Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-05-23
THE iDYL or THE WOOD
THE TALE or A PET PUG DOG


n silvery voice in the woods of West
chester that made the tender buds
culver with emotion and cause chIrlp-
ing birds to cease their carols IN won
der
Again and again the cry was repeat,
cd but no sound was heard save the
echo of the maiden's voice and the
plaintive peep, peep, peep, oil the
tremulods toned trec-toad.
ION, dearl What shall | do2" said
the young lady, sitting down in des-
pair GA moss grown stump at the
edge of the forest. Aunt will never
forgive me if | come back without
HIM
Then she burst into flood of tears
s., copous that the parched plants
raised their leaves in mute gratitude
at the unexpected shower and appear
ed to appreciate 1t, even though 1t was
briny. One tiny tear, like a peilucid
pearl rolled down the broad leaf OF a
fern and dropped right in the mouth
Of an astonished frog that had been a
silent spectator OF the singular scene
before him. Smacklng his lips with
the gusto Of gourmaHd, he leapnd TO
an adjacent toad stool and hid beneath
it, friendly shelter For the first time
in his life that fresh frog had tasted
salt water, and visions of Coney
Island danced through his emerald
hued head
Diana st Vernon was an orphan
a fair girl of about sixteen summers
and lived with her aunt in Harlem.
She was visiting some friends at New
ntyy
and, on the day our story opens, had
started out for trip through the
woods lar ouly companion was
beautiful ugly pug dog, who was
homcly enough TO stop clock, but IN
the eyes Of his young mistress he was
as pretty as picture.
She purchased hun a few months
previous Of pcddler who claimed to
have brought up the dog from in
fancy.
While she walked along through
the woods with Carlo at her side she
heard "A peculiar whistle. The dog
stopped pricked up his ears, bent his
head down aud listened intent ~; then,
darling of like an arrow iii the dlrec
ton of the sound, he soon disappeared,
needless of the calls OF his mistress.
After weeping and waiting in vain
for an hour, Diana started in search of
her lost pet She wandered on and on,
until she was SO fatigucd she could
hardly walk but she saw no signs OF
Carlo
Heartsck and weary she finally
gave up her search and attempted to
rctrace her steps. She hal taken no
notirr of her surroundings while
pluuging madIy along through the
thick underbrush, and was utterly be
wlldcrcd Darkness was rapidly com
ing on and she feared she would have
to spend the night in the lonely woods,
where the gauut trees Hung their arms
above hSr like ghostly s"ntnels.
The tWiAkIlng of II hight ia the dis
lance caught her eye and she sought
the shelter which II bctokened. 1t was
n small hut, so dIIapidated that it
seemed III imminent danger of drop
ping down from sheer exhaustion. In
response to her timId knock voice
sang out:
who's dar2'
cit is lost girl, shelsaid, hesita
tingly. Then tre door opened, dis
closing the face of baldheaded old
darkcy who grtnncd with delight at
the sight of such an unexpected
guest He stared ut her so long that
she became somewhat impatient and
said:
Can YOU show me the nearest way
to New RDchellc2'
'Golly, Miss" he exclaimed;
"'scuse me. Fore de Lawd, fought
sal
yer, honeyi Wal, Use pow'ful sorry;
but rs I'm gwlne right up to de
village, I'll show yer de way"
"I.ll pay you well for your trouble,
if you hurry up, said Diana.
Don't want no pay, Miss. kase
faint very oifun git "A chance, to
'scort such a pooty gal, | kin tell yer,
Just then Il dog bounded forward
with a joyful bark and placed his nose
in Diana hand
"Why, it's Carlo" she exclaimed
"Wherc did you get this dog she
demanded of the darliey, who stood
by with his eyes almost hanging out
on his sable sheckS.
MARS Wilkins lef' him hea h.
Miss. OATS Mars Wilkins dog
Jack
Aud, pray, who is the gentleman
that lays claim@to my dog2' asked
Diana in a Scurnful tone.
Deed, Miss, dat yere dog longs to
Mars Wilkins. fur Suah; kaSe raised
HIM myself and gin him to Mars
Wilkins las var"
We'll, we won't dispute this cues
uon now. Be kind enough to show
me the way to the village Come,
Carlo
The discounted darkey led the way
and they soon reached the town.
Diana liber !, rewarded her dusky
escort, anu, accompanied by Carlo.
soon reached the house of her friend.
Wallace Viking lived in hand
some residences IN the charming vii
lage of New Rochelle He was n
wealthy bachelor young and hand
some. and the hardest work he had
t. do was cutting coupons off his
bonds
While walking through the woods
on Lls place one day he whiStled an
air that was known only To himself
and his favorite dog, Jack, who had
been stolen from hun last winter by
some tramp. A short quick bark
startled him from his reverie, and to
his great establishment his long lost
dog leaped upon him.
Why, Jack, old fcllowl' he ex-
claimed, where did you come FRONT"
But Jack was SO delighted h. could
only yell.
ITS curious" thought Wallace
that this creature should come
down upon me at the very moment
am thinking of him. But l can't take
HIM with me now, as I'm going to the
city this evening. | guess l II leave
HIM with old Claus on my way to the
depot"
Old Claus had for many years been
a squatter on Mars WIkins's" place,
and devoted all his time to the caring
for the chickens of his ncighbors and
suudry jobs of whitewashing. He Was
quite dog fanc,er ia an humble
way, and whenever he succeeded in
raising a fair specimen ne would pre-
sent it to Mr.. Wilkins, who always
paid him ten times more than the
animal was worth.
i - I. II