Bill Mixes with His Relations (1912)
A tramp is seen sleeping on a bench in front of a railway station. A mail bag is thrown off a passing train and hits the tramp, scattering the mail in all directions. He picks up a postal card which reads, "Dear Sarah: Cousin Whooper from Maine, whom you have never seen, is coming out on the four o'clock train. He's kinder rough in his manners, but you'll like him. Lovingly, Hiram." After reading the postal he spies another one, and picking it up, reads: "Dear Cousin Sarah, Am detained here in New York on business. Maybe out in the morning and maybe tonight. Cousin Whooper." A great idea comes over the tramp and he decides to be Cousin Whooper immediately. Entering a nearby back yard he finds a suit of clothes hanging on the line. He next locates a suitcase from in front of a clothing store and awaits the arrival of the four o'clock train. The first postal card has been received at the Springer Farm and the supposed cousin is met at the train. He is taken to the farm, where he devours a meal in record-breaking time, eating everything on the table with his hands and disgracing himself generally. After supper his "relatives" play the organ and entertain him in king's style. He is then shown his room, where he sleeps in everlasting bliss. The real cousin arrives on the night train and after walking miles, arrives at the farm, only to he refused admittance, thinking he is a tramp. He sleeps in the wood-shed and in the morning tacks a note on the front door of the house and leaves for the railroad station, deciding to return to his home in Maine. A boy sees him and informs the town constable he has seen the man who stole the clothes and suitcase. The constable arrests him, but on learning his identity, takes him to the Springer farm, where the tramp has disappeared, taking with him the remains of the morning repast. He is finally discovered running through a corn field and is caught by the real cousin. The tramp is taken to jail and the real cousin taken into the Springer home, where he anticipates a good meal, but is disappointed, as the tramp had taken everything in sight.
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