Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-09-03
Joe worked hard all that day to fin

/ 1911 'iiNt III Ecu lis lCttl
to their utmost limit: he tramped mile
as he made the Journeys across an,
across the field, and when he had fin
ished the sun had set and the day wa
gone. In the gathering gloom he trudg
ed home weary dissatisfied and hun
CRY, and as he put away the team h
said half aloud:
I'm done with this slavlsh life afte
| to-day"
You are late, Joe, and you lool
tired said his mother, "eat your sup
per, for you must be hungry"
Il am tired and hungry" said Joe
land this life Is so slavish."
Its hard and father was saying h
would not know how to run the farm
If you were not so strong and willing
doing the work of the best man he eve
had. You are a good boy, Joe, an,
father appreciates it very much"
Joe WINGED somewhat at this open ex
preston of appreciation, blushed ant
said
Il know father with his Lame bacl
can't do much but lin"
A knock on the side Of the house a
the open door interrupted him, and III
turned and saw ragged tramp out
lined in the doorway.
Gould you help Teller to some
thing to eat, and let me sleep some
where?' asked voice in the conf
dence Of one accustomed to begging hi
way
"Certainly." quickly replied Mrs
Clinton. THANK God we always hav
enough for ourselves, and some to spar
for others. Come in"
The tramp. not very old, but with al
the marks Of wanderer upon him
| boldly entered and took the place Mrs
Clinton set for him, and ate his sup
per. If appreciation Of the merits 0
Il cook. and confidence in the hosplta
| ity Of the host. are in proportion to tn
amount one eats then the tramp full,
demonstrated both, for he ate an aston
ishing amount Of everything offered.
| Joe finished his meal in silence. II
did not again refer to his hard life, an,
when the tramp had eaten all he coul'
| hold Joe took him to the barn an,
gave him bed In the harness room.
THANK you, young feller," said tn
tramp as Joe left him, your mother
dandy cook, and she don't stop offer
In till a fellers as full as a tick. Your
In clover. here"
Think so?' was Joe's non-commit
tai reply rs he closed the door ant
went to the house.
Joe went directly to his room, quick
ly packed his clothes, and then wen
down the back way and carried then
to the barn. Long before day. after
sleepless night. he was up and quietl,
slipped out Of the house for his clothes
AS he was leaving the tramp said:
where are you goin', young fel
ler?"
That's my business" replied Joe
ungraciously.
Look here, boy" and the tramp
voice was tender. lets sit down a min
ute and talk this over" and he drew
Joe into the harness-room. And some
how Joe told him all.
II thought so, for l saw YOU brin!
that bundle here last night. and knew
by your actions what it meant. Don
do it, sonny; stick to your parents .
little while longer" advised the tramp
II ran away once, did just as you ar,
doing now went to sea in the navy
was gone three years. and when | 90
back my mother was dead and the HON,
broken up, and l haven't had a HON,
since. Don't go for month. anyhow
not till you hear from your friend
Promise"
Somehow Joe promised, and wen
back to his room. and when he went t
the barn to look after the stock thu
! tramp was gone.
The very next Saturday night. ,
week. Will came back and hurried t,
find Joe.
Don't go. Joe, the city isn't wha
those fellows said 1t was-at least
didn't find it so. l had little bacl
room where l could scarcely breathe
worked from 6 till g in dark shop fo
81 a week, and it took more than tina
for my board and washing. Got th'
poorest kind Of eating, not as good al
we give to tramps, and-and-I got 81
homesick for mothers pies and dough
I,st "a
came right home, and I'm going to stay
too. for found out that nobody care
as much for fellow as his own folks.
I'm going to stay, WILL answered
Joe.
No one but VIII and the tramp ant
God knew how near Joe came to run
ming away, and he and God know III
was often glad he hadn't.-Christiar
Advocate