Arizona republican., 1910-06-16


 too, these many years. The sky my mother and the earth my father and the road is my pal and fellow traveller. It goes with step by step, opening out its heart as go always new, strange and alluring It waits for me now at the gate as you and must go on Thank you for a supper that meant for a king and not for poor tramp"
 Shirley followed him out the porch. @Wont you play for just once more before you go?" she en- treated It has been long heard any really good music. In Washington I used.to go to some con- cers and the opera whenever came there but now hear anything better than the Frolic of the Frogs 'Sivery 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 west was red still but single great star burned there Seeing he played the evening star song. 70, thou sublime, sweet evening star" the music yearned; and there seemed, as he played bridge between earthly thoughts and those strange emo tions 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 bluntiy, "you who play these beautiful things-and understand them-you are an ordinary tramp! cannot believe it" The man flushed deeply, and then laughed Then he said, Don't think just an ordinary tramp, but an extraordinary one, who likes Verdi and Wagner, and bread and butter in plenty but who most 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. It's dark, creepy night, and there fearful storms Where do you find shelter such timese" The man, if prompted by a sudden impulse, lifted his violin out 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
 wander daily with my fiddle brown
 Creeping under barns gladly,
 When outside the tempest howls,
 Playing sadly payngi madly
 Waking up the and owls.
 An, 1t IS gay, night and day.
 Fair and cloudy weather
 Fiddle and l 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 Decembers,
 Rise around me as 1 play.
 An, 1t IS gay, night and day,
 Fair and cloudy weather;
 Fiddle and 1 wandering by
 Over the world together" The listeners eyes moist, but she smiled astif to hide her feeling Promise me-" she said that ycu will come back this way again this summer and play ! for me"
 The man turned resolutely. "I'promise," he said, God willing"
 He at last, but turned at thes crossroads where he might have last sight of the white farm house Shirley was still standing the, gate gazing after his retreating form.
 In late September the tramp passedIthat way again the tramp, for he made,new by theheal- ing of nature He was longer thin and pale, but'sal- wart and ruddy and he swung along with the buoyancy of health.
 Shirley from the village where she,had been to get the mail It good mile and half so the farm house. but she liked the walk and better lstl to get away from the narrow circle of her tnsular but kindly nature and from Hannahs sharp itongue. As she got quite of the village she surprsed 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 she always called him in her thoughts-hadt played and sung for her that June day. Seeing her pause he came out in the road and bowed to her. "I was in the village" he explained. md saw you go into the post-oice out here andi waited the chance of meeting you and keeping my romise to play for you again" He did not tell hephhow many miles he had out of his way to keep'thn promise. thought" he continued if went on to the house