Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-08-12
A GOOD BREAKFAST.
Mir. EHerdid Learned to Prize a Bless
ina When Il Was Lost.


Heights most public-spirited c''izeh'
with the interest Of the beautliu
suburb ever at heart, he felt II ms
duty TO Investigate. lie left the parR
accordingly, and verified his suspicion
that the smoke was caused by hre'
IL was, In fact, a camp fire, over
which an individual with a thick
stumble OF red beard was crouched
evidently engaged in culinary opera
lions. As Efferdid got close to him a
pleasant smell of broillng ham as
4 sailed his nostrlls. The unshaven
person, who was also rather ragged
and not scrupulously clean. had Q
I large slice of ham nicely balanced
over some hot Goals on two green
Z twigs. while a blackened tomato can
adjusted on the edges OF two bricks
evidently contained coffee. on an
open newspaper reposed some sliced
potatoes, the best part OF a loaf OF
bread and a whole quart box OF fine
Strawberries.
Hello" said Efferdid.
The tramp started violently, dropped
the ham on the Goals and seemed TO
mediate light
IT'S all right" said Efferdid. Pick
up your ham, or youll burn It,"
The tramp rescued the meat and
looked distinctly relieved. Enerdid
sat down on log.
You seem TO be fixing for an early
dinner" lie remarked.
You're off there" said the tramp.
ITS a late breakfast. l 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 | get through with it."
said the tramp. I'm sorry there
amt couple Of pounds OF 1t. There,
| guess that's about done now. VIII
you set up an eat a bite2"
Much obliged said Enerdid, but
my dinners waiting for me at bone
Ii looks good. though. Who's your
butcher?'
Il smoke my hams myself on my
model farm" replied the tramp, IN
distinctly. between bites. Il don't
know but what IL costs me more than
il would TO buy 'em; still, I don't
grudge the extry expense"
Il See" said Efferdid. DO you
raise your own potatoes, too?"
II raised these" replied the tramp,
dexterously spearing half dozen
slices on the point of his clasp knife
and conveying them TO his mouth,
Efferdid smiled.
Strawberries from your own gar
den?" he continued In the same tocu-
lar vein.
well, as to them berries, l 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't
you find 1t 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 po-
tatoes with undiminished energy, its
Just accordin' TO the way you look at
it. l reckon It's hard at times an then
agin 1t comes oily"
But you say you haven't eaten all
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
course you don't. no more'n do. but
you hain't got the stren'th o mind to
stand out ag'in public opinion like
have
There's something in that" said
thoughtfully.
"Somethin' in i'll" echoed the va
grant. 20 course there's somethin' in
il. / do just as l dern please. You've
got more bosses than you've any idea.
II want to go any place l go. There
amt nothin to block the way an
there amt nothin' TO pull me back. If |
I'm sleepy l sleep; If I'm hungry, !
aat-if there's anythin' around to eat. !
Il there amt / go without. Don't you
wish you was me?"
Il can't exactly say l do" said Eff |
rerdid But l certainly envy you
your appetite"
Its a good meal" said the tramp. I
I don't mind telling you that it amt /
,ften have one that's as good. There /
lint nothin lackin' only real good |
smoke
Efferdid had in his waistcoat pocket |
| peculiarly fine cigar, 1t was the I
only one he had and it had been his 1
Intention to smoke it after his own 4
Inner, but he was seized with gem /
erous impulse and presented it to the /
ramp
Poor beggar!" unused Efferdid, as
4 I
lie did enjoy that meal!"
That thought was with him all /
through his own dinner. which hap
1ened to be boiled mutton. Boiled
mutton rarely tempted him to over
Indulgence. He almost wished that
lie had accepted the tramp's invita-
ion.
my dear" he said to Mrs. Efferdid
Do you know what l would enjoy?
Some broiled ham, my dear-nicely
warmed over potatoes:
md I would like to top off with straw
berries"
We'll, that's just exactly what you
ire going to get for breakfast tomor-
'ow morning" said Mrs. Efferdid.
With a pleased look. I'm glad I've
rot something that you will fancy.
There's a nice slice"
At this instant the cook burst ex-
itedly into the room. ''Ma'am." she
aid, Somebody's took the ham out
# the refrigerator. It's gone. and it
ouldn't have been cats, because the
is gone, too, an the cold
potatoes I'd sliced to fry for break
News. II
Objection Too Late.
i've come to tell you. sir, that the {
you took of us the other