Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-01-28
FIDO'S LITTLE FRIEND.
Why He Did Not Answer Those
Who Called to Him.


front porch, and he was deep in
thought. He was wondering whether
the people who were moving into the
next house were as cross and unfeelino
as the people who had just moved out.
He hoped they were not, for the peo-
pie who had just moved out had never
treated Fido with that respect and kind.
ness which Fido believed he was on all
occasions entitled to.
1.-The newcomers must be nice
folks" said Fido to himself, "for their
feather-beds look big and comfortable,
and their baskets are all ample and
generous-and see, there goes bright
gil. cage, and there is e plump yellow
canary bird in it! Oh, how glad Mrs.
Tabby will be to see it-she so dotes on
dear little canary birds!''
Mrs. Tabby was the old brindled cat.
who was the mother of the four cum
ming little kittens in the hay-mow.
FidO had heard her remark very purr-
lngly only few days ago that she
Ionged for canary bird, just to amuse
her little ones and give them correct
musical ears. Honest old Fido! There
was no guile in his heart, and he never
dreamed there was in all the wide
world such a sin as hypocrisy. SO
when Eido saw the little canary bird i'm
the cage he was glad for Mrs. Tabby's
sake.
When Fido sat on the front porch
and watched the people moving into
the next house another pair of eyes
peeped out of the old hollow maple
over the way. This was the red-head-
ed woodpecker, who had a warm, coy
nest Tar down in the hollow maple, and
in the nest there were four beautiful
eggs, of which the red-headed wood
pecker was very proud.
GOOD morning, Mr.. Fido," called
the red-headed woodpeckcr from her
high perch. "You are out bright and
early to-day. Aud what do YOU think
of our new neighbors?"
Upon my word, l can not tell" re-
piled Fido, wagging his tail cheerily,
for l am not acquainted with them
But have been watching them closely
and by to-day noon l think l shall be
on speaking terms with thcm-pro-
vided, of course, they are not the cross,
unkind people our old neighbors
were"
..Oh, I do so hope there are no little
boys in the family" sighed the red
headed woodpecker; and then she
added, with much determination and
defiant toss of her beautiful head: II
hate little boys!'
"Why SOP" inquired Fido. GAS for
myself, 1 love little boys. 1 have al
ways found them the pleasantest of
companions. Why do you dislike
them?"
because they are wicked" said the
red-headed woodpecker. ''They climb
trees and break up the nests we have
worked so hard to build, and they steal
away our lovely eggs-oh, hate little
boys!"
Good little boys don't steal birds
eggs" said Fido, "and I'm sure l
never would play with bad boy"
But the red-headed woodpecker in
sisted that all little boys were wicked,
and. firm in this faith, she flew away to
the linden over yonder, where, she had
heard the thrush say. there Eved
family of fat, white grubs. .rte red
headed woodpecker wanted her break
fast, and it would have been hard to
find more palatable mOrsel for her
than a white, fat grub.
As for Fido, he sat on the front
porch and watched the people NOV
ing in. And as he watched them he
of what the re1-headed wood
pecker had said, and he wondered
it could be possible for little
boys to be so cruel as to rob birds nests.
As he brooded over this sad possibility
his train of thought was interrupted by
the sound of a voice that fell pleasantly
On his ears.
Google, google, goggie"' said the
voice. 'Tum here, little goggie-tum
here. google, google, goggie!"
Fido looked whence the voice seemed
to come and he saw tiny figure on the
other side of the fence-a cunning baby
figure in tie yard that belonged to the
house where the new neighbors were
in. A second glance assured
Cido that the calling stranger was a
little boy not more than three years
BID, wearing pretty dress and broad
hat that concealed his yellow bair and
shaded his big blue eyes and dimpled
lace. TIE sight was pleasing one
and Fi.io vibrated his sail-very eau
however, for Fido was not
quite certain that the little boy meant
bis greeting for him, and Fido's sad
experience with the old neighbors had
made him wary about scraping &C
too hastily.