The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-08-23
The Old Dog who Learned New Tricks
TRUE STORY
BY MRS. VIRGINIA G. PHGBUs.

The Old Dog who Learned New Tricks.
A TRUE STORY.
BY MRS. VIRGINIA G. PHGBUs.
Ned was fat baby he could inst
sit alone, and amuse himself hv PLAYING
with his fingers or his ten little tees.
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 house-it was a baby dog. 1t came
in basket; ana when the basket was
opened 1t looked like great bundle of
black silky hair, with pair of bright
eyes stuck in it. 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 learn
ed 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 and
see that it was his own dear playmate,
and then go back to his nap again. If
any one else pulled hun so he would
growl, show his white teeth, and spring
up as if about to bite
| When Ned was two years old, and
could run all about, Tray had grown to
be Il 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 a year or two more, Ned was even
trusted to go to the river with his
| friend at his side; for Tray was a 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. If Ned wanted a
romp with other boys, he placed the
string of his satcheI around Trays
neck, letting it hang down in front on
Trays breast, and satchel and dinner
we're sure TO come safely to the door of
the school house by the time Ned was
there.
While Ned was in school, Tray
wandered about the woods, but gen
orally 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 twelveyear old, and went to school
in town, Trays school-days were over,
and he had to settle down into the ways
of an old dog. Every morning he walk
ed to the gate with Ned, then, slowly
turning back, lag 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 a little romp,
when Ned came bounding and whistling
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 brought home a 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 tit-bits that would once
have been saved for Tray, now found
their way into Carlos mouth, and for
months all Ned's pocket-money was
saved up until he could buy hand
some collar with ''Carlo " engraved on
it. Poor Tray in his best days had
worn only leather collar, fastened by
a little brass paddock ; but the collar
had worn out long ago, and had never
been replaced.
But Tray kept his eyes open, and
saw what was passing; and | think his
old heart longed for the love and no.
tice of his young master as in the old
times He never failed to watch when
Ned trained Carlo. One day, after
many trials, Ned has just succeeded in
getting Carlo to sit up on his hind
legs, holding a stick in his mouth and
play that he was smoking a cigar when,
much to his surprise, old Tray, also
holding a stick in his mouth, took his
station by the side of the little dog,
and, raising his huge length in the air,
sat very soberiy III an upright position,
going through all the movements that
Carlo had been taught. | cannot tell
you how pleased Ned was. He Rugged
his old pet III his arms IL thlnk he
kissed him very siyly), and off he went
into the house to beg bone for Tray
" with plenty of meat on it."
Old Trays days were nearly ended
he did not live long to enjoy his tri-
umph he could not stand erect many
more times but he had shown how
gladly he would do it, if he could thus
win back the heart of his dear master.
Hearth and Home.