The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-03-10

ure- Oub guot now was Gull and apa-
thetic, and IN acknowledging the ovation
Iook1at the audience, made a Iariguid
courtesy, and retired with wearied. sun-
certain gait. -
Il felt better when all was over, and I
Ladpacked up my instrument and put
on my wraps ready to go. home. was
waiting for my escort, when the, waiter
-itwassat the hotel that the entertain
ment had been giyen-entered th6room
to announce "sparty outside wanting
Co speak most particularly to the Lady as
4 played the fddle.7 sftk. e'~
He was followed by the ''party" in
question, who proved to be a stout,
fiorid, agricultural person. He came
up to me and shook me heartily by the
Most dehghted, my dear" he said,
with your playing. Never heard any
thing like it-me and the old woman too.
We're both very fond of the tiddle-play
1t myself, but bless me nothing like
you. You must come and see us, if
you're staying here. So sorry you're
here he let go of my hand, and touched
his eyes with his fingers" so very sorry.
But here. I've brought you something
that'u be good friend to you, and very
useful. It's only little one vet, but
that's all the better. Easier to teach,
You know"
He thrust into my arms something
soft and warm-something that moved
and backed out of the room with great
| precipitation, nearly upsetting the wait
er, who seemed to have been a seafaring
| person. and used the most dreadful ex-
pletlves. L looked down at the small
animated object In my hands, and be-
] hold 1t was a little white dog-a beau
j oful Pomeranian pup.
What singular gift, and who on
earth was the donor? And what could
he mean by bolting Off IN that wild way.
without giving me time to say a word? !?
1he seafarlng waiter of the stormy Ian
guage was appealed to for an eIucidatioE
OF these mysteries, but he was morose
and obscure. Requested to caIl the ec-
centric stranger back, he became hoarse-
Iy explicit, as follows
Tain't no good. Gone aboard the
shay, and well away on the home'ard
tack by this time. Name of Fubsey
Thought you was blind eos you played
on the fiddle, and give you that there
dorg to steer you about with yoke-line.
Bought 1t off party at the bar pur-
pose. Called 1t Fi-dOt0 Take 1t 'ome
and stick to it. Avast -
Take 1T home and stick to it ! The
advice was simple and easy of adoption,
II not very choicely expressed But was
1t strictly equitable 2 What right had L
TO this dog? 1t had clearly been given
to me under a mistake. and, If the owner
should presently discover that l wasn't
blind at all, and did not want dog to
lead me about by a string, what would
she think of me for taking advantage of
his error and keeping the animal? But,
on the other hand, since he was evident
y a good-hearted old gentleman, and
90 doubt Iaeant well, would it not be
kinder to leave him in his mistake than
10 cover him with confusion by the dis
closure of the facts?
1t was such a nice, dear little creature,
too, and already so at home curled up
IN my lap, and felt it hard to resist the
gruff counsel of the stormy waiter.
And then there was my little fellow to
be considered, too. OF course / had
been thinking cf him from the first
but yet was striving to put away
the thought of him that L might see
better to do what was right, But 1t
would not do; my maternal instincts
would have their way, and so the morose
waiter S advice prevailed in deciding me
that might, at least, keep the dog for
few days for Theo to play with, just to
see if it would do him any good. There
was no saying how much good it might
do, for it would be the qualification of a
sick-bed fancy, and relief to the tedium
OF his confinement, tor picture books
and toys were not everything, and these
could not play with him as Fido could.
Then, when he got well, and could tell
hlm all about the dog, we would go to-
har Al l.. 20 %Iol l~T,,1 III
man who gave 1T, who would no doubt
be pleased to hear that it had been of
some little use, though not in the way
he had proposed. And Iwould take my
violin, and, playing to the worthy Fub-
sey anu his -Acellent Ole. woman,
make 1t speak my gratitude for the gem
tie sympathy that would have served
me, and the impulsive kindness that did.
Dory was asleep when reached home,
and the nurse SAID he had been. "a little
restless and uneasy during the evening.
He had expected nae home before this.
and /, not thinking that should be de-
tanned TILL the concert was over, had
promised him would not be very late.
The consequence was that he had fret
ted little, and there was just fear
that he might not be SO well in the
morning.
l placed Fido on the bed beside him.
and sat down and watched, that he
might not wake and find me still absent.
But he slept on-slept SO soundly that L
at last followed his example, and lay
down by his side, quite tired out. We
woke together, and the first thing we
saw was the little Pomeranian sitting up
at the END of the bed, regarding us both
with grave attention.
Dory was in ecstasies when put the
little white thing into his arms, and told
him ID had been given to me last night
for playing at the concert. How he
caressed and fondled it, and how it
frisked about and amused us both and
how we laughed togetherat its gambols,
and at the account, which / invented to
make Dory appreciate it more, of its
presentsstion to me / pretended it had
been left for me at the door by some
good old man who had been pleased
with my playing, and who must have
known through some kind fairy that it
was Just the very thing / wanted for my
little sick boy. So / said he must make
haste and get well, too, for if it was a
fairy dog it might disappear any night,
if it found it wasn't doing him any good,
or wasn't being well treated.
In few days Theo began sensibly
to improve. ne Guu bIl0 QOS SOON De-
came fast friends, and, in fact, the hap
piest results quickly followed from this
new source of interest and pleasure to
my little invalid.
But the days were slipping by, and I
pegan to think of Fubsey, and of what
he was thinking of me by this time
aud yet could not find it in my heart
10 separate these affectionate compan-
ions. Each day that passed made these
difficulties worse, but solution OF one,
At least. was In store for me.
Theo was now well enough to go out
and run about with Fido. Walking one
morning through the town, Dory trot-
ting on in front of me and the dog every
where, so to speak, the latter suddenly
darted off the pavement under a horse
and gig that was standing by. The child
was lust diving under the horse to pick
him up when 1 stepped forward and re-
strained him.