Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-02-04
FIDO'S LITTLE FRIEND.
Why He Did Not Answer Those
Who Called to Him.

One morning in May Fido sat on the
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 unfeeling
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.
"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
gilt cage, and there is 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-
ingly only few days ago that she
longed 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 sin as hypocrisy. So
when Fido saw the little canary bird in
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 ont of the old hollow maple
over the way. This was the red-head.
ed woodpecker, who had warm, cozy
nest far 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 woodpecker from hel
high perch. "You are out bright ant
early to-day. And what do you think
of our new neighborsp'
"Upon my word, / can not tell" re-
piled Fido, wagging his tail cheerily
''for | am not acquainted with them
But have been watching them closely
and by to-day noon l think | shall b.
on speaking terms with them-pro
vided, of course, they are not the cross
unkind people our old neighbour
were"
.Oh, l do so hope there are no littl,
boys in the family" sighed the red
headed woodpecker; and then sht
added, with much determination and {
defiant toss of her beautiful head: g
hate little hoysr'
"Why SOP" inquired Fido, LAS fol
myself, love little boys | have al
ways found them The pleasantest o
companions Why do you dislik,
themp"
because they are wicked" said tn,
red-headed woodpecker. .'They climl
trees and break up the nests we hav,
worked so hard to build, and they stea
away our lovely eggs-oh,'l hate littl'
boysr'
''Good little boys don't steal birds
eggs said Fido, land I'm sure
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 {,
the linden over yonder, where, she ha,
heard the thrush say. there lived
family of fat, white grubs. The red
headed woodpecker wanted her break
fast, and it would have been hard t.
lind more .palatable morsel for he
than white, fat grub.
As for Fido, he sat on the from
porch and watched the people NOV
inc in. And as he watched them h
thought of what the red-headed wood
pecker had said, and he wondere,
whether it could be possible for littl
bows to be so cruel as to rob birds nests
As he brooded over this sad possibilit
his train of thought was interrupted b
the sound of voice that fell pleasant
m his ears.
Google, google, goggie!m said tn
voice. ..Tum here, little goggie-tun
here, google, google, google"
Fido looked whence the voice SCENE,
to come and be saw tiny figure on tn
other side OF the fenee-a cunning baby
figure in the yard that belonged to tn
house where the new neighbors >wer
moving in. A second glance assure
Fido that the calling stranger was
little boy not more than three year
old, wearing a pretty dress and a broa
hat that concealed his yellew hair an
shaded his big blue eyes and dimple
face. The sight was pleasing on
and Fido sibrated his tail-very eau
tiouslv. however. for Fido was nc
quite certain that the little boy mean
his greeting for him, and Fido's sa
experience with the old neighbors ha
made him wary about scrsping az
euaintsnces too hastily,