Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-24
THE LITTLE YELLOW DOG.

/
Mamie was dear little bit of girl.
pretty and bright and loving. with such
sunshiny face that it cured the blues
just to look at her.
She had great many names. She
would answer to ''Dantie,'' Pussy
''Sunshine' and "Polly,n quite as well
as to Mamie. ''Polly' was grandpa's
name for her.
Polly had one fault: that does not mean
that she had but one, but that this one
was so very great it was noticed more
than all the others.
The fault was this: she was never
quite ready to do anything the very
minute he was asked to. She always
had something of her own to attend to
first.
If papa said: ''Dantie please get my
slippers" he was sure to hear: . Yes.
in just a minute, papa Dollie is most
asleep When grandpa said: Come,
little Polly, can't you run upstairs and
get my glasses?' she was sure to take
gust three more turns around the room
If she happened to be playing with
kitty-before she started. Or, if she
were reading a story and was asked to
do an errand, she would get slowly up
|
book, stop at the foot of the stairs and
read few lines. stop at the head of the
stairs and read and then call out: mann
ma, did you say you wanted spool of
white or black thread?''
1t was very trying, indeed, and grand
pa said the ugly weed ought to be root
ed out before it grew any bigger. Some
times, he tried to make her ashamed
of it. When she was gone a long time
for the newspaper that he sent for, she
would find grandpa busily writing when
she came with it, and he would take no
notice of her, until she said: Here is
your paper. grandpa
'.-My paper!" he would say then,
looking over his glasses at her. ..Sure
enough, l did send for paper some
minutes ago. didn't I? But the time
has gone by now. | have turned my
attention to other subjects. No paper
for me, Miss Polly, thank you.''
Then Mamie would hang her head
and blush, but by the next time grand
pa asked her to do an errand for him
| she had forgotten all about it.
One. day grandpa called Mamie to
take a walk with him. She ran for her
hat and sack, for she was always glad of
the chance to go with him. They
always had nice times together. He
explained everything to her that she
did not know about, and let her chatter
off long stories; and if they came along
to any shop or place where anything
curious was going on, grandpa took her
right in.
Where are we going to-day, grand
pap" said Mamie, holding fast to his
hand, and giving a happy little hop.
''Going to see dog" said grandpa,
"that can do what girl can IT,
| Mamie, of course, was eager to know
what a dog could do that girl could
not, and she asked a great many ques-
tions; but grandpa stopped them all by
beginning to tell a long story about the
st. Bernard dogs that save a great
many people from freezing. The story
lasted until they got to the shop where
grandpa had his shoes mended. The
! shoemaker was little old man; and he
had nice little shop, and good little
old wife. and funny little yellow dog.
/ Very soon grandpa said: Mr..
Jyricks, | want my little girl to see
what wonderful things your dog can
do''
Then the little man twinkled smile
from his mouth and eyes, and called:
"Here, Jip, you!" and then the little
dog in the next room came scampering
into. that room, so fast that he almost
went heels over head, and seated him.
self in little yellow ball at his mas
ter's feet. his bright eyes turned to his
as much as to say: Now, sir, what will
you have?"
''Jip, shut that door!'' said Mr.. Jy-
ricks; and at the door Jip few, and
with his two forepaws pushed and
pushed with all his might, until it shut.
''Now, Jip, bring MY slippers" his
other room and out again as quick as a
wink, with a slipper in his mouth, laid
it down, and then ran back and brought
the other one. And so he brought his
masters glasses and the newspapers,
without waiting an instant after he was
told.
Mamie laughed until she almost cried
to see the funny little fellow perform.
She was so taken up with his tricks.
seeing him stand on his hind feet and
offer one of his fore-paws. when she
said: How do you do, Jip?' that she
forgot all about asking her grandfather
what he meant by saying Jlp could do
what girl couldn't, until they were
almost home. Then grandpa said:
"Pll tell you, when we have our talk
tonight. y
"Now, grandpa Mamie said. as
she nestled into Der grandfather's arms,
after tea. when he and she were all
alone in his room, "now tell me what
the little dog could do that can't. I'm
sure can shut doors, and bring your
slippers and newspapers and glasses
Polly said grandpa, taking her
round face between his hands and look
ling into her eyes, g the little dog can
do it right 0acay the minute he is spoken
to. o Polly, Polly! to think a poor lit
tie yellow dog can do what you can
not The little head went down then
ON grandpa's bosom, and neither of
them spoke for a few minutes; then
grandpa said:
Polly, suppose can buy that little
dog to wait upon me, then you need not
take the time from your kitty and dolly
! to RIM errands for an old GRANDMA