Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-21


word into speaking of her affairs to a stranger.
"And live nowhere he told her, if owing her
a confidence in return But have been an orphan,
too these many years. The sky is my mother and the
earth my father, and the road is my pal and fellow
traveller 1t goes with me step by step opening out
its heart go, always new, strange and alluring.
1t waits for at the gate, you see and must
go on. Thank you for supper that was meant for
king and not for a poor tramp"
Shirley followed him out on the porch 'Won't you
play for me just more before you go?" she en-
treated at has been long since heard any really
good music In Washington I used to go to some con-
cert and the opera whenever it came there but now
never hear anything better than the Frolic of the
Frogs or Slvery Waves of the village music
teacher"
The tramp smiled and again laid his fiddle under his
chin. He played in the twilight now, for dusk had
nearly fallen The red STILL but single great
burned there Seeing it he played the evening star
song 90, thou sublime sweet evening star!" the
music yearned; and there seemed, he played,
bridge between earthly thoughts and those strange
tons born of God
Shirley shut the gate with little click behind him
as he finally went out but he fingered yet moment
outside as if loath to leave the little garden
Goodnight" he said reluctantly.
"And you" the girl exclaimed buntly, "you who
play these beautiful thngs-and understand them-you
are an ordinary tramp! cannot believe it"
The flushed deeply, and then laughed Then he
said Don't think me just ordinary tramp, but
extraordinary one, who likes Verdi and Wagner, and
bread and butter in plenty but who of all likes
and needs the freedom of Gods out-of-doors" He
lifted his hat but she held him back.
But it isn't always sunrise sunset" she said
"Its dark creepy night and there fearful storms.
Where do you find shelter such times?"
The man. as if prompted by a sudden impulse, lifted
his violin of its box again Listen, and I'll tell
you," he said He played more and this time he
sang, too, in deep, rich barytone:
"By road and river, countryside and town,
l wander daily with my fiddle brown,
Creeping under barns gladly
When outside the tempest howls,
Playing sadly, playing madly,
Waking up the rats and owls
"Ah it is gay, night and day,
Fair and cloudy weather;
Fiddle and / wandering by
Over the world together.
Down by the willow, summer nights lie,
Flowers for my pillow, and for roof the sky,
Playing all that heart remembers
Old old songs from far away.
Golden Junes and bleak Deccmbers,
Rise around me l play.
Ah it is gay, night and day,
Fair and cloudy weather.
Fiddle and wandering by
Over the world together"
The listeners eyes moist, but she smiled as if
10 hide her feeling Promise me-, she said that you
will come back this way again this summer and play
for me"
The man turned resoutey. "I PROMISE" he said,
God willing"
He went at last but turned at the crossroads
where he might have a last sight of the white farm
house Shirley was still standing at the gate gazing
after his retreang FORM
In late September the tramp passed that way again
not the same tramp for he made new by the heal
ing of nature He longer thin and pale, but stall
wart and ruddy, and he swung along with the buoyancy
of health.
Shirley came from the village, where she had been to
get the mail 1t good mile and half to the farm
house. but she liked the walk and better still to get
away from the circle of her aunts insuar but
kindly nature and from Hannahs sharp tongue AS
she got quite out of the village she surprised to
hear music coming from behind great oak-tree by
the side of the road She stopped suddenly for she
recognized the song her extraordinary tramp as she
always called him in her thoughts-had played and
he
out in the road and bowed to her.
al was in the village" he explained, and saw you
90 into the post-ofice came out here and waited on
the c1ance of meeting you and keeping my promise to
play for you again" He did not tell her how many
miles he had come of his way keep that promise
= thought" he continued, If went on to the house