The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-15
SPEECH RESTORED BY PRAYER.
Story of Tramp Who Found a
Pious Family Easy to Work.

"Onc morning about eight years ago
/ arrived in small town in the Mo-
hawk valley i'm company with u tramp
called Indianapolis Red" said an old
road agent 10 Tribune reporter. I'VE
had ridden all night in Il box car in
the hope of reaching New York by
morning, but the freight had been de
layed on account of a wreck, and we
were so hungry when we reached the
town in question that we simply had
To get off and look for something to
eat. 1t was not a place, as We well
knew, where tramus were welcome,
but the train would not stop again at
Il town Of any size until long after
breakfast, and we decided to take our
chances. We had an hour at our dis
posal until the next freight was due,
The great question was, what story
should we tell, and we both rummaged
through our collections to find good
one. Finally, after each of Us had
suggested a number of different stories
ard had refused them i'm turn on the
ground that they were too old for such
a hostile place, Red suggested that we
try the deaf n dunn gag. There are
several gags of this description, and |
asked him which one he meant.
"'Lcts work it in this way ne be-
gan to improviso. I'm your deef m
dunn brother. see? An we're on our
way to New York, where | am going
10 get job. I'm a clerk and you're
seem mo down to the city sO'S't
nothin' II happen to me. Our moneys
given out, an we've simply got to ask
fer assistance. We're terribly hungry.
an you want to know if the lady Of
the house will be good enough to help
yer brother along. Sce"'
II saw right enough and accepted
the proposition, but the odds seemed
against us because IN" town was one
Of the most unfriendly along the line,
We picked out a house near the track
As rule, such houses have been
begged out, but We reasoned that if
our story would go AT all il would go
there, and besides the house was con-
Nenient for catching the next freight
train. As Wc approached the back
door [ was careful To talk to Red on
my fingers, thinking somebody might
be watching us, a mothcrIy old lady
answered our knock. ! told Reds story
in my best manner filling 1t out with
convincing details, She heard me out
aud then scrutnlZed Red in the way
that We an look at creatures who are
peculiar or abnormal Then she smiled
and invited us into the dining-room,
where the rest of the family were at
breakfast. 1t turned out to be Il FREQ
Methodist clergymans household. We
had places at the table and ate as rap
gaI a.
/ was continually being Interrupted by
the family asking me questions about
my unfortunate brother
WAS he born that way" they asked
in hushed voices HOW aid he learn
tn write" can he ever get Well" and
other like questions, which | had to
answer i'm turn, By the time | had
finished my meal, however ! saw by
the clock ON the wall that we had nr-
teen minutes to catch our uain and
gave Red nudu" under the table as
a hint that We ought to be going. We
were about to get up and thank our
hostess for her kindness, when tho
man of the house, the clergyman sug-
gestcd that We ought 10 stay to family
prayers.
"Glad TO have YOU he said, II YOU
can remain, You may get good out, of
IL | told him frankly that we wanted
10 catch train and had only a few
minutes To snare, but he assured me
that he would not be long and asked
me 10 explain the situation To Red. 7
did 50 with my fingers aud / explained
10 the parson that Reds Wiggllng Of
his meant that he would he delighted
to stay, but wink - his loft eve