Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-02-27
THE TRAMP.

He was real, bona fide tramp. His
coat was a marvel of grease and tatters,
on one foot he wore tolerably respect
able boot, while the toes of the other
protruded through a very ragged shoe,
and his hat would never have been rec
ognized for that article of headgear if it
had not been upon his head. Altogether
he might have been the original of the
funny papers latest edition of Weary
Willie
At present he was resting. This was
the chief occupation of his life, his pro-
fession, as it were, and after many
years of experience he had succeeded in
bringing it down to very fine point,
being able to pursue it under the most
unfavorable conditions and in circum-
stances that would have daunted an or
binary mortal. Such is the result of
practical
Just now the conditions were ex-
tremely favorable, the day being warm
and the fence corner grass grown and
shady, so the tramp lay upon his back,
his hat pulled down over his forehead.
Over in the field opposite farmer
was blowing up stubble, pausing now
and then to wipe his perspiring face
while his blue shirt chung in damp
streaks to his skin.
The tramp watched him meditative1y
81 wonder why people like to work?''
he soliloquized. "Queerl They're al
ways a-doin somethin. Now, I amt
never done anythin, and I git along
just the same. 1 bet that chap owns
this whole place all round here, but he
amt havin as good a time as 1 am,
and amt got a red cent. I wonder
what people want to be always wcrkin
for when they might be takin it easy.
It's a funny world. Wisht had a
chaw of terbaccer.
By and by the tramp climbed the
fence and began to investigate hay
stack standing a short distance from
the road.
''Might's well fix my bed fer to-
night, he said and squirmed into the
heart of the stack. Presently he heard
the sound of voices. It was probably
the farmer, and he lay still in his hid
ing place.
''Of course 9 80 is a little early for
our biz, but that is a through.train and
bound to be worth more than either of
the other two.
''But there will be more people on it. -
'EWhat's the odds? A dozen more or
less. They won't sit heavy on our con-
sciences
cts dead easy thing too. All it |
takes is grit. Well be pretty sure to |
strike a gold lined pocket or two before
they can make out what's happened. |
And if any enc turns up beforehand?''
E'Shoot him dead. We don't stand no |
trifing You stand at the bottom of |
the gully; amt likely to be a soul walk
that track, but if there is crack him |
dead without a word. I'll take care of |
my part. tell you, I'm desperate, and |
if Look, there's a man over in that |
field. Get around on the other side. He
didn't see Us. Make bee line for that |
hedge. We cam
The voices died away The tramp |
turned over ON his side.
'"Train wreckersl Well, it amt no
business of mine,'' he grunted
Nevertheless the vision of a wrecked
train disturbed his nap, and he crawled
put of his hole. He sat on the fence and
nursed his ragged foot, watching the
sunset.
cts pity for so many people, I
guess some of 'em would be young, too;
maybe some little babies; maybe
teller about my age. They're all a-look-
n at the sun for the last time if they
)nly knew it. .
What kind of a queer feeling was
his? He tried to whistle it off, but it
,nly came back the stronger. The
rogs' singing had never disturbed him
before, but tonight it sounded weird
nd sad, and after awhile the very stars
;ame out and looked at him as if they
new something about it.
''What strange thing it must be to
liel Maybe somebody II be waitin and
vaitin for some of those people to come
lone. -
Not in his remotest past could he re-
member any love, but somehow he I'M
erstood this waiting
The frogs sung on, the young moon
allied slowly down the heavens, and
y and by the tramp climbed off the
ence and slouched away down the
DAD. Hanging beside a stable door he
ad seen a lantern when he passed that
fternoon, and he crept up, hooked it
# the nail and went on his way He
ad no definite purpose in view except
hat he was going toward the gully,
nd 1T might be useful 81 never did
o anything, and I always got along.
'ut it's a pity to let them all die. Bet
er to have one old Teller 60 1 wonder