The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-22

Gentleman. This refers to my outfit
and to my Il I dress like other
tramps, but when it comes to manner
1 seek to let everybody see that was
born a gentleman and know what be-
longs to the blood. l am also alone
and original in that.
Thanks for the quarter. I am a
little short this morning and this will
come in handy. Yes, I am off today
on my annual tour. The ilacs and the
%bluebirds are here again, the songs Of
the night breezes, and n can pass
the night very comfortably in al old
barn without an eiderdown quilt over
him. There are people waiting for M
and there are scenes I wish to revisit.
It will be the state Of Pennsylvania
this time.
''Two years ago, as I wandered along
the blue Juniata, I came to a romantic
dell. Seated in that dell was a ro-
mantle maiden. Upon discovering her
I doffed my cap and made one of my
courtly bows and begged pardon for
the intrusion. She saw at once that I
was a Knight Of the Golden Cross in
disguise, and her surprise and pleasure
overcame her natural shyness. I sat
beside her on q moss grown log and we
talked. She was not a damsel in dis
tress, and I couldn't rescue her, but I
made things as pleasant as possible by
singing a battle hymn and a love ditty.
I also told her about 400 lies in regard
to Palestine, chivalry and the crusade.
They were soft and gentle ies-lies
that wouldn't hurt a baby. She had
always wanted to meet a real knight,
and it was not for me to destroy her
romance and her illusions.
"We did not pledge u love. It was
simply understood that she should
shake the young dairyman she was
keeping company with and wait for
me. She offered to wait for fifty years,
If needs be, but I gave her my word
that two would be enough. I shall see
that river of song again, I shall see
that romantic dell, l shall find Sarah
sitting right where I found her be-
fore, l shall have to tell her that I
have gone out of the knight business
dAo Alo khO AiSS III LAG A1Io
sissippi swept my fortune away and
made it impossible for me to marry,
but I shall. tell her gently and in a
brotherly way and have a clean BAN
danna ready to wipe her tears Of dis
appointment away. / shall further adj
wise her that as the price Of milk and
butter is constantly going up, she
can't do better than to encourage the
young man of the dairy to return to
| his love.
ION the crest of a SUI kissed hill in
the dear old Keystone State lies the
broad acres of g farm. I sat on the
top rail of a fence n day n watched
the cattle chew their cuds in content
ment and liste,ied to the robin calling
for his mate. 1t was a dreamy picture
OF peace ON earth and good will to men.
and I got off the fence and approached
the house to ask for a drink of butter
milk. I was met by a husky and heart
less hired man, and because I had a
boil under my arm he took occasion to
lift me three feet high with his COW
hide and run me off the farm.
"In about a week l shall be there
again. 1 shall climb that long and
shady hill, and as / reach the crest ]
shall see peace and contentment spread
out before me in the sunshine. l shall
sit on that same fence and have the
same thoughts, and by and by I shall
approach the house, as I did before. Tile
husky hired man will meet me and
be cheerfully ready to do more kick.
ing, but inside of five minutes he viii
be a licked man and wondering when
the thunderstorm came up.
Ten miles farther on there is 8
white farmhouse nesting in a grove