The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-12-25
came upon group OF tho village peo.
'nla launching together. and IL raliavad

pie laughing together, and it relieved
me u good deal.
"He's a 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 l don't s'pose he'll come
back"
and was the dog fastened on to
him stili?" / 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 great bit of the chaps
coat in his mouth.
eyes, and he held OH 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 q little puzzled,
too, ut this display of savagery, and
asking myself whether, perhaps after
all, for my aunt's sake, had not bet.
ter part with Jackson, went OH INV
round, saw several patients, feeling as
important as Il 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, rs let myself into the pas
sage, and was in tho act OF hansingu up
my hat, ! suddenly stood as if petri.
fled, for from out OF the little parlor,
whose door stood open, came the
sound OF my aunt's voice speaking
softly, i'll IL cooing, gentle, tenderway,
words such Us l never expected to
hear her UTTER
"And he was u dear, good, old, faith.
full doggie, then, he was. And he did
love the cross, disagre cable aid woman,
he did, he did"
Then there was q low, soft, whining
howl, from Jackson unmistakeable,
for l 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
tho fire with n basin OF water and a
sponge, talkingaway tcnderly 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 | saw ut u glance was very
much injured, and bleeding freely.
On the hcarth-rug there was u largo
piece OF torn cloth, evidently part of a
collar, and on the edge of the fender
two OF my aumt's clean pocket-hand-
kerchiefs, one folded bandage-fnshion,
and tho other formed into Il pad.
So much matter-of-fact surgery was
being displayed that l stopped and
ilently-dclishted Mt seeing
this newborn affection for my old
friend. And there | stood, while my
aunt went on talking tenderly as she
bathed, Jackson tcnderly answering
with a sympathetic howl, never even
iinching, though he must have been
i'll II great deal OF pain.
"There!" she s;lid; 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 saw that her face was wet
with tears.
"Why, auntic, what's the matter?"
"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 shilling, when lie looked up and
down tleroaa, and seeing one near,
he snacthel my purse out ofmy hand.
Then he seized my watch-cliain, and
tried to drag it off; but clung to it
and shriekcd out, when that dear,
good, brave dog flew at him"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bowl"
barkcd Jackson, iiercely.
''les, he did, a dear, good dog him!"
cried my aunt, atfectionately; land
the savage man kicked him with his
heavy boot i'll the eye, and knocked
him down, but Jackson got up and
rushed at him, and the man ran off,
and the dear dog seized him as he ran
away"
"And did he get yourpursc, auntie?"
"No, my dear, he droped it, and
when l got home, the poor dog lay
there with his eye bleeding drcadfully,
and-and declare, I'll never 90 for a
walk without him again!"
As she spoke she knelt down to pat
and stroke thcini iured dog, who whincd
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, auntic," ! said one
day, months alter, "hc's getting TOO
tat. l will not have him pcttcd So"
OF course don't believe in that dog
being demon, but I'll make affidavit
before any Judge that that dog smiled
at NE and winkcd.
Il. MASyILLE Fem.