Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-28
A TRAMP'S
THANKSGIVING.
BY PETER n ARTHUR.
rcoptright, 1000. by p. MeArthur.l

7 Copyright, 1900, by P NcArthur.1
After all, Harry Benton was not so
much to blame IS his wearied friends and
relatives thought he was. He had been
spoiled u child and as a boy, 50 it nat
Hrally followed that he was an entirely
unhappy young man. His college educa-
ton made him feel that he was above
doing drudGcry, and as he had never
learned self denial or patience he could
not endure such work as he was fitted
for. In consequence he looked to his
friends and relatives for help until they
wcaried of lending money and using their
influence 10 get him positions that he
either could or would not hold. And he.
instead Of being thankful for what had
been doIc for him. thought himself abus
81 because there was no great and good
friend who would make life easy for him.
At last a family council was held at
which il was decided that the only thing
for Harry to do was To 20 west and grow
up with the country Some one knew a
rnnchm"u who would give him employ
mCut. and n purse was made UP TO send
Harry west. lie took To the scheme en-
Enthusiastically ana ina =iucd for himself n
glorious career of hunting big game and
living the wild free. life Of the plains. He
had read fascinating stories Of cowboy
life and remembered how much he had
enjoyed camping out during his college
rarIing his future when his friends pro-
vidcd him with what he needed and
started him on his journey. He did not
realize that they were simply applying
the old maxim that says. Make Il bridge
OF gold FOR flying enemy He did not
know that every one who felt any inter
est i'm his welfare or felt any responsible
ity regarding him hcaved mighty sigh
Of relief when they saw that he was
really gone.
perhaps he'll get Weakened mp ont
there" they said to one another. Any
way. he is off our hands" And they all
sighed again.
Harry reached the ranch in safety and
promptly began TO make discoveries with
alarming rapidity. To begin with. he
found that the business instinct prevails
on the modern ranch as much rs it does
on Broadway. Ranches are now run for
the purpose Of raising beef that must
be carefully attended to from the veal
stage until the time when II Is shipped
east To the big slaughter houses if the
rauchman wishes to make Il profit. SO
Harry found himself called upon to do
harder and more mental service than had
ever fallen 10 his lot before. And as he
took no pains 10 conceal his dislike for
the work he Immediately became the butt
uf the ranch. Every trick known to the
practical humorists of the plains was
tried on the spoiled boy from the east
until his life became uncomfortable and
his disposition was such that inStcal,ef
bearing it all good naturedly and making
friends with the plainsmcn he became
imhttcred and consequently was hazed
more numerically than ever. When he
Ind endured this life rs long as he could.
he finally sat down and wrote to each old
friend in the east who might be expected
to help him, asking for enough money
To take him back home. He wrote let
tiers that would draw tears from n stone.
hut, strange 10 say, they only made his
old friends shruc their shoulders and
nurmur something that sounded susp-
Ciou>ly like root hog or die" lie
asked that the money Ice sent to him at
the nearest postoliiCe on the railroad. aud
when a sufficient time had elapsed for
the replies TO be due he got up early one
morning and ran away from the ranch.
II was 90 miles TO the station and post
Office. but he was young and strong aud
he covered the distance without acCumu-
lHtiuG more than the usual number Of
water hlisters.
Although he did not know the fact 1t
first. he learned after his arrival that it