The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-12
A LATE BREAKFAST.


and verified his suspicion that the
smoke was caused by a fire.
II was, in fact, a camp fire, over
which an individual with thick stub
BILE of red beard was crouched. evident
ly engaged in culinary operations. AS
Eferdid got close to him a pleasant
smell Of broiling ham assailed his nos
trils. The unshaven person. who was
also rather ragged and not scrupulous-
ly clean, had a large slice of ham nicely
balanced over some hot Goals on two
green twigs, while blackened tomato
can adjusted on the edges of two bricks
evidently contained coffee. On an open
newspaper reposed some sliced pota-
toes. the best part of a loaf of bread
and whole quart box OF fine straw
berries.
"Helloi" said Efferdid.
The tramp started violently. dropped
the ham on the Goals and seemed to
mediate flight.
Its all right" said Efferdid. Pick
up your ham, or you'll burn it."
The tramp rescued the meat and
looked distinctly relieved. Efferdid
sat down on log.
You seem to be fixing for an early
, dinner" he remarked.
You're or there" said the tramp.
Its late breakfast don't never eat
NO lunch-not unless | can get it,
We'll, you're making up for it
There must be a pound and a half of
ham there"
Wait till l get through with 1t"
, said the tramp. I'm sorry there amt
! couple O. pounds of 1t. There, l
guess that's about done now. VIII you
: set up an eat a bite?"
Much Obliged" said Efferdid, but
, my dinners waiting for me at home.
1t looks good. though. Who's your
butcher?"
) 81 smoke my hams myself on my
model farm" replied the tramp, indis-
r tinctly, between bites. If don't know
but what 1t costs me more than II
} would to buy 'em; still, don't grudge
the extry expense.
| 81 see." said Efferdid. DO you raise
your own potatoes, too?"
II raised these" replied the tramp,
dexterously spearing half a dozen slices
on the point of his clasp knife and
conveying them to his mouth. Effer-
did smiled.
Strawberries from your own gar
den?" he continued in the same jocular
vein.
well, as to them berries, wouldn't
exactly say that I'd growed 'em my
self. picked 'em, though" He
winked over his can of coffee.
MY friend" said Efferdid,, don;
you find 1t a pretty hard sort Of life
this?"
WELL" said the tramp. wiping his
mouth on his coat cuff and renewing his
| attack on the ham. bread and potatoes
with undiminished energy. 'it's Just
accordin' to the way you look at 1t.
reckon it's hard at times an then ag'ir
it comes oily"
But you say you haven't eaten al
2 day until now. That can't be pleas
ant"
You're dead right"
Then why don't you work"
Il don't like to work. Do you? o
q course you don't. no more'n / do, bu
Z you hain't got the strength o. mind tC
e stand out ag'in public opinion like
have"
s There's soemthing in that" sale
Ererdid. thoughtfully.
r "Somethin' in It'll" echoed the vag
e rant 90 course there's somethin' In
: IL. | do just as / dern please. You'v,
s got more bosses than you've any idee
II want to go any place I go. Their,
a amt nothin' to block the way, an
o there amt nothin' TO pull me back.
9 I'm sleepy I sleep; II I'm hungry, ca
{ If there's anythin' around to eat. l
Q there amt l go without Don't yo'
wish you was me?"
L II can't exactly say 1 do" said Eff
L ferdid. But ! certainly envy you you
appetite"
0 Its a good meal" said the tramp
''I don't mind telling you that it aim
often i have one that's as good. Their
9 amt nothin' lackin' only a real goot
u smoke"
Efferdid had in his waistcoat poke
a peculiarly fine cigar. 1t was tn,
y only one he had and it had been hi
intention to smoke it after his owl
dinner, but he was seized with a gen
. erous impulse and presented it to tn
: tramp.
Poor beggar," unused Efferdid. a
he resumed his homeward way. "Hov
he did enjoy that meal!"
"a That thought was with him al
n through his own dinner. which hap
A pened to be boiled mutton. Boile,
d mutton rarely tempted him to overin
II diligence. He almost wished that h
q had accepted the tramp's hospitable in
a vitation.'
It MY DEAR" he said to Mrs Efferdid
IS do you know what 1 would enjoy
! Some broiled ham, my dear-nicel,
II broiled-with warmed-over potatoes
d and would like to top of with straw
4. berries"
h well, that's just exactly what yo
d are going to get for breakfast to-mor
= row morning" said Mrs. Efferdid, wit
a pleased look. I'm glad I've go
IS something that you will fancy. There
IL a nice slice"
It At this instant the cook burst excft
h edly into the room. "Ma'am." she said
n somebody's took the ham out of tn
I refrigerator It's gone. and 1t couldn'
/ have been cats, because the strawber
n ries is gone. too. an the cold potatoe
70 I'D sliced TO fry for breakfast."-Chica
go Daily News.