The age-herald., 1900-12-01
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE


 other day." said the man who takes con- stitutionals, when I noticed two goats fighting There is something always att tractive about fight between any kind of animals, and I stopped awhile to watch it. IL was good fight and if 1t had been In the city I am sure there would have been several hundred people to witness it. As it was there was only myself and two small goats about the size of a cat and all three were interested spectators. Both of the goats were mad, the hair on their backs stood on end and they went for each other hammer and tongs. One of the goats was doing all the aggressive fight ing He would walk away from the other goat who made no effort to detain him, then he would wheel and charge at him and their heads would come together as the dime novels say. with dull sickening thud. 1 watched them to see what was their method of fighting. It appeared to be simply a buttng match. Their horns are turned backward and they could not stick each other with them l left them fighting and they may be at it still, as they appeared to like it.
 "I never heard of goat being knocked out but once. There was negro sitting on bench sound asleep. He was bent over, his elbows resting on his knees and his head on his hands. A goat who was pass ing by saw him and took his attitude to be challenge for a putting match. So he backed off, took a running start and butted the negro square in the head. It did not wake the negro, but 1t broke the goats neck"
 He had walked many miles and was tired. Always before him he could see thin cloud of smoke which, like the signal fires of the Indians, proclaimed that great hu- man camp known as Birmingham. He knew that if he kept between the rails and walked far enough he would reach 1t. He had passed Ensley and Pratt City and finally the spires of Birmingham were seen. It was nearly dusk as he reached the city. He did not know where he was to sleep. Any old place that was dry was good enough for him. He glanced up and saw an old house to his left It was on slight elevation and had every appearance of being deserted The window blinds were gone, the porch was falling in and a gen. eral air of dilapidation hung over it. He left the track and approached the house for a closer inspection. It was vacant as he had supposed. The house was so very old that at first he feared to enter 1t. It was safe enough, however, for it was built in the substantial way of olden days. The beams were hewn out of massive oaks and the foundations were of stone. It was ceil- ed throughout with stout boards held in place with handmade nails. The shingles were of hand split cypress and were out lasting the brick chimneys. These were crumbling at the top from old age. The architecture of the house was the general type of country colonial houses. It was two stories high with a hall through tho center, and with old fashioned square pill lows the veranda. On tree in the front yard was a placard, "For Sale" and over the door some one had painted the street number, 1400
 The tramp entered the house, and select ing d secluded corner, went to sleep. In spite of his fatigue he did not sleep we'll. Groans, creakings, crackings and various noises disturbed his sleep. Once he thought he heard a voice and supposing another tramp had entered the house, he grasped the stick at his side, and lay still and listened.
 Don't be uneasy" said a voice. "I am only the spirit of this house. You are well come to such poor shelter as my old boards can offer. I feel a little restless tonight and fear I have disturbed your rest"
 "Oh, that's all right" said the tramp. q don't mind ghosts I was afeared you might be human"
 q wish I was,' said the spirit. Tt wouldn't take me so long to die. am get ting very old. I thought that when that sign was put on the tree thnt somebody would bup the place, tear down the house and release me. But no one has so far, though they are cutting down all the trees around me to make town lots, and 1t makes 1t colder here every winter. I never thought the city would come out here I remember when the town was first started. I could see the house-tops quite plain from my hill. I was the. only house here at the time. There wats beautiful rose garden at the front, but a railroad ran through 1t and spoiled it. You see I Was built for the country. and I don't like cities and rail- roads. Year by year I have watched the city grow always coming nearer and nearer It was something like the tide at the seashore, which heard my young mis- tress describing one day. only the tides come and go at the seashore, but the tide of civilization here never receeds. Wave after wave of growth has brought the city nearer and nearer until now it's eddes have encrcled me- and If I were not on hill, I would have been drowned. I am shabby that I feel ashamed with all these new neighbors around me. I was myself once, and a house of some consequence, let me tell you.
 q never have felt the same since my young mistress left me She cried when she vUa and fold QOOdhV Others have come and gone. and l have tried to be hospitable to them, but I never feel the same towards them
 You ought to be like me- said the tramp. T don't care how shabby I am or who sees me-
 'There is a difference between us," said the spirit 'I have always been proud and with reason. Even now diiapidated as 1 am I am proud of one thing"