The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-03
"FOR MAMMALS SAKE"
A story of Ned and His Dog.

A Story of Ned and His Dog.
THERE was no mistake about it. Ned
and his mother were very poor, and de-
cidedly uncomfortable. Ned was so
tired of living in one little room, where
all day long mamma sat by the window
and sewed till the daylight faded away;
and sometimes, too. both he and man.
ma went to bed rather hungry, and
when the little boy used to pat his
mothers thin cheeks lovingly, after a
sweet baby fashion he HAD, he could
often feel the tears in her eyes. when it
was too dark for his bright blue eyes to
look upon her face. There was cum
ming little dog, Fido, Ned's only play
mate, which also lived with them in
that small room, and his chief occupa-
ton was the constant Wagging. of a
very bushy tail, and readiness to ac-
cept the slightest invitation for a froic
from his small master.
AS for Fido's meals, he had grown so
used to circumstances that | don't be-
lieve he even remembered the taste of
a good juicy bone such as he used to
have in Ned's old home before the DAYS
of poverty came. Never mind aUint
brought about change of circum-
stances in the family, but the change
had come sadly enough, and Ned and
mamma had only the memory of the
times gone by to comfort them. Fido
had been q puppy in those days-they
were only two years back, after all
and if dogs can remember, no doubt
this doggie longed for the green fields
and sunny lanes in the pretty country
town where he and Ned ran races to-
gether, and neUer were hungry. The
little boy was only six years old then,
and now, on the day before my story
begins. mamma had celebrated his
eighth birthday by buying him tiny
sugar angel with gauze wings, which
filled Ned with awe and delight. Eat
it? No, not he! IL was far too lovely
for that; so he suspended the angelic
toy by a string, and it scared above
Ned's bed day and night, keeping sweet
watch over all things.
But to Fido, the shaggy-haired, pug
nosed companion of his days, and sharer
of his discomforts, Ned's heart clung
with love unbounded He laughed,
and Fido laughed, or, that is to say,
Fido barked, which meant laugh, Of
course. Ned cried, and Fido also wept,
if dropping of ears and tail, and de-
cided downcast expression of counte-
nance meant anything in the way of
silent sympathy.
They were always together, and of
the greatest comfort to one another, so
that the "alley boys'' Gas they were
called who lived by the tenement-house
in which Ned lived) used to cry, jeer-
ingly, whenever the little boy appeared
for breath of air, Chow are you,
Ned, and how is your dogp" or, to vary
it occasionally, How are you, doggie,
and how is your Ned?'
l am telling this, so that my little
readers can understand how hard it
was for the little boy to do what he did,
after time, for mammals sake.
1t came about in this way. One after
noon late, when Mrs. Clarke had gone
to carry home some work, and Ned and
Fido were having regular frolic on the
floor, there came knocking at the door
Mrs. Malone, who collected the. rent
due from the several dodgers in the
miserable building. With frown on
her face, when informed that Mrs
Clarke was out, the woman had hidden
the boy tell his mother that "she'd
wait no longer for the rent due her,
and Mrs. Clarke might look out for her
SELF"
Ned had covered before her threat
ening face, but Fido, far from feeling
any fear, had boldly barked at the in
truder until he had nearly shaken his
bushy tail from his small body. That
made Mrs. Malone angry; and meeting
Mrs. Clarke on the stairs, she repeated
her threat to the weary, tired woman,
who presently entered the room in
sears.
Ned soon learned that the man from
whom his mother had obtained sewing
had dismissed some of his work-women,
and Mrs. Clarke amongst them; and
now indeed there seemed distress be-
fore them. The boy was too young to
fully comprehend all his dear mothers
woes, but his loving heart grew sad
and thoughtful, and he stood mourn
fully by the window looking up into the
SLY, where he knew papa was so safely
living. Poor little Fido sat silently be-
side his master, wondering what had
happened to break up the frolic so sud-
dcnly; and altogether, while mamma
prepared the simple supper, things were
very quiet and sad.
Have you got much money, man.
map" asked Ned at last.
Els mother could not help smiling at
the question so plaintively asked.
Enough for the rent, DEAR" she re-
piled, trying to speak cheerily. And
tomorrow maybe I'll find some new
wock. Don't look so sad, my little
Ned; We'll manage to get along in
soIne way if we trust in the dear Father
above. You know we must have cour-
aga, Ned, and not despair"
:" But | can't be glad when you cry,
mamma" said the boy; and straight,
way his soft cheek was laid against
mammals, and he comforted her with