The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-09
The Tramp Family

ask for a drink of water. ! was re-
celved by kindly old lady, who gave
me glass of wine instead of water
and added some biscuits During my
refreshment handsome vehicle stop
ped at the house, and a gentleman II
contained asked me the road TO Inter
laken. Seeing Inc regaling myself, he
alighted, Joined me on the trellised
porch and asked for a glass Of wine.
The old lady brought him one, with
more biscuits, and we slipped, munchcd
and chatted The gentleman proved to
be fellow sountryman Of mine and
asked me to proceed in his carriage, an
invitation | accepted At leaving he
was surprised at not being permitted
to pay the reckoning. He insisted, but
the good lady was resolute. Before
getting into his carriage he took a
piece Of red chalk from his pocket and
made certain marks on u window shut.
ter.
"Those are tramp marks you have
made, are they notT" | said, surprised,
Light up" was his reply, handing
me cigar. "and as we roll along I'll
tell you story.
"a citizen of st. Louis determined
! for the benefit of his health to drive
with his wife and daughter to Denver.
While crossing the plains his vehicle,
which was not fitted for such rough
usage, broke down, and the party was
stranded in the middle of the Great
| American desert The traveller scanned
the horizon for help and fortunately
far TO the eastward saw n white speck
| which he took for prairie schooner
| 1t was from twelve to fifteen miles
distant and he expected that fully
! three hours would be required for II 10
come up.
But the white speck grew much
| more rapidly than could be accounted
for by schooner As il came nearer
! those watching II were filed with as
! constituent 1t was schooner indeed,
| Il schooner on wheels. The body was
| boat shaped. and masts extended up
right from the front and rear axles,
| each mast supporting sail. A man
sat In rear of tho front axle holding q
! tlller. As he drew near the party he
applied n break, lowered his sails and
said:
"'Can | assist your
| Considering the rOughness OF the
mans dress and his unkempt appear
ance, the party were surprised At his
respectable bearing.
my dear sir said the gentleman,
the first favor l would ask of you is
an explanation Of this singular appear.
ance Of n wheeled boat on this old
ocean bed. Is It the ghost OF some
prehistoric vessel wrecked ages ago
many fathoms above usT
"'No, sir. When an ocean surged
here there were no boats
"'Well, who are you and what are
you doing in this strange craftT
"I'm tramp, born tramp, and
must always be moving just as n born
soldier must always be campaigning
My father sent me TO school, to college
and gave me n profession. ! wanted
to travel, and he sent me abroad
When he wished me to stop travelling
and go TO work became tramp
Finally | got tired of making my legs
go or riding under cars and wished for
some method Of propulsion wherein
the cost was only in the vehicle did
n little work for n wagon maker and
while at his shop constructed this ship
of the desert. What can do for you 2
"There was nothing for the fellow to
do but take the party aboard which
he did. The gentleman demurred at
the tramp going out of his way to
favor a wrecked party, but the land
sailor said every way was his way.
The gentleman and his family got
aboard, the two older ones on a back
seat. the girl forward with the tramp
driver. As they sailed along before a
ten knot breeze, meeting people by the
way who gazed at them in astOniSh-
ment, the old lady looked sour, the old
gentleman WINGED, while the young
girl giggled, evidently enjoying the
trip immensely. In this fashion they
rode all the way to Denver, and when
they reached the city were followed to
a hotel whore the travellers proposed
to stop by shouting mob.
What 1t was about this degenerate
son of worthy sire to attract young
girl nobody could ever find out but the
travellers daughter had to fall in love
with the sailor. Seeing her heart was
set on having him, her father con.
sented on condition that he would stop
tramping or, rather sailing over the
face of the earth, and accept Il position
In his office in st. Louis. The fellow
loved the girl so well that he made the
sacrifice, and they were married.
"The tramp stood office work as well
as he could for six months. 1t nearly
set him crazy. During the time of his
Imprisonment in counting room he
disappeared for a month, ostensibly
on business, but really TO tramp
Soon after he got back his father-in.
law died and left Mrs Tramp lot OF
NJ jney. The business was sold out
and the pair came over here for a
tour 1t was really tramp. They
lre moving over Europe today"
II see" | remarked. you are Mr.
Tramp"
II am. Mrs. Tramp and our little
TrnmnS arc at Intarlakpn whare