Putnam patriot., 1908-12-11
The Tramp Family


 ask for a drink of water. was re .eived by kindly old iady. who gave me A glass of wine instead of watei and added some biscuits During nj refreshment handsome vehicle stop ped at tbe house. and gentleman Il contained asked F4e the road to Inter laken. Seeing me regaling myself, he aiighted. joined me on the treilised porch and asked for 4 glass of wine The old lady brought him one, with more biscuits. and we slipped. munched and chatfed. The gentleman proved to be a fellow c0untrymaD of mine and asked me to proceed in bis carriage. an Invitation l accepted. Al leaving be was surprised al not being permitted to pay the reckoning. He insisted. bat the good lady was resoluie. Before getting into his carriage nc took Q piece of red chalk from bis pocket md made certain marks on q window shut ter.
 Those are tramp marks you have made. are they notg' said. surprised.
 Light ap." was his reply handing me cigar. and IS we roll along I'll tell you 4 story.
 "A citizen of St Louis determined for the benefit of bis health 10 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 xxx. .ts.A tts Ha ,f.4stIla If h.. American desert The traveller scanned the horizon for help and fortunately far to the eastward saw n white speek which he took for 4 prairie schooner. If WAS from twelve 10 fifteen miles distant. and he expected that fully three hours would be required for 1t to cofne up.
 Hut the white speck grew much more rapidly than could be accounted for by A schooner. As if came nearer those watching II were filled with as- tonIshment II was q schooner Indeed n schooner on wheels The body WAS boat shaped. and masts extended up right from the front and renr axles. each mast supporting fl sail. \ man snt in rear Of the front axle holding il fiIer As he drew near the party he applied 2 break. lowered hls sails and said
 2 filn assist tonF
 .'Gousiderlng the rnnghness of the <mans dress and bis anhempt appear. nnce. the party were surprised at his respectable bearing.
 My dear sir. said the gentleman. the first favor would nsk of you is m explanation of this singular appear anee of q wheeled boat on this old ocean bed Ia II the ghost of some prehistoric vessel wrecked ages ago many fathoms above usf
 .'No, sir When an ocean snrged here there were no boats
 "'Well. who are you and whnt are you doing in this strange craftT
 "'1'm tramp. born tramp. and must always be moving just IA born soldier must always be campaigning My father sent me to school. ta college and gnye me 4 profession. l wanted fo travel. and he sent the abroad When he wished me to stop travelling and go to work became tramp FinnIly l got tired of making my legs 60 or riding under ears and wished foi some method of propulsion wherein the cost was only in the vehicle. 1 did . little work for a wagon maker and while nt his shop constructed this shll
 IL E...s 2
 'srhere was nothing for the fellow {, do but take the party aboard. whief he did. The gentleman demurred al the tramp going out of his way [, favor wrecked party. but the innt saiior said every way was hls way The gentleman and his family go aboard. the two older ones on n baci seat. the girl forward with the tramI driver. As they sailed along before , Zen knot breeze. meeting people by tn, way who gaSed at them in astonish ment. the old lady looked sour tho olt gentleman winced. while the youn, girl gigEled. evidently enjoying tn, trip immensely. In this fashion the! rode all the way to Denver, and whe, they reached the city were followed t' . hotel where the travellers proposed Co stop by a shouting mob.
 What it was about this degenerate son uf q worthy sire Co attract a youni girl nobody could ever find out. but tn frl,eler's daughter had to fall in !o. with the sailor. Seeing her heart wa set on having him. her father con scented on condition that he would sto tramplng. or. rather, sailing over tn face of the earth, anI'aecept position in his office in St. Louis. The fello, loved the girl so well that he made tn sacrifice. and they were married.
 ''The tramp stood office work as wei as he could for six months IL nearl set him crazy. During the time of hi Imprisonment in counting room b disappeared for month. ostensibl on business. but really 10 trumI Soon after he got back his father ip law died and left Mrs. Tramp lot 0 money. The business was sold oui and the pair came over here for tour It was really a tramp. The are moving over Europe today"
 T sec." 1 remarked. You are Nil Tramp"
 T am. Mira Tramp and our littl Uramps are at Intsrlsken. where expect to join them"
 And the chalk markxf'
 "They are to let the fraternity knov . soft spot"
 "And tho schoonery"
 s'0h. we have that over here wit -. At present 1t is In Egypt Ws'r going to join caravan with it. l We get . wind we'll beat the camel al to nothing" OSCAR COX.