West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-09-25
TALES OF A TRAMP.
He Relates Some Interesting Stores VI
His wanaerings Along the wayside.

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up and down aud across I have met people
whom could remember with pleasure but
my experience Is that nine men on, Of ten
are only few steps above the hog. Icould
relate hundred instances in corrobora,ion
but two or three will suffice
''One night as was sleeping under hay
stack on a farm In Connecticut 1 awoke to
discover that the farmhouse was on fire.
The roof had caugh, around the kitchen
chimney and the people had not been
aroused. made for the house at once,
aroused the family, found aud put up lad
der, and but for my efforts the house would
have been destroyed l had my hair singed
and my hands blistered and when the fire
was exiinguished al last the old farmer
wanted to know how happened TO be on
hand. told him and after little thought
he said:
"'Waal you must he thirsty and I'll have
the wife get you a drink Of milk
ole called TO her to fill pitcher but fol.
lowed her int the house and as was wash
ing my hands al the kitchen door I heard
him say
" Hammer he sure TO skim the milk be-
fore you give it TO him. He's a tramp and
no, used 10 cream
81 politely declined the skimmilk when il
was brought out, telling the farmer that l
didn't want 10 deprive his pigs of their break
fast and I e,ar,.b III ~
"'You had lodging in my hays,ack aud
that's worth quarter but being as you put,
the 6re out I'm willing TO call 1t square,
''At another time In Massachusetts, Com
tinued the tramp, IL came along to farm
house with horsepond just below IL. A
little girl of seven or eight was sailing chips
ON the pond and fell in just as got sigh, of
her. The water was deep enough to drown
her and that would have been her fate had /
not pulled her out. esried her up 10 the
house choking and gasping and helped the
mother restore her. The father came in
from blowing just as was ready to 60 aud
having heard my story he replied:
'waai that's all right but Berthe had a
cent in her pocket this morning and I'd like
to know if it's there yet"
"rhe cent was there and TO this day that
farmer is puzzled over my conduct in refus
ins the piece Of bread and butter he told his
wife to prepare for me as fitting reward.
Let me give you third instance. was in
the butter making district of New York
Stale and had gone TO roost under tree in
held when thunderstorm came up and n
bolt Of lightning struck farmers harm and
set Il on fire. ran for The barn and opened d
the doors and turned twenty. one cows out
before any one came from the house. The
barn burned to the ground aud while we
stood looking at The blaze The farmer edged
up 10 me and said
"'Tha, was pretty slick of you to save
my cows but two of 'em got into the garden
and have cat up dozen heads Of cabbage.
Who's to pay for the csbbages want TO
KNOW
'lt has always been difficult thing
continued the tramp with smile, 'qo make
certain people understand the difference be.
tween dilapidaied gentleman and tramp.
This has brought me into trouble with coun.
try constables quite often. The average
constable looks upon tramp as fair game
TO make fees out of. lie runs him in on the
chance Of his being sent up aud he likes to
put on the handouts and make out that he
has desperate character in custody. One
afternoon last year as I was sitting by the
roadside in Pennsylvania the irepressible
constable turned up and yelled at me:
" Now then what are you doing here?'
=" 'Resting, | replied.
4" But you have no business To rest
:" u beg to differ with you
A." You are tramp
3" We differ again
"'And you are under arrest. Come on.
81 asked for his warrant and he took me
by the collar. Three seconds later he heard
something drop and he drove away with a
bloody nose TO get help. lie soon returned
with another constable and took off my
coat and licked them both While they
were of hunting for more help and shoiguns
! walked Into town and souget out lawyer
and stated my case. lie happened to he
down on tn, village justice aud when six
armed men finally landed me in court the
lawyer was there. lie made hair stand up
before he got through. was no, only dis
charged with an apology but two Of the con-
stables paid me s. each TO let them of.
They had no legal right TO arrest me with
out warrant aud neither was tramp.
81 don't believe I ever walked ten miles
along highway without being aceosied and
and assaulted by some smart Alec Of far
me''s son. have met professional lramps
who told me the same thing. II you ever
nod tramp eanying knife or a gun o.
slungshoi u is that he may protect himself
from farmers sons aod hired men who think
10 show Of by ihrashing h,m. have given
macy soch chaps surprise party. They
have jumped out II wagons and come run.
ming across fields to tackle me and have
left thcm sleeping on The grass or In III,
dust One day as ! was hoohng Il along
an Ohio turnpike was oyenaken by part,
in carriage. There were three young
fellows and three gils bouod on an excursion
Of some sort and before they came up
heard talk Of how they would jump me ovei
the fence The vehicle stopped and III,
three young men piled on, and sailed intc
me ], was golden opportunity to make
heroes of themselves but there was screw
loose somewhere. I peeled of my Goa
backed into fence corner ard had ihos,
chaps crying enough IN less Than FIVE min
utcs I don't know how they settled Il viii