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my journey which was of itself in the least thrilling or out of the ordinary。
Why； this might have made an item in the country paper！
For the first time on my trip I saw a man that I really felt like calling a
trampa tramp in the generally accepted sense of the term。 When I left
home I imagined I should meet many tramps； and perhaps learn from them
odd and curious things about life； but when I actually came into contact
with the shabby men of the road； I began to be puzzled。 What was a tramp；
anyway？
I found them all strangely different； each with his own distinctive
history； and each accounting for himself as logically as I could for myself。
And save for the fact that in none of them I met were the outward graces
and virtues too prominently displayed； I have come back quite uncertain as
to what a scientist might call type…characteristics。 I had thought of
following Emerson in his delightfully optimistic definition of a weed。 A
weed； he says； is a plant whose virtues have not been discovered。 A tramp；
then； is a man whose virtues have not been discovered。 Or； I might follow
my old friend the Professor （who dearly loves all growing things） in his
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even kindlier definition of a weed。 He says that it is merely a plant
misplaced。 The virility of this definition has often impressed me when I
have tried to grub the excellent and useful horseradish plants out of my
asparagus bed！ Let it be thena tramp is a misplaced man； whose virtues
have not been discovered。
Whether this is an adequate definition or not； it fitted admirably the
man I overtook that morning on the road。 He was certainly misplaced； and
during my brief but exciting experience with him I discovered no virtues
whatever。
In one way he was quite different from the traditional tramp。 He
walked with far too lively a step； too jauntily； and he had with him a small；
shaggy； nondescript dog； a dog as shabby as he； trotting close at his heels。
He carried a light stick； which he occasionally twirled over in his hand。 As
I drew nearer I could hear him whistling and even； from time to time；
breaking into a lively bit of song。 What a devil…may…care chap he seemed；
anyway！ I was greatly interested。
When at length I drew alongside he did not seem in the least surprised。
He turned； glanced at me with his bold black eyes； and broke out again
into the song he was singing。 And these were the words of his songat
least； all I can remember of them：
Oh； I'm so fine and gay； I'm so fine and gay； I have to take a dog along；
To kape the ga…irls away。
What droll zest he put into it！ He had a red nose； a globular red nose
set on his face like an overgrown strawberry； and from under the worst
derby hat in the world burst his thick curly hair。
〃Oh； I'm so fine and gay；〃 he sang； stepping to the rhythm of his song；
and looking the very image of good…humoured impudence。 I can't tell how
amused and pleased I wasthough if I had known what was to happen
later I might not have been quite so friendlyyes； I would too！
We fell into conversation； and it wasn't long before I suggested that we
stop for luncheon together somewhere along the road。 He cast a quick
appraising eye at my bag； and assented with alacrity。 We climbed a fence
and found a quiet spot near a little brook。
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I was much astonished to observe the resources of my jovial
companion。 Although he carried neither bag nor pack and appeared to
have nothing whatever in his pockets； he proceeded； like a professional
prestidigitator； to produce from his shabby clothing an extraordinary
number of curious thingsa black tin can with a wire handle； a small box
of matches； a soiled package which I soon learned contained tea； a
miraculously big dry sausage wrapped in an old newspaper； and a clasp…
knife。 I watched him with breathless interest。
He cut a couple of crotched sticks to hang the pail on and in two or
three minutes had a little fire； no larger than a man's hand； burning
brightly under it。 （〃Big fires；〃 said he wisely； 〃are not for us。〃） This he fed
with dry twigs； and in a very few minutes he had a pot of tea from which
he offered me the first drink。 This； with my luncheon and part of his
sausage； made up a very good meal。
While we were eating； the little dog sat sedately by the fire。 From time
to time his master would say； 〃Speak； Jimmy。〃
Jimmy would sit up on his haunches； his two front paws hanging limp；
turn his head to one side in the drollest way imaginable and give a yelp。
His master would toss him a bit of sausage or bread and he would catch it
with a snap。
〃Fine dog！〃 commented my companion。
〃So he seems；〃 said I。
After the meal was over my companion proceeded to produce other
surprises from his pocketsa bag of tobacco； a brier pipe （which he kindly
offered to me and which I kindly refused）； and a soiled packet of cigarette
papers。 Having rolled a cigarette with practised facility； he leaned up
against a tree； took off his hat； lighted the cigarette and； having taken a
long draw at it； blew the smoke before him with an incredible air of
satisfaction。
〃Solid comfort this herehey！〃 he exclaimed。
We had some further talk； but for so jovial a specimen he was
surprisingly uncommunicative。 Indeed； I think he soon decided that I
somehow did not belong to the fraternity； that I was a 〃farmer〃in the
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most opprobrious senseand he soon began to drowse； rousing himself
once or twice to roll another cigarette； but finally dropping （apparently； at
least） fast asleep。
I was glad enough of the rest and quiet after the strenuous experience
of the last ； two daysand I； too； soon began to drowse。 It didn't seem to
me then that I lost consciousness at all； but I suppose I must have done so；
for when I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up my companion h