Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1894 — ONLY A TRAMP. [ARTICLE]

ONLY A TRAMP.

ThU Incident Was ActuaUy Witnessed by tho Writer. He was a veritable tramp. His trousers were spattered with mud. and both they and his coat were that nondescript color which only long exposure to the weather can give. The spattered hat he wore, pulled well down over his eyes, concealed the half discouraged, half defiant expression of his face. As he slouched along in aimless fashion his clumsy, broken shoes clattered on the pavement. Years ago he had recklessly left home and since then he . had only heard news from the old place once. That was a few days past, when he had read of his mother’s death in the papers. He was ashamed to go back then, though he longed to see her face once more. He did not mean to be gone so long. But he had started out to seek his fortune, and he had found it. Only it was not good fortune. All his worldly possessions now consisted of a nickel, lying in the pocket of his vest. Just sufficient to buy a “free lunch,” and he was hungry enough to spend it. He looked up as he neared the corner, searching for a favorable place to invest the coin. Coming down the avenue toward him was an old beggar woman. She hobbled along slowly, leaning on a cane for the supprrt which her trembling limbs could not give. Her weak eyes peered anxiously into tho faces of passers-by in a vain appeal for help, and her wrinkled hand shook as she held it out for alms. As she reached the corner a cold wind blowing through tho street made her shiver and pull her thin shawl more closely about her shoulders. This motion attracted the tramp’s attention, and he glanced at her as she passed, though she did not look at him. “Poor old soul ” he muttered; “that’s hard lines.” He paused in his walk, looked at the slowly recreating figure, hesitated and turned back. The woman stared in astonishment as he touched her on her shoulder. FumbliDg in the pocket of his tattered vest he pulled out a coin. This he placed in her hand , without a word, and not even waiting for the fervent “God bless you!” he shuffled away and was lost to view in the crowd.—New York Press.