The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-05-01
ROLLY BRICKS TWO FRIENDS.

R0LlY BRICKS TWO FRIENDS.
Margaret Eytinge in Good Cheer for March
There sat the little dog yet, and that
was the fourth time Picnic had passed
that way since morning-twice going to
and twice coming from school. Lunch
time she had brought a small bit Of
bread and mouthful Of meat from home
Cher folks were poor and could not spare
more), and coaxing him, with out
stretched hand and kind words, to come
down the long fight of steps to where
she stood on the sidewalk, she had fed
them to him, but he had swallowed
them in great haste, and, with CRATE
full wave of his curly tail and a thankful
look in his brown eyes, had hurried
back again. 1t was a dreary place-the
building to which these steps belonged,
SO dreary that it seemed strange
that even a dog would choose
to lnger there. A great,
grey building, dark and funereal in
every stone of its Egyptian architecture
with massive doors and barred
windows, it cast gloom all about it,
and one looking up at its strong walls
could not but think with heart ache
of the many poor wretches who had
been and still were imprisoned within
them. Picnic lived about block away
in a little, old, tumble-down wooden
house, in dirty, crowded street. Her
father was 1ongshoreman, and worked
hard, early and late, to earn enough to
support his family in the humblest way,
and her mother, a cheerful, kind-heart-
ed woman, had as much as she could do
to look after her five children, all girls,
of whom Picnic, IL years old was the
eldest.
Well, Phenie's to and from school led
past the Tombs, that dreadful place
where criminals are kept in cells so
that they may do no harm to their fell
low-creatures; and one morning-it was
morning in early September-as she
passed it she saw, as have already told
you, little dog sitting at the top of the
long broad steps. He was not pretty
dog, not at all pretty dog. In fact he
was rather an ugly dog. He was COW
cred with shaggy, yellowish-brown hair,
half of one of his ears had been torn of, ,
very likely in street fight. and he ha d
the most comical S-shaped tail that ever
curled over dogs back. Picnic glanced
at him kindly as she went by, for she
was very fond of animals, but did not
give him another thought until when,
on her way to lunch, she spied him still
sitting in the same place. Then, think
ing he might be hungry, she won his
dog heart by bringing him, on her way
back something tQueat. School out, he
was there yet. And there he remained
for four days, receiving gratefully each
noon what the child could spare from
her own not too plentiful meal. And
Saturday coming, her morning work
over, she could not rest until she had
run to the foot of the steps and looked
up to see if he was still there. Yes,
there he was, waving his flag at sight
of her.
II wonder who he belongs to- won
der why he don't go away" she said to
herself as she had said many<times be-
fore. II wish could find out" And
seeing policeman whom she had long
known by sight stopping to pat the dog
as he came down the steps she took cour-
age and asked him when he had reached
her side, "Do you know that little dog?"
II made his acquaintance few days
ago" answered the policeman.
"Will you please, if you've got time,
tell me why he STAYS here?"
"His matters inside" said the police
man who was jolly, good natured fell
low, and looked as though he'd rather
be beaten himself than beat anybody else
with the heavy club he carried.
"His master" repeated Picnic.
eyes, his master, Rolly Brick, a boy q
little bigger than you. He stole a ban
ana off a fruit woman's stand and they
chased him, the poor young scamp, as
if he'd stole a diamond. And that dog
up there run with him, both of 'em 60
ing as hard as they could pelt. And
when he was caught that dog tried to
fight for him. But it wasn't any use,
the fruit-woman was determined to send
him up, said twasn't the first thing, by
a joyful, he'd stole from her. And SO
they took him in, aud that dogs set
there ever since. 'Spect they'll kick
him into the street soon's lsolly's sent
away"
sob! will he be sent away?" said
Picnic. "When?"
"In an hour or two I reckon
"But suppose the banana woman
don't come to make complaint against
him?"
Don't half think she WILL" said the
policeman. "She's over her mad by
this time. But he'll go all the same,
cause he's vagrant."
GA vagrant?"
eyes, vagrant amt got any friends
or any home"
Back went Picnic to the little old,
tumble-down wooden house to have a
long earnest talk with her mother, and
to make herself as neat as possible, and
before an hour had passed she made
one of throng that filled the court
room where a number of law breakers
were to be sentenced that morning. But
she was not moment too soon. The
case had been called earlier than the
policeman had thought it would be,
and in the prisoners dock stood boy
with bright, dirty face, and in clothes
so battered and torn that he looked like
an animated bag.
"No friends" the Judge was just say
ing, as Picnic, with great lump in her
throat, and her heart beating as though
it would fly out of her breast, walked
bravely up the courtroom and stood be-
fore him.
please, Mr.. Judge, he has friends,
two friends" she said.
The Judge looked over his spectacles
at her. where are they?" he asked.
Zone is settin' out on the front stoop,"
she answered. "He's little dog, an
he's been a-settin' there ever since his
master was took up. He was there all
through that awful rain yesterday an
that dreadful thunder storm day before.
An, Mr.. Judge" she went on, getting
Drawer and Drawer as she apoke, "Rolly
Brick can't be such a very bad boy If
such good little dog loves him so much.
An the other friends me-"