The Tramp.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2889, 19 July 1879, Page 3

The Tramp.

In gathering irkness of a chill November evening a dejeed-lookinf? tramp camo Blowly dowu a streot iian Francisco, riia appoaranco was forlorn cnojh to have created pity in the most obdurate iart; but althounh ho brushed against sovcralsrsona hastening by they were too much absued in their own interests to EAs ho n'areoV largo house—tho rcsidenco of some prosporo merchant or succoßsful speculator—the glarifom ono of ita lower windows suddenly cauglniseyo, and, turning aside, ho looked into the lartmcnt. It was a dining-room about which tlsaslight and a bright flro in tho grate diffused \rmth and cheerfulness, while fh e abundance lood on thedinner-tablcruocked tho wandcror'abnger and misery, placed in so striking a conist with tins eceno of warmth and plenty, hisondition grow oven more pitiable and desole. Not long, however, did his' famished Raze 3cr through the window, for a servant- unwa of tho stranger's presenceclosed tho inliwUnds. . Tho wanderavas now quite in darkness, tho feeblo rays o£ n streot lamp being lost in the doom before tlf could reach bis position in the shadow of tho >ut steps, and tho moon not yet Hoedio"neitltho sound o£ voices nor tho rattle of kniveaid forks in the room, and ohlivious to bcingone in darkness, he btiUliugercd at the window.ls aching head pressed against the class. A stngo numbness seemed to paralyse Ins limb but his thoughts were free. Back, on swift fogs, they earned him over all the weary loury, upon wmch he had started in obedieuco toic resistless migratory impluso of his nature, it as a passive spectator did he see his life pasaanorama-liko before him; but as a Jiving partpant ho re-entered upon all its vicissitudes. I oluntarily he shuddered at tho recollection o£ t> dangers whichhad threatened his life- and < his miraculous hair-breadth escarjes! Now 3 was stealing a ride on a l'urmwapKon,'or crohins unsoßn on a steamer, or c ingulf? (naif asp) to the under side of afroigb, oar all to oxpe:O vim to his unknown goal. In bis traiieow state ho seemed to ho with his wayside commons ugain.adding his voice to thu liv-ly )O of theirs. But more often, we-1 it and deeteft by hi.i f^'-lao lncndti, ho touK ],!, oniitarv waiver biirren tracts and forsaken rerioneuu IVuH'mling on Lot Bandy plains. Thoii"hoolytrami-'i «° wils endowed with rcsthetfl faculii, and he loved to 1 njer among the beau! ies oflture or works of art. In such contemplation" could forget his cures and exliauslion. Jtvens no Bto°' o? tlie darkened window tho mwry of those happy moments, so few and so briioverpowcred his sonscE>,nndho drp'imodofa Pok whoso banlcs wero decked flowers. But the harrii recollection ofern hardships and cruol deprivatiooßdiapell'tuoresMnlilluaion, and rolentluaniv hia thnut? hurried him on. Acain ho seVtOßtandatthedoorof a tarmho'iso or by a»pen kiichcn window in tho city trying to got (florsel of food. Distinctly, as if the voices thearrod upon his ear, lie heard the coarse and uncling denials of his prayer for bread He fclfl'y to° painfully the wet dishcloth flash in ) 'ace as a rude menial bade him depart. And't nono wore too poor to spare what would *vo satisfied his hunger—that hunger tho kiiness of those panga was never On °on flewS thoughts, and full well ho remembered th"*Klus passed under steps or in ■wood sheds • P no memory of peaceful slumbers innthpd hisWf- Sleepless and in pain had ho iDcn-manv night whose morrow brought nought S4vciliewell exertion and aditional iutiuuo to bitted frame. And now once again tho silent majesty of n''"-ht surro'u^l tho outcast, a strange presentiment warned*" that his wandering were nearly ended • tho ul was a'niosL reached. Lower on his liroisl sir the wander's head, and drooping were the wii of thought The images of his retrospect bitn to lade; they becaino entirely indistinct <dec and stiller waxed his body, and t Saoui'ew late. No footfall now re-choed on the climW air. 'ih« cloud 9 nad l)arte(l. and liitrli i,, a heavens the moor beumeu with a clear chee ss Itent, wllilo tho VClTslara sllouo with a olitriOE cold steel. Night mStV into tho Bray dawn, yet tho traveller sipd not; and in the morning, Ins last breath 'Vhiol frost on the glass, was found tho rigid lifiss wanderer—a fly, frozen dead on ho winioy/iJiS.—Araonaut.