Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-10-07
BY Fred T. MacFeely.

"a f4t lrl q t534y ssg.si = 49, l-s
Slowly, YEARLY he trudges along the
dusty road. On-onto nowhere.
His long, tiresome journey IS never at
ian end. Sometimes he areverses this
order and travels the Ties from one
one place to another. The hot sum-
mer's sun beats down from overhead
fwith a most penetrating persistence.
Not leaf stirs in the trees along the
lroadside. t
Presently he pauses to rest under a
stately oak. The broad, branches
stretch out protectingly as if in COM
plete sympathy with the tired travel
er and would shield him from old Soils
burning rays. AS he sits meditative-
ly in the cool shade, breathing the fra
GRANGE of sweet clover, his thoughts
revert to scenes Of growing grain, his
minds eye sees once happy home,
where a loving wife and little chill
dren made life for him ray of bril-
Halt
AS he dreams on, he pictures the
vineclad cottage where they had re-
sided in peaceful bliss and content
ment. How well he remembers the
day he brought his young bride to this
home. He easily recalls the birth of
their first babe-and then the second.
It seems only yesterday that these
little tots ran down the gravel walk
to meet him when he returned home
from his days toll at the shop. Those
were, indeed, bright, chesrful, care
free days. tsa
And then the clutching hand of the
system struck him. Capitalism's claw
gripped his heart and wrung hte life
blood from his body. He was brought
home from the shop with a mangled
hand. See him shudder as he remem-
bers how completely the big belt had
done its work. His employer, who
was grabbing for profits, failed to
have the machine properly guarded
and the worker was made to suffer.
No compensation was paid him for
his loss-not even the promise of a
position when he was able to return
to work. A lawsuit brought no favor
able results, as the corporation law
yer and the Judge were mere pawns
Of profit. With only one hand it was
difficult for him to obtain steady en-
ployment, and the little home he had
been buying was soon in the hands
Of real estate shark.
His next misfortune was the illness
Of his younger child. Poverty pre-
vented him from giving it the proper
care and it was soon lying on the hill
side under narrow board. In a final
effort to keep the remnants of their
family together, the wife secured a
position in the shop. For a time their
simple existence was unmarried, but
the time came when her health began |
failing. The doctor said she needed
a rest at the seashore, but his words
were a mockery to them At last the
grim reaper took her away Again the
system, with its treacherous undertow,
had done it's work well. Heatsick and
shaken with grief, and unable to give
his remaining child the proper care,
the father left itwith kind friends and
became Vagabond-a wanderer on
the face of the earth.
Big tears rolled down the tramp's
cheeks as he awoke from his reverie
and proceeded on his weary way.
His case is no exception. Thousands
Of these unfortunates are walking the Il
highways and byways OF the earth.
Those who are now secure in theirI :
quiet peaceful homes are apt to look
upon these wanderers as things to be |
despised, and sInn them as they
would a RATHER. They forget that the |
ramp i only product Of capitalism