The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-11-12

tramp u tramp! Nineteen times'out OF
twenty il IS because he wants to rove
the land. Ii is d nervous restless feel
ing that hc cannot withstand. He
wants TO get somewhere. and he is NO
sooner there than be wants to get
somewhere else. The majority of
them are sober men. They are as
honest us the average. Not one In
twenty will refuse to work for a meal
or for pay. Not one in twenty com
mfts u crime for which he should be
jailed. You can't make statistics talk
any other way. The whining, lying.
vicious tramp has his home in the city
and stays there.
1T is the press Of the country that
mas got b farmer down on the tramp.
o may drive for fifty miles and in
terview each farmer as you come to
him and you won't find five to say that
a tramp ever caused them any trouble.
In summer the tramp may steal a few
appNs or turnips. Any one driving
along the highway is free to do that
Should he steal an ak. shovel, pillow.
sheep. calf or break into the house and
steaI 4 watch or clothes, what is he
goin@ - Do with his plumber? The
Instant he tries to realize on it be is
Ea"bed- The tramp who entered Il
hose and stole $50 in cash would be
" So off than if he hadn't a cent.
= can walk into that bakery oyer
Il 2 and say that | am hungry and
t., "onan Will give me a stal" loaf.
an tackle most any man passing
hy~s for 4 dime for lodgings money
an get l.. / wander down most
a." resi,cr"e street and raise a hat. z
corr or a pal" Of shoes. How is it out
iii ne country? Wen say I've hOofed
il ~ day, making about fifteen miles.
I" stopped to rest nov and then
AID view the scenery. Don't you
mae no mistake about that scenery
feature. If any art company wanted
to publish a thousand views it couldn't
do better than to ask the tramps where
to find the best one For lunch l
pulled two turnips from a field. Ny
drink was from a brook. Along about
6 o'clock I hunger for cooked v%ictuaIs,
and, as it looks like rain, | would like
to get lodgings in a barn. I urn aside
to a farmhouse. The farmer is wash
ing his hands at the we'll to go in to
supper. Out of the tail of his eye he
sees me approaching, but he pays no
heed until stand before him and say:
Accused Of Being a JaiIbird.
"'Mister, | can milk a COW, chop
wood, NOW weeds or hoe III the gar
den. If you will give me supper and
lodging on the haymow, l will work
an hour at anything you wish
"|When did you get out of Jail? he
asks.
81 have never been in jail
"'But You IoOk like the burned
skunk who stole Il pitchfork from me
last year
last year ! was in Californian
"'Want to set my barn afire with
your old pipe, do YOU?
81 don't smoke
He stands and thinks for q moment
and her grudgingly tells me to take a
seat on the kitchen dOOrStepS. The
wife brings me out q stinGy supper.
There's an abundance on the table,
and part Of it will go to the hogs, but
she cuts me short, thinking to get
ahead Of me. | have cleared my plate
in ten minutes, and her l am set to
work and buckle in until too dark to
see longer. My bed is on the hay, and
twice during the night the farmer
comes out to see if | haven't stolen the
shingles off the roof. In the morning
If | wan+ 2 u'"AG"r breakfast I must
out in q -. 80 rs work for it. That