The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-06
StoryofaT Tramp
By ETHEL HOLMES

Il
seven years old he was followed by
misfortune. His father and mother
died within a month of each other and
there was not a person in the world
who would take care of him; all his
relations turned cold shoulder to
him.
/ will not recount his sufferings till
he was tramping one day on 4 road, in
rags, tired, hungry. He was begging
his way TO the city to make another at
tempt to find employment. though in
his rags he had but little chance. Com
ing to n grass plot before a house he
sank, through WEAKNESS, rested his
head on the root OF n tree and fell
asleep.
While he was sleeping, Lena Harris
came along and saw him. Lena was .
servant in the home of Mrs. Singleton,
before which the boy had gone to
sleep. The girl was Il farmers daugh
ter who expected to make her own liv-
ing and began an apprenticeship as
hired help in the Singleton family. /
Lena looked down upon Jimmie, and
his rags, his pale face, troubled even
in sleep, filled her with pity.
Suddenly Jimmie opened his eyes
and saw the sympathetic look in the
girls face. Lena asked about himself
! and he told her his sad story. She
wished to give him something to eat,
| and otherwise provide for him, but
! Mrs. Singleton was a stingy woman
| and Lena knew anything she gave out
1 of the larder would anger her.
Fortunately the woman was not at
| home at the time, SO Lena took the
boy into the house and gave him some
! cold meat, plenty of bread and butter
and q cup of hot coffee. While Jimmie
was satisfying his hunger Lena went
upstairs and in q closet found some
castoff clothes Of one of the Singleton
boys and brought them down to him.
They fitted him quite well and were
far better than his rags.
Jimmie was about to depart when
Mrs. Singleton came home. She scold-
| ed Lena for the food she had given
Jimmie and ordered him out of the
house. AS good luck would have it
she did not recognize the clothes he
had on, so he walked away without be-
ing deprived Of them. After he had
gone the woman eSpied the rags he
had left and when Lena admitted
what she had done she was discharged.
This was not long after Jimmie had
left the house and he had not gone
far on his journey. Lena saw him
walking ahead of her and called to
him.
She told him that she had been dis
charged and must find another place.
Jimmie was much touched to have
: brought this upon her, but he could do
nothing to repair the trouble. Before
: they parted he asked for her name and
he fixed it indelibly in his memory
Lena Harris remained in the country
and never rose above the position of
a servant. She was advised to 90 to
the city and learn something to fit her
for business. but the sad stories of
, country girls who had gone to the city
deferred her and she reached middle
life as poor es when she was turned
out of her position for befriending
Jimmie Horgan.
One day q letter came to her from
, lawyers firm stating that it would
), be to her interest to call at their office
. in the city. Lena had not enough
money for the journey, but she Dor
rowed the amount and appeared one
!. morning at the lawyers office. She
was informed that James Horgau, a
:, wealthy citizen, had been missing SO
s.. long that he had been declared legally
dead. He had left will naming Lena
Harris the heir to all his property. If
;, she could prove that she was Lena
: Harris she would receive the legacy
But certain blood relations of the tes-
tator laid claims to the property and
were expected to try to break the will
The lawyers offered to take the case
= for Lena, to be paid their fee only il
they won 1t, and she placed it In their
hands. Those who sued took the
ground that Lena was an impostor
IS Lena went back to her work and the
S, case dragged through the courts. A
,d last she received word from her attor
lie neys that a verdict had been found II
Of her favor. She went at once to thu
x CITY ana an eSlilc producing uduGi
he some income was turned over to her
IN Lena settled herself in a house tina
r had been OCCUPIED by the one who ha'
We accumulated the property.
ed One day there was a ring at her bell
- She went TO the door and found a maj
e prematurely gray. He looked i'll AM
is was very shabbily dressed. He stoo
n looking at Lena as though he wer
We trying to recall something.
NJ What can do for you, sir?" aske
ed Lena.
II Il don't know. I'm kind o. dazet
I'm not Thomas Simpson, know tina
Who are your
"a Il am Lena Harris"
Lena Harris!" The man started.
Yes, I'm Lena Harris
tv How did you come here?"
is THE owner of the house, Jane