The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-01-16

is learning him to do all sorts of tricks -
Barney announced one day after receiv-
ing one OF his mothers s entertaining let
ters. The boys would not have been
boys had they not been all excitement
over this piece of news, and asked num-
berless questions about the wonderful
animal:
Where did he buy it2 What did he
pay for it ? How large is it What col
orr What breed? What is his name :?
What can he.do?"
Drop couldn't tell, but would ask his
mother in his next letter. and would
write to her Immediately. The next let
tel came in due time, and the seven ea-
ger boys gathered wide eyed about the
eighth to hear the news.
Father bought him of blind beggar
boy read Drop glibly, "and paid fifty
dollars for him, enough to pay the blind
boys fare to Boston, and to have his eyes
doctored."
That's just like father" said Drop
parenthetically, looking up from the
letter.
"I wish I could send the blind boy
something" said Bean, the crooked nose
boy. "And p "AndIT "And Il" And
l p chorused all the boys, generously
feeling in their pockets, and not finding
anything but cotton strings and marbles,
and such like schoolboy Commodities
Then they withdrew their hands, and
turned their attention once more to the
dog
He's big black and white ST. Bern
ard dog went on Drop, "big enough for
me to ride upon as 1 would pony"
Il tell you father wouldn't buy me no
little dog commenced Drop again.
"The dog used to carry the blind boy
on his back from house to house. Moth
er says the day be came there it was
raining, and Isaac--thats the blind boys
name-was sitting on Higbjink's back
that's the dogs name--and Isaac was
| holding an umbrella over his head, and
| Highjinks had a little basket in his
mouth, and mother says she never saw
anything so funny in her life!"
How good you do read writing" said
Hess admiringly "and call all the big
words. 1 have to study out all the long
words in mine"
80, mothers writing is just as plain as
print said Barney, examining the letter
into his pants packet; anybody could
read it."
Father has hired dog trainer to come
out from the city and educate Highjinks,"
rapidly read Drop from his next letter.
as the boys were grouped around him.
under the shade of large apple tree
near the school building He comes
two days in the week, and mother says
he says that there is nothing but what
that dog is capable of doing. He dances
like bear, and climbs like a monkey,
and runs like fox, and grunts like
pig, and gobbles like turkey, and bleats
like Sheppard he's learning him to
say Barney. l tell you, boys, want to
go home and see that dog.
Tha Il
1t was the sensation of the school, and
Drops letters from his mother were as
anxiously waited for by the seven boys
as by Drop himself.
Father has had carriage made for
Higbjinks," the mothers wonderfully
plain print in her next letter said. "It
is large enough for two ride in. 1t is
painted blue like the sky and gellow like
gold, and there are green and white flow
cred velvet cushions, and the harness is
made of shiny red leather trimmed with
silver stars!
Mother says it's the gayest little turn
out in all that region, and that Highjinks
is just as proud of it as boy would be.
When he is harnessed up he barks joy
ously, as much as to say, IF am not
pony it's not my fault but will serve
my young master as well as if l was one.
The other day he took father to the vii
lage in five minutes, and there is no
horse that can 60 over the road in that
time. Mother says he just straightens
himself right out, and that l ought to
see him cZae>iti He goes just like a
streak p
Your mother writes ever so much
like boy said Witt
II know it, replied Drop unhesitat
ingly ''it is because hadn't any broth.
er, and she has always played with me
Just as if she was boy, because she
didn't like to have me go down to the
village to play for fear I should get in
with bad companions"
eff it had been told-read, l mean,
anywhere but here" said Trigg to Hess
that night, as they sat on top of the high
board fence that enclosed the school
grounds, watching for the evening stage,
II should say that Drop spread it on
about that dog pretty thick.
That's So, said Hess; "but nobody
would dare tell fbs at this school after
hearing the masters lectures about liars.
Drop is a good fellow, anyway he says
he wishes we could all go home with hirn
and see Highjinks.
And the boys all agreed that Drop was
the best boy in school; the owner Of
such a wonderful dog was a hero indeed
Mr.. Toplitf wrote in one of his letters
TO Deacon and Mrs Drop what favorite
their son Barney was with all his boys
The delighted parents wrote back entreat
ing that Barney and his seven mates
might come to them and spend the two
days Fourth of July vacation
There would be quantities of roses and
awberries and fresh milk, and the
boys could fire Chinese crackers with i'm
punity in the broad meadow back Of the
house.
The boys were delighted, and. could
Topliff write to their parents and guardi-
ans, and in few days consent had been
given by them all that the short vacation
should be spent at Deacon Drops.
Mother says that they have sheared
Highiinks now" Barney said the day
before the boys were to set out "He
looks just like lion, and when they tell
him to roar he will shake his name and
make such a noise that it almost makes
your hair stand on end.
The boys made the journey by short
steam car trip Mr.. Topliff putting them
in the care of Conductor Weymouth.
do you suppose Highjinks will come
to the depot p asked Hess.
81 don't know" said Barney u pre-
sumo So.
But to their disappointment there was
only Deacon Drop in three seated ex-
press wagon, drawn by the old black
farm-horse Roger, and the little dog San
cho, close to his masters feet He was
deli GIFTED to see Barney, throwing him
| self upon his back, and then nearly
wriggling himself out OF his glossy brin-
! die coat.
Barney went with his father to see
about the baggage, and while the deacon
| ..-ar .,.,t Iinn Ii into the tunnnn Rarnev