Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-07-27

so that l cannot stand up, and then
there is Hiss Mangles nagging from
morning till night"
~ shall have to learn to nag" I said,
''for fear you'll miss it too much"
We were very silly and happy to-
gether, and when Dot took possession
of her new home she was wild with de-
light. No queen on her throne could
have been prouder than my little wife
the first night she sat at the little round
table and poured out tea for ME. And
as for Tramp-for he had been duly
taken to the cOttage-Inever saw such
rapture in dogs eyes. He walked
about and surveyed his domain with
an important air-he really appeared
to assume the dignity of proprietorship
at once-and had set at human tramps
who dared to pause at the gate and
look into our little Eden. Dot had
stipulated with one Of the men who
brought the furniture for a good bath
for him, to which Tramp made OBJ
lection, evidently regarding it as some
mystic ceremony of induction to the
new home. When washed and combed
he was quite a handsome fellow, of
spaniel breed, with long silky ears, and
very wistful brown eyes. He followed
his mistress with dumb admiration,
but noticed me scarcely at all.
'He will be a sort of companion for
you when l am busy" [ said quite glad
Of his presence, although had never
cared for dogs.
And so Tramp shared the little home
that grew dearer to me every day.
When, one morning, a new life woke
IN 1t, and a baby's cry stirred the
echoes, he looked very much excited
and puzzled. He had been quite IN
happy at the disappearance of his
mistress from the table, and had taken
up his station on the rug at her door.
[, who was feeling the new happiness
Of fatherhood, felt benevolent to all the
word.
"Tramp is much exercised in his
mind" | said. "My darling, shall [ let
him come in tc see If you are all right?'
eyes" answered my little Dot, Ian
guidly. 81 shall like to see him, and
hope he approves of the baby.
Tramp came in in very dignifed
manner. Good food and care had i'm
proved him wonderfully. His coat was
glossy as silk, and his clear eyes full OF
love and intelligence. He went to my
darling and licked her hand, then he
looked about. His mind was not easy;
he had heard strange cry.
''Here she is, Tramp" said Dot, I'm.
covering the little crumpled red morsel;
"and you must love her and take care oil
her always you hear, sir?"
What Utmost VOW Tramp registered
as he stood on his hind legs and calmly
surveyed the odd little specimen of hui
manity before him we can never know,
but what we know is that he was faith
full to it even unto death.
"He likes her-see, he is trying to
kiss her III his way. He knows she is
ours, and he adopts her at oncew cried
Dot.
After that Tramp made visit to the
room as long as Dot stayed there, and
the first thing baby noticed was the dog
moving about her and Wagging his tail
slowly. It became matter of specula-
ton to her, as she grew older how to
get hold Of that tail, and the day she
u0tlS4U
issued from the little rosebud mouth
that Tramp made no effort to release
himself. From that time he seemed to
feel 1t to be his duty to bear innumer-
able woOlings, crushings, huggings,
pinChes, punches, and every other tor
ture to which an active child of inquir-
ing mind can in flict on an animal.
The baby had been duly carried to the
font, and a very dignifed name bestow-
ed on her, but we never called her any
thing but Dimples, for she had two of
the dearest little rosy dents in her round
cheeks that ever invited kisses. [ used
to tease the child as she grew older.
''Two holes in her cheeks" I would
say. "What is to be done, mamma
See, [ can put my finger in Could we
get anything to fill them up?,e
And then she would look quite indig-
nant and say:
"Not 'oleS-dimps ~
And Dot would answer:
"Flll them with kisses-that's what
they're made for"
Before ner third birthday Dimples
was the prettiest little maid imaginable
IN our eyes, and even strangers stopped
to look at her as they passed our gate
She had voice like a little bird,
ard could sing several little songs
III her own way. When she forgot the
right word she supplied words of her
own Of the oldest kind. Generally
Tramp figured largely IL her improvi-
sations. [ had promised to bring her a
doll that would open and shut its eyes
for her birthday present, and the days
were counted till the time. I had to
explain to her how you pulled string
and the doll went to sleep, and then
what you did to wake it up. The Won
der about it never ceased, and we had
to make believe for several nights that
she went to sleep in the same way.
Mamma touched an imaginary string,
and the blue eyes would close at once.
Dot was almost as much of child
about that birthday. She had made the
little thing new dress-a wonderful
arrangements Of tucks and embroidery
which she showed me in triumph.
1T seems to ne she's old enough for
a polonalse, | said, laughing; for I
had caught q few terms from Dot.
Much you know about q polonaise,'
my wife answesed, scornfully. "You
haven't found out the difference yet
between a basque and overskirt."
[ looked back after ] started, and
saw that D OF had lifted Dimples up as
high as possible, and she was calling
after me, "Bing it in a boty, papa, and
shoes on, and parasol."
| smiled at the Hottentot idea sug-
gested; only shoes and a parasol, as
they say, is a costume sometimes seen