The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-01
The Old Dog Who Learned New Tricks.

Ned was a fat little baby; he could lust sit
alone and amuse himself by playing with his
fingers or his ten little toes. When he wanted
TO move about from place to place in the room,
he would lie fiat down and roll over and over.
One day, another baby was brought to the
HOUSEWIVES baby dog; it came in basket
and when the basket was opened, it looked
like great bundle of black silky hair, with &
pair Of bright eyes stuck in il. The dog was
named Tray. The two babies, Ned and Tray,
soon grew to be fast friends. Ned would go
to sleep on the floor, with Tray for pillow,
and Tray soon learned to keep quiet until
Ned's nap was out. When Tray slept, Ned
would pull his hair and pinch his ears, but the
sleepy dog would open his eyes, see that it
was his own dear playmate, and then go back
to his nap again. If any one else pulled him
| so, he would growl, show his white teeth and
| spring up as il about to bite.
When Ned was two years old, and could
run all about, Tray had grown to be very
large dog, and could take care of him. When
they walked down the lane, or over the fields,
Tray kept off the cows and dogs; along the
roads and the streets, the two were always
| together, and no bad boy dared touch little
| Ned.
In year or two more, Ned was even trusted
| to go to the river with his friend al his side;
for Tray was fine swimmer, and if Ned had
fallen in, he would soon have brought him
| safe to land.
| When Ned started for school, he had to
take long walk through the woods, and
Tray always went by his side and carried his
dinner pail, holding the handle in his mouth.
| II Ned wanted a romp with other-boys, he
placed the string of the satche around Trays
neck, letting it hang dowu in front OF Trays
breast, and satchel and dinner were sure TO
come safely t. the door of the school-house
by the time Ned was there.
| No, IN, Il.
about the woods, but generally turned up in
time to share Ned's dinner at the noon recess,
| and again to take home the empty pail at the
| close of the day.
But dogs grow old faster than boys and so
it came to pass that when Ned was II years
old and went to school in town, Trays
school days were over, and he had settled
down into the ways of an old dog. Every
morning he walked to the gate with Ned,
then, slowly turning back, lay doing in the
sun, only rousing to get his meals when call
ed, but still showing some of the old spirit,
and starting up for little romp when Ned
came bounding and wiistling home at the
close of the day.
But the town boys had fashion of training
their dogs to play ''tricks," to spring over
rod held out at arms length to stand on their
hind legs, beg, and do other wonderful feats
Now Ned wanted young dog who could
be trained thus, and so one day he br ought
home white dog named Carlo. Being young
and active, Carlo followed Ned about, while
Tray would lie quietly in the shade and look
on. am afraid Ned neglected Tray, at least
many little It'd bits that would once have been
saved for Tray now found their way to Car
los mouth, and for months all Ned's pocket
money was saved up till he could buy hand
some collar with "Carlo" engraved on it.
Poor Tray in his best days had worn only a
leather collar fastened by little brass pad
lock, but tbs collar had worn out long ago
and bad never been replaced.
but Tray kept his eyes open and saw what
was passing, and think his old heart longed
for the love and notice of his young master as
| in the old times. He never failed to watch
when Ned trained Carlo. One day, after
many trials, Ned had just succeeded in get
ting Carlo to sit up on his hind legs, holding
stick in his mouth and play that he was
smoking a cigar, when much to his surprise
old Tray, also holding a stic,: in his mouth,
| took his station by the side of the little dog,
and raising his huge length in the air, sat very
soberly in an upright position, going through
all the movements that Carlo had eentaught.
l cannot tell you how pleased Ned was. He
Rugged bis old pet in his arms, Il think he
kissed him very slyly) and off he went into
the house to beg bone for Tray ''with plen-
| ty of meat on i"
/ Old Trays days were nearly ended; be did
not live long to enjoy his triumph, he could
| not stand erect many more times. but he had
4 shown how gladly he would do It IL he could
| thus win back the heart of his dear master.
-Hearth aad Home.