What savest thou, fellow? Wilt thou do
this thing?" Art thou of mind to work?"
And the tramo lilted np his voice ana
spake unto him with tears and said: "Yes,
that will II Ye bet thy socks I will I Even
as thou commandedest will I obey. I will
tackle the festive wood and hew it even
unto the blistering of my hands."
And the old mtn went his way.
And the tramp doubled the tracks of the
maid-servant unto the dining hall and sate
down and did eat of the food which she
sat before him. And be ate heartily as
though be was possessed of the stomach of
Doctor Tauner him who fasted forty davs
of old and afterwards brought a grievous
famine upon the people.
And when he had risen he did basely
stow the spoons and forks in his pockets.
And he wunk unto himself and said, 'These
will fetch cash.'
For he meditated not on the baseness of
the act.
And he wired off his chin and pulled
down bis vest and betook himself unto the
woodpile aforesaid.
And when he concentrated his vision
upon the wood, and had sceu that it was
tough even unto hickory, his heart failed
him, and he leaped the fence and did ex
claim: "Blamed if I'll chop if."
And he went his way and was seen no
more in that place forever.
Now when the even bad come, the
wealthy and benevolent old gent returned
home and hied him straightway unto the
woodpile, that he might feast his eyes upon
the wood which, in his simplicity, he be
lieved the tramp had hewn.
But when he had drawn nigh unto it.
