The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-09-21
Johnny and his Dogs.
BY ANNIE R. WHITE.

BY ANNIE R. WHITE.
"Good gracious, Hetty, what's
Johnny bringing here now ?" said Mrs.
calder, as she gazed anxiously out Of
the kitchen window, as she ceased
kneading her dough, to look at her
little boy.
"Why, mother, if it isn't another
dog!' -,
Johnny came in, halfleading, half
dragging a dog, who winked and
bliHke1, with an appealing look, as it
he was not sure what sort of a recep-
ton he would meet.
"See, mamma, what I have got |!
Another"
"Don't tell me; I can see. What
do you mean Johnny, by bringing
home so many dogs 2"
"And such looking dogs, too," in
terposed his sister Hetty. 'Lame, sick
and deformed,-you never did pick up
a pretty one, yet"
Because there were no pretty ones
to pick up" answered Johnny, quick
BY. Then, seeing the smile in his
mothers eyes, at his convincing an
sWer, he considered that he had gain
ed his point, and followed it up
WITH
Say, mamma, I can own him can't
II don't imagine ANYBODY else will
care to own HIM, so I'll have to con-
sent. Well, it is a good thing we have
abig barn, and it's a long way from
the house, else you would turn the
house into a canine asylum, and
we'd either have to build extra rooms,
Or move out altogether, to give them
a chance"
Johnny ran and kissed his mother,
telling her she was the "best mamma
in all the world" and huntingup some
scraps of bread and meat, he was soon
out in the barn, with his treasure
where he made him a nice bed of the
sveet-smelling hay, in one corner of
the stable. $50 as to be near the
horses, mamma, you know, he told her
aterward, for he'll always go with
Us to town, then; he'll run behind the
wagon"
She made no reply, for she didn't
wish to disparage her boys taste toe
ar; but she decided in her own mind
mat when they were going to town,
s6e should take particular care to lock
3lm up. She didn't want such an ugly
boxing dog as that going to town with
TWAS true that Johnny had picked
aP nearly dozen such pets as this one
p his brief ten years of life, already,
md his taste did not seem to be very
Hghly cultivated on this point, either.
There was Rover, a dog so old rough
cooking, some inhuman person had
.oned him out to die. Johnny took
9lm in, and made his last hours COM
Ortable; then there was Jack, who
Ta3 nearly blind; and Stump, who
lad no tail; and Friz, who was so
StGss Johnny himselfwas a little afraid
y him and Spot, whose hair was all
~ Y IN patches. These pets had all had
aelr day,-some had proved migrate
" u and run away again, some had
uea, and one ortwo yet fingered about,
making trips back and forth, to enjoy
ls hospitality.
his new dog was no beauty-cross-
5yed (did you ever see a crOss-eyed
leogQ, and a little lame, with rough
'lry yellow coat, he certainly was not
very engaging to look at; but his lit
y master was as fond of him as if he
'%' Many a ramble and frolio they
40 together through the lOngsummer
nays which followed. Hetty called
u9 Fright, because he was q fright to
Jok at and Johnny, who was quite
lleased to think he stayed ON any
eEns, didn't object to his title.
One morning the little boy told his
mamma he was going into the woods to
P'ok raspberries; so taking some
9.ach, and a bright little tin pail to
SeE the fruit in, he started. He found
berries as thick Us the leaves, and
soon gathered his pail full. Then
played tag with the dog, only