The sun., 1885-12-24

pie laug Thing together, and it relieved
me good deal.
"He's q tramp-chap, doctor, who's
been hanging about here, these last
two days. After no good, think"
said the butcher. "But he's gone off
now, and | don't s'pose he'll come
back"
"And was the dog fastened on to
him stili?" l said, anxiously.
"Oh no, SIR" cried another of the
group. "Just as he got here he trip
ped and fell, and your dog went fly
ing, with a great bit of the chaps
coat in his mouth.
Eyes, and he held on to it, too, and
stood there growing when the tramp
chap got up and limped off. Say,
doctor, if you ever part with that dog,
I'll buy him of YOU"
Relieved in mind, but a little puzzled,
too, at this display of savagery, and
asking myself whether, perhaps after
all, for my aunt's sake, had not bet
ter part with Jackson, / went on my
round, saw several patients, feeling as
important as a young doctor should,
forgot all about Jackson and my
aunt, and finally made my way home
pretty tired, and then all at once the
dogs adventure came to my mind.
For, as let myself into the pas
sage, and was in the act OF hanging up
my hat, | suddenly stood as if petri-
fed, for from out of the little parlor,
whose door stood open, came the
sound of my aunt's voice speaking
softly, in a cooing, gentle, tender way,
words such as | never expected to
hear her utter
''And he was a dear, good, old, faith
full doggie, then, he was. And he did
love the cross, ,disagreeable aid woman,
he did, he did"
Then there was low, soft, whining
howl, from Jackson unmistakeable,
for knew his voice. 1t was just the
sound he made when he had his legs
broken and tied up the splints.
Pow-wow-o-o-o-o!
''Did she hurt him then, poor old
doggie? But it will do it good, it
willard comfort it, it will
POw-wOw-o-o-o-O!
This again from Jackson; and there
was the sound of water splashing,
while when | stood In the doorway,
there was my aunt npon her knees by
the fire with basin of water and a
sponge, talking away tenderly to Jack
son, who was patiently holding his
out, resting his great ugly jowl on my
aunt,s white hand, while she busily
sponged away at one of his eyes,
which l saw at @ glance was very
much injured, and bleeding freely
On the hearth-rug there was large
piece of torn cloth, evidently part of a
collar, and on the edge of the fender
two of my aunt's clean pocket-hand-
kerchiefs, one folded bandage-fashion,
and the other formed into pad.
So much matter-of-fact surgery was
being displayed that 1 stopped and
Observation-Disclosures at seeing
this newborn affection for my old
friend. And there 1 stood, while my
aunt went on talking tenderly as she
bathed, Jackson tenderly answering
with a sympathetic howl, never even
finching, though he must have been
in a great deal of pain.
''There!" she said; and now his old
mistress will go and fetch him a
shawl, and she'll fold it up, and he
shall lie on it till he gets well, and-O
George, how you startled mel" she
cried; and l saw that her face was wet
with tears. L..
"Why, auntie, what's the natter"
Matter, my dear? Why, ahorrible
great tramp met me right away from
the village, and begged she cried,
volubly; "and he seemed so poor
that took out my purse and gave
him a shilling, when he looked up and
down theroad, and seeing no one near,
he snacthed my purse out ofmy hand.
Then ne seized my watch-chain, and
tried to drag it off; but clung to it
and shrieked out, when that dear,
good, brave dog flew at him."
"Wuph- NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
barked Jackson, fiercely.
Eyes, he did, dear, good dog him!"
cried my aunt, affectionately; land
the savage man kicked him with his
heavy boot in the eye, and knocked
him down, but Jackson got up and
rushed at him, and the man ran of,
and the dear dog seized him as he ran
away"
"And did heg your purse, auntie?"
"No, my dear, he dropped it, and
when I got home, the poor dog lay
there with his eye bleeding dreadfully,
and-and I declare, I'll never go for a
walk without him again!"
AS she spoke she knelt down to pat
and stroke the injured dog, who whined
softly, and then licked her hand.
My aunt did not draw her hand
away. but looked up at me with her
eyes streaming.
"Now, look here, auntie," I said one
day, months after, "he's getting too
fat. l will not have him petted So"
OF course / don't believe in that dog
being demon, but I'll make affidavit
before any judge that that dog smiled
at me- and winEAd.