The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-30
Mr.. B0WsER's REGULATIONS.
He Encourage. a Tramp 90 Higher Aims
and 4mhtfious.

caught Ter words as she SAID.
Nothing for you this evening. / gave
you money two or three days ago"
Who was that" asked Mr. Bowser as
she returned to the siJting-room.
"A great big lazy tramp. He has call
al here four or five times In succession
It's a wonder the police allow such men
to ply their vocation"
But you spoke to him mighty curt
y"
OF course ! did. / got through saying
please to tramps long ago"
In other words you didn't care wheth-
or you hurt his feelings or not 1t was
not enough that he must 90 away with
hunger Unsatisfed, probably to walk the
streets all night, but you must add to
his miseries by your cruel words
Perhaps / ought to have invited him
In and given him the guests chamber for
the night"
There is no call for carcasm," said Mr..
Rowser as he began 10 get red in the
face and walk about the room. "A tramp
Is simply an unfortunate. He Is entitled
10 our sympathies. II people extended
an encouraging hand there would be no
tramps. You are ike all the rest-ycu
want TO kick a man when he's down.
shan't envy your feelings If that poor
man is found dead tomorrow morning"
What DO you want ne to do?" asked
Mrs Bowser.
81 want you 10 speak kindly and gently,
even If .ou can give nothing. A word
may turn one Of these men for good or
evil. l wouldn't have your frozen heart
for all the money on earth"
"He's probably hanging around on the
block yet Why don't you call lin in and
extend your sympathes?'
woman, remember who you are talk
ing TO! Your suggestion is a good one. l
will call him in
Don't be silly"
Never mind about my Stiffness. That
poor old tramp shall be made to under
stand that there is at least one person
with feelings on this street"
Next moment Mr. BOwser was on the
front doorstep. He hadn't the least idea
Of finding the tramp, and was therefore
disagreeably surprised to find the fellow
leaning against the gate. As ne had
started in 70 raise a racket he must carry
ii out, and he could do no less han call
the man in. He proved to be big, strong
tourist" with a red nose and a strong
smell Of whisky about him, and there
was nothing gentle or sympathetic in his
tones as he stood in the hall and said:
IF it's ashes you want carried out I've
/ got lame back and can't DO it."
/ Are you hungry" asked Mr.. Bowser
/ as he conducted him to the sitting-room
| and found Mrs BOwser gone.
| Not just this minute. What I want
/ is to raise the money for a nights lodg-
/ ing. If you can spare me quarter, OLD
/ man, I'll never forget il. I'm an orphan
| in hard luck
| Mr. Bowser WINGED at the Familiarity
/ but invited the man to sit down. The
/ invitation was not only promptly accept
| ed. but the tramp pulled a pipe from hi
! pocket and looked inquiringly about in
! search of tobacco and light.
you need money, of course" said Mr.
! Bowser. after awhile, but you also need
something else. If you could feel thai
! the world sympathzed with you II would
| give you announcement and ambition K
make a new start"
! 1T would. sir. Yes, Uncle Joe, you have
| struck it dead right. What I'm after i:
, sympathy and money"
THE want of kind words must harder
your heart"
at do, sir. Yes, sir, when I'm turned
away from door l feel like killing some
one"
1T is not your fault that you ar,
down"
Not at all, old pard. held three ace.
and bet all my money on 'em, but th'
other Teller had four kings. 1 ought Il
| have won on them three aces"
You would like to make a new start IL
life, wouldn't you?" asked Mr.. Bowser
l. IL,
You betI Yes, sir; you just sympathiZ
with me for about four weeks and put VI
| a hundred in cash and I'll make a new
start. I'll blossom out in some sort o
game to skin the public. and divide tn
profits with you. Give me your hand, oil
cock-a-doodle You are a trump, you are
| Wen work together and make a team
hard to beat"
Look here, but 1 don't like your wa,
of talkingr' said Mr.. Bowser. as he ros
up. you evidently need manners NOR
than sympathy"
And what's manners got to do witt
it?' impudently queried the man. "Yol
invite me in here TO sympathiZe with m
and pony up. I'm not doing the societ.
act"
I'm afraid you are not in need o
sympathy. If you are, I've got none t
give you"
"Oh. you hain't? What's your littl
game, grandpa? Did you call me in her
TO make a fool of me?'
"Who are you addressing as grandpa?
demanded Mr.. Bowser, as he bristled up.
We'll I'm sorry you don't like it. Com
down with a PUNK and I'll go"
IN come down with nothing, sir,
find that I've been mistaken in you. Yo
are evidently an old bum, instead of a
unfortunate man."
And you invited me in here to saw 81
did YOU? Your wife turns me away COO
as ice, and then you invite me in to hun
nv feelings. Old cOck-a-dOOdle, don
monkey with Tom the Tourist"
I'm see you out" replied Mr.. Bowsel
as he preceded him to the door.
And no PUNK
Not a penny
And I'm an old bum?"
"You are"
Then smell Of that"
I The that was the tramp's fist, an
il smashed against Mr.. Bowser's nos
, with such force as to land him on tf
t floor in a sitting position and brougf
T blood pouring out over his chin. 1t Wa
? a couple of minutes before he coul
struggle up and figure out what had hal
: pened. and then the tramp had disal
Z peared. Mrs. Bowser hadn't, thougl
? From her position on the stairs she ha
!, seen and heard all. AS Mr.. Bowser stoC
! with his hands to his nose she Gale
, | down:
Did you speak kindly to him. dear?'
| Mr.. Bowser looked up at her and gas
2 cd, but he didn't say a word.
He seemed 10 have new aims al
ambitions as he went out" she said,
d ! she sat down on the stairs.
Mr.. BoWser began jumping up al
5 down. but the cuss words wouldn't com
j I'm sorry about my frozen heart 81
5 went on. and you'd better go down
, the kitchen 10 wash the blood OIL ms
you come up
; He didn't wait 20 hear any more 81
: had been in bed two hours when he can
e softly upstairs and undressed in the dar
o ness and without uttering a word.
: wanted 10 say thousands OF things. al
!, yell them out at the top OF his voice. b
! his nose was swelled 10 three times
: usual size. his back ached., and he was
he'd and n Cl-H