Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-13
THREE LITTLE LIVES.


I'll Jest excuse We from "kln tne klNer
of that basket I'll have no more dorgs on
this place. II six able.bodied baounds amt
enough to bark at one pore, little old tramp
we'll hang our harp on wiler tree and go
into mournin'. Take en- back and put 'em
in the wagon, John; tell ye now ye can't
unkiver 'em in my haouse."
"rll let Coffman tote 'em home ag' in,
Mariar, Of ye say so; but let's bev look at
'cm first"
mo, won look at 'em; as of didn't
know what that means Vont look at the
little varmints. Purps is the most agger-
awatin' things there is; aggera~atin' by
nature, and aggerawatin agin becase va
can't get aggravated at EN-"
Here Maria began to laugh in spite Of her
self. John. who had been tampering with
the cloth over the basket had loosened it
somewhat and small black nose had
pushed through, up TO the bright, round
eyes, which were now regarding Maria In a
sort of celestial repose quite indifferen' to
her opinion of pups. After this small lump
of embodied innocence had looked at her
for moment or two it began TO bark in
that irresponsible, shrill and saucy little
bark by which puppies put in time for
their own amusement This bark, which
seeTed to bark Of itself without any vo-
lition on the part of the puppy, stopped when
it got through. And by this time two beauti
full little heads were poised on two pair of
beautiful little arms that rested on the rim
of the basket
al declar. John. they look like the picter
Of them cheerubs we see in town Z other day,
now don't theyr
"Oh. ma. ma. did YOU everT' said Kate,
rushing off for her baby sister, whom she
soon found and deposited on the floor in
front of the basket of puppies
"Now. lest look at EN-, honey" said Maria
to the baby. Here's two more babies
mighty nigh as sweet as you be.n
Baby:was looking at them gravely. Her
opiniou of them seemed to hang fire, as John
said As she looked at them they looked at
her. and presently, feeling within their
small heads a movement that might pass
muster for the shadow of an idea, they
again borked that sbrill, mear. in gless bark
with which they had greeted Maria.
The baby trembled violently and began
IN cry. John took her on his knee until she
manifested a desire TO be put on the floor
apain.
Here she eyed her strange neighbors with
great gravity. The other babies began to
watch her intently Their silken ears
dronpel forward and their round ewes took
on an anxious look. In a moment more
they broke forth in that little woo-oO-oO,
10 expressive of mental suffering. This
howl they kept up on a gradually ascending
scale until it got beyond their reach, when,
after casting their eyes about to discover
where it had gone, they looked at baby
AGAIN. AMI. with a fresh accession Of grief,
pitched their wall on lower note, to again
carry it up beyond the range Of their voices.
Now. John" said Maria at last, ''if Cotf-
man'll give you them purps for nothin' III
raise 'em; but the idee of payiu' q dollar for
'em, when we're too pore to buy baby par
OF shoes, amt 80 amoosIn' as you mout sup
pose"
..Lor, Marian, ef that's all the trouble you
needn't talk no more. Coffman jest wants
to get rid of 'em to keep from drownin'
'em.r
With these words John lifted the puppies
to the floor, and, picking up the basket,
walked out to where Coffman was sitting in
an old shambling wagon with the wretched-
est looking pal. of horses ever seen since the
days of Rosinate.
wall, what luckr asked CofYman.
''Oh, Mariar's all right" said John. "But
say, not word about that dollar. told
her YOU give 'em 10 me- an was gl ad of the
chance TO keep from drownin EN-"
John Smith could not get down to the
hard pan level of doing something useful
for living. He had a gun and a pack Of
"haounds,r and two or three half-grown
Indians in lieu Of negroes, and it kept him
scratching to keep them IN provisions. He
was convinced, however, that a mans duty
was done when he had provided meat for
his household.
John was ood -natured as long as he met
with success in hunting. At other times.
when game was scarce, or his gun out of
order, or the 'haounds" too fat, or the
Indians too lazy. poor Maria had to bear the
brunt Of his i'll. temper. The Indians could
go to the reservation IL he mistreated them,
the dogs could hide out of his way, but
where could Maria go, and what could she
doi He.could treat her as he pleased.
1t was really strange what patience he
had with his dogs A more thieving, un.
Trustworthy set of animals it would be hard
to find. Old Drive, the leader of the pack,
was more cunning in his system of robbery
than the educated city pickpocket. He was
deeply versed in the ways Of the household.
Pretending to bs asleep in the doorway, be
was secretly watching Maria's every move
ment and waiting for her to leave the room