, too. God bless our Home" AMI
all that. The tramp liked a pretty text
This very afternoon he had been walk.
ing with q burglar--they separated
when they came to the village in nut
tual though friends distrust-who was
going home with a New Years present,
for his little boy-a gold watch it was.
He had taken it from an old eur
mudgeon who kept il locked in Il box
doing no good to anybody. That bur
glar was going home 10 have u coy
time with his wife and child, and here
was he, 4 tramp. an honest man, and not
able to get a bite of supper, Decidedly.
tramping was not what he had been led
to believe it. He thought he should try
stealing. after all; he stopped, full Of
thought, and looked around him..
a bright light shone from the win
dow of a cottage hard by; the blind was
up; the tramp stepped to The window
and looked in. A neat, bright. COW
kitchen. 4 little old woman busy oyer
the stove. No sign of masculine pres
ence anywhere.
"lll try here" said the tramp.
He opened the door without knock.
ing and went in. The little woman
looked up, Good evenin'!." she said.
II didn't hear We knock. What can Id,
for ye?"
II want some money" said the t.amp
hoarsely, for he had made up his mind
now.
"Well, haven't got a cent" said tbc
little woman, and If J had ! wouldn't
be fool enough TO give it to YOU. So
there it is, you see. But you can dc I
something for me-" she added, bright.
ly. You've CONF just in the nick Ct
time. want this soup taken to a sick
boy round in the next street, His
mother is sick, too. and can't cog
things nice as he ought to have EN-;
hasn't means to get 'em. neither, I OK,
and ! set out that he should hn ',
something good and hot to go to sleep
on and begin the new year with nour.
ishment inside him."
All the time she was talking the little
woman was busy getting out a bowl
and cover and finding clean napkin.
"Here!' she said, and she poured
of the steaming broth into n
small cup. "See if that amt good! I
guess likely It's"
The tramp glowered at her, but
drank the broth and said il was good
Then you take this!" said the little
woman. go round the corner TO the
white house and say it's for
What We waitin' FORE"
~ didn't come here TO do errands,"
said the tramp.
Eyes, you did!" said the little woman.
That's just what you com,
or. I've been waltin'th past half bour
or the Lord to send some one-I can't
70 ont at night myself, fear of III,
lstbmy-and He's sent you. Reckon
lie knows what He's about"
She pushed the tramp ont gently but
decidedly and shut the door on him.
well, | swami" said the tramp.
lie carried the bowl safely to the
ourth white house from the corner. f,
'nce, indeed, he stopped on the way
nd muttered to himself.
Tommy" he said, and his tone ex.
recessed deep injury. you'd think |
hsy might have called him William. or I
op,ething else. There's names enough.
.ord think, without hittin' en- Tommy. F,
SUI that's the way! A man don't have
Q ehancei" (,
= horse and buggy stood before the
shitH house, and when be knocked The 4
Ioor was opened by a short, square man i
Doctor written al over him. d
.MFat's this?' asked the doctor. !
"socpl" said the tramp, "for Tom. ]
nyi" !.
VIZ sent you?" asked tle doctor. I
uid Woman, brown house bupd IN il
otne1' All right n she .srt you Ils
oppose you are a respectable feIlow, !
nat Jump into my buggy aui dr,ve -
Y uagc street, Give this d \ 10 my i