Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-08-13
DINKT.

There was a tradition that his mother
had been waller free niger" The
children vino lived III Jail Alley were
seldom provided with fathers of any
color.
Dinky and Spot We're comrades.
They were always seen together, and
shared alike the scraps thrown them
by the neighbors. During the daytime
they roamed through the city, going
where they pleased, and accountable TO
no man. When the days were warm
and sunny they rejolced in the gladness
of nature, and leaving behind them the
hot bricks and dusty houses of the city
the TWO vagabonds would wander off TO
the green. untenanted fields, and lie for
hours under some leafy shelter, blinking
up in the sky, or sleeping the summer
hours away. When-aroused 10y hunger
they stole if they could, and if there was
nothing to steal, Dinky would beg for
food; but this he hated to. do, and never
mportuned save where the houses were
small and their inhabitants almost as
Door as himself. During the chill and
cheerles5 DAYS of winter-which, thank
Heaven, are but few and far between
IN Richmond on the JameS-Dinky and
spot kept close together III their home :;
for Jal Alley, that narrow and ILL.,
smelling beehive of human misfortune.
was the only home the two friends
knew.
Aunt Sally, who lived in the tumble
down hOyel at the corner, might have
been called their patroness, for it was
beneath her broken and trembling shed
that they were permitted TO sleep IN
peace during the winter months. 1t
was whispered in the alley that she
knew what had become of Dinky's
mother. when she had disappeared five
years before; and, wonder OF wonders,
il was also said that Aunt Sally could
tell. if she chose, the name of Dmky's
father. She was kind by fits and starts
to her two protegeS; sometimes giving
Dmky very ragged garment that she
mad found while plying her trade, and
sometimes beating the two friends
cruelty with short, thick chair-rOund
which she kept convenient for the pur-
pose. She was very old and very black
She had but one tooth left. which pro-
iected and gave her an ugly nickname
among her associates. She was a rag
picker. fortune-teller, and a vender Of
drugs. This last means of support was
reserved fOr righteousness, and very
dark righteousness it generally proved
10 be. Girls in shawls and wells stole
guitilv down the dark and slippery
alley, and knocked with trembling fin
gers at Aunt Sally's wOrm-eaten and
bliSteTed door. ito have their fortunes
told" When the old crOne had been re-
warded, the fortune was carried of in
black bottle. Aunt Sally was her own
mistress. She hired herself from her
master, and paid him fifty dollars
year for the privilege of earning her
living.
One zorning in late October a report
was circulated around the alley that
Dnky was i'll, and that Aunt Sally had
put him in her own bed and was nurs-
Ing him. The nursing" consisted of a
good deal of shaking, many hard words,
and repeated doses of camOmlle tea
and senna. Spot sat beside the bed,
living and muddy embodiment of faith
fuI distress. The sun was shining very
mvItingly outside, and Aunt Sally's
chair-round was in frequent juXtaposi-
ton to Spots back, withindoOrs but
Spot never wayered in that allegiance
which b tOwed his sick friend, and sat
like a s1ntinel at his side. Frequently
he wa -lriven away from his post by
the chair-rOund; but he always promptly
came back, showing his white teeth in
what he meant as a reassuring smile for
Dlnky 5 encouragement.
Before many days DInKy was able to
be up ard about, and tempted by a fire.
mans parade, one morning. the two
friends walked up the main street to see
the play .Of the engines. When the
gittering display was over Dinky stood
weak, but exultant, leaning on a fire.
plug. Spot spied two big dogs fighting
over tempting bone which lay unclaim-
ed tet~een them. The little fellow |
LaG been shut up for week, and was
Wild with curiosity, acqulsltlvenesS, |
and the new-found sense of freedom. He |
started off to join the two contestants. |
DLnky saw something terrible come |
rumbiing around the corner. 1t was a
large black iron cage on wheels, drawn |
by nery black horses, in which number |
less dogs were bowling, fighting, and |
Barking. Two brawny negroes, carry
ing nets on long poles, preceded the
cart to gather up all peripatetic GUS
lacking medals and masters With a
cry Of anguish Dinky darted away to
Claim and protect his only friend But |
alas for poor Spot before Dinky's
trembling legs had accomplished half
The distance the negroes had hurled
Their nets at the three Cnfortunates,
and thrown them all together in the |
cart, which disappeared in a cloud OF |
dust.
Desperate and weeping, Dinky made
MS way to Aunt Sally.
DE dOg-ketchers dun took Spot. |
flease, please. Aunt Sally, gle me de
money ter git him out ~
Git long, lazy-bones. I'm glad dat
peSky dog is whar he orter bin long
ago"
"Oh, Aunt Sally, I'll wuk-I'll wuk
Ter you day en- night! Gle me de
money"
Whar you tink | gwine ter git two
dollars en haf? Git long," and the
o'd woman hobbled after the cralr-
founc. Dinky fled to his own corner
oi the shed. There was the place spot