The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-08-23
LEO, THE DOG.
ma A. Sumner.

Ford Boner may live to be a very old
mamie is going on fifteen now-but
it is likely that he will always recollect
what occurred on certain dark even
ing in August, two years ago. Ford's
father and mother were travelling in Eu-
rope that summer, hence Ford who was
all the rest Of the year boarding-School
boy of the first water, spent his vacation
al his Uncle Peppers country place.
Ford's chief companion from day to
day. as he scrambled among the rocky
spurs, was Leo. Leo was a Scotch grey
hound, Major Peppers particular pet.
Now one curious trait of his did equal
honor 10 his head and heart. He had
been bought al Black S Hollow, a village
If a store, which was also a post-ol1ice
and six or seven dwellings, can be
called a yillage-about two miles fur
Their up the road, among the mountains.
Regularly, once or twice week, would
Leo slip of in the morning for = whole
DAYS visiting with any four-legged
playmates whose society he had former
" reished at Blacks Hollow On such
occasions Ford had to ramble on the
heights alone.
Now AMI Spinner, Major Peppers
hired man, had brother, who kept the
post-oilice and store at the Hollow As
soon as AMI discovered LeO's trick of
going so frequently thither of his own
will, it seemed good to him to teach the
dog to carry a letter there with safety
and dispatch, whenever told to do so,
AmM would tie his missiye securely
about the bright-eyed, little dogs neck,
and say in his Yankee drawl:
"Naow, Leo YOU Jest make tracks for
the village, double-quick Doyou un-
derstand? That letter d ought to git to
the store. BE OFF,
Leo would leap away, barking joy
fully, and in an hour return to seek
Amzi in the field or barn, collared with
an answer from Lot spinner In this
way the dog became, in limited sense,
the messenger and postman OF the fam.
lily, when occasion prompted, and q
very quick and faithful one. 1t was the
last Thursday in August, when Major
Pepper, finishing bis second cup o.
coffee at breakfast, exclaimed to his
wife, There, Helen, ! forgot to tel
you last night that if you want to 9,
to the town in the phWton with me TO
day, and rive this afternoon to pick
ing out those carpets, it'll suit me CAPT
tally
Aunt Pepper laughed "Why does
man always choose Just the wrong day o
all OthorsY she Saidmerrly. "AmManC
Mira Mira was Amz's wife and Aun
Pepper oh)wantedto 90 toNew Yorl
to-day to attend to that wedding hel
sisters You recollecL They started
early Cat o clock) for the station, an,
] don I expect them back until long af
ter we're in bed tonight ! cant leav
the house and Ford to take care o
themselves
son, yes, You can laughed Uncl
Pepper Ford might 90 along, if
wouldn't be u hot and stupid day II
town for him, We shall be so busy
Leave him good luncheon, and lc
him keep house by himself for once
Leo will help him, You wouldn't min,
IT, eh Ford?'
Ford laughed, too, and said that h
rather guessed not.
even not be later in getting HON
than six O'Clock, | suppose said Aun
Pepper, reluctantly conscnting.
ooh, dear, no. replied the major
land Ford will have fine appetite ic
a late dinner
A half hour later Ford and Leo, Il
one with his hand and the other vii
his active. il unimportant, tail, wave
major and Mrs. Pepper goodbye fro
the broad piazza, and then turned thcr
selves about TO begin the work of pas
ing 4 Jolly day together Ford did n
like 10 leave the house for any length
time.
A wooden swing he was contriving
the garden, the arrangement Of his co
lection of Indian relics and u letter
bis roommate at the school--one llarl
North--took up all the forenoon.
This latter, or letter business, WI
still on hand, and Ford was scratcht
away at IL in the summer-house, VIII,
Leo suddenly growled. Then he spral