The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-28
Jim B1oss, the Tramp.


ne SAID, he'd make something come Or
Dust a hamestring.'
Jim was a good fellow, and made CT
patches Of all sorts OF feelings and 4,
hcrapbook full of all styles and varie
Ties OF ideas. But he was first and
foremost Jim Bloss at all times and
everywhere. In good clothes he was
1lne looking fellow, and no dismantled
i'ttle god of thought sat on the man
'ep1ece OK his sane, strong, level
'nind; that is to say, he was not
crank and therefore had no hobby.
Jim had been a faithful fireman, but
after the strike he quietly yielded his
place to ''scab." And then more as
a matter Of experience than anything
else ne took to the road, and for about,
ts1x weeks Jim was star tourist. One
Tune when he got off the trucks his
eyes were so swollen with the flying
str1K1ng sand and gravel that he could
not see for over twenty-four hours.
Jim wanted work, and he was going
10 have it if it could be had-and he
knew it would be had-and it would
De firing" too.
What would Jennie Clark think il
she saw him now?-a real, genuine, un~
aoulterated tramp, in clothes, appear
ance, wholesome dirt" and all. He
was spattered somewhat all over with
Hud, and his coat had the nondescript
color which long exposure to the wealth
er gives, while his hat looked like
something once thrown away but reap
propriated by the next comer-along.
AS the thought Of Jennie struck him
alke a burst Of wind a defiant smile
curled his lips, but his old flop hat
concealed the undesirable, shadow
touched light in his eyes. He put it all
aside in philosophical way by say
Ing to himself:
This is all very choice. don't have
to do this
Nature was asserting herself and Jim
was hungry. All his worldly posses-
sions at this time consisted Of shin
ing nickel that lay low in his old vest
pocket. That would not buy much, and
at free lunch stand it would 20
the farthest. Philosophy and hunger
both declared that he should spend his
money in the cheapest nnarket-tarift
or no tariff. He turned the nickel over
tenderly at the street corner and
looked up for a favorable spot to in
vest-rnake Or break-his hard coin.
When "busted he'd have to go broke
till he could make a raise again. God
fempers the wind to the shorn lamb
ne reflected carclessly, idly, suninten-
tionally.
Whom should he see lettering along
on a cane but an old beggar woman.
Her weak eyes peered anxiously into
the faces of passers-by in a vain ap-
peal for help, and her wrinkled hand
shook as she held it out for aims. Her
general, pinched air was touching to
one not made of stone. A chilly wind
at the corner made her shiver and pull
her thin old faded shawl more closely
about her shoulders.
The shiver attracted Jim's attention.
She was helpless and needy, evidently.
Poor old creature, she ought to be elm
doors instead Of OUT She did not
look at him, as it CHANGED. He NUT
tered:
Pour old soul! That's hard lines.
say. I'm young and able and she's
not-that's the difference; and what
difference it isl"
Now, that was just the way he said
1t to himself. That was Jim. He
paused in his walk and looked after the
sloWly-retreating figure, hesitated.
turned over the lonely nickel in his
vest-pocket, came to a conclusion. and
turned back after the shuffline. Grin.
pied old lady.
Shes g. : heart and, feelings, too."
She started in establishment as he
touched her on the shoulder, and
looked up in wonderment, as much as
TO say,-"What do you want, sir?"
F'umbllng in his old vest-pocket for the
nickel he had just turned over and
dropped back in it's place and that
mysterlously seemed to have disan-
peared, he at length with an air Of snc.
cess pulled out the coin.
Here. mother" he said kindly 40 ho
placed the mite-his all-in her hand
Without waiting for thanks ha shuff,od
away and was lost to view in thu
crowd. But before he had rot ont -
earshot he heard her tremh1ino
cracked old voice say verv earnast,v:
"God bless you'll"
Now, that was Jim Bloss-he wo,,d
give all he had in the world to helm tho
F~>' NAA0 an "OuAO ult, IL need be. for
the rlght, as we shall see
AS he rounded the corner in the vi
entity OF the station, sharp. shri11
piercing whistle-call from Somewhere
caught his ears. He calmly nausad
and cooked an ear, as he said. to act
as sentinel for a moment and brins
him information respecting the charm
if such it were.
Gosh durn you, Jim Boss said =
voice in his ear. It was Rude Vanover
who spoke, and it was Rude who had
whistled. They had known each other
elsewhere. Rude was also a fireman.
and as they had not met before for
several months Rude explained in the
hurried min :@>. zhe had that he was
firing on a train out Of WASHINGTON.
D. c., into New York, and asked Jim
to go with him and maybe he could
get him a job-would try. Jim said
go, and he said it%quick.
It'll go. It's better than to beat
along, and having to hit the sand at
nearly every station because the fel-
lers don't know you"
And that night Jim went over the