News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-06-24
PATSY'S LITTLE DOG.
By Edwin II. TRAFToS.

BY EDWIN H. TRAFToN.
1t was only man. boy, and dog.
They came into Jefferson Market Police
Court, and quietly took seats in the
back part of the dimly lighted, gloomy
room, where the shadows always make
ii seem as though there never was such
thing as sunshine in all the world.
"They have some friend among these
miserable prisoners, l thought, "and
have come to see what the judge will do
with them"
Then 1 noticed that policeman had
followed them in, and was sitting close
by.
ooh, yes" / said to myself; "that
boy stole the dog to sell to the dog
catchers, and the policeman caught
him. His father came along to see what
is done with perhaps to testify
that his child is incorrigible, and to ask
that he be sent to some institution till
be s of age"
wasn't sure from where sat, but I
thought saw the boy dab his fist into
his eyes once or twice. OF course he
was sorry he had got into trouble, the
most hardened criminals feel sorry for
that. But why did he hold the little
dog so close to him all the timei
Would boy want to hug stolen
dog9
''Patsy Murphyl' the clerk called, in
loud voice All the wretched men
and women had been disposed of; the
prisoners dock was empty. The judge
lay back in his big arm m-chair, and
yawne1 as though glad he was so nearly
through with the mornings business.
He looked as if he had been up late the
night before, and was bored with the
bother of having to say, ''Ten days, or
''Thirty days" so many times.
''Patsy Murphyw the clerk called
again, still louder, and in harsher
tone, as though it were personal
grievance that prisoners should not bob
up before him like Jacks-in-a-box the
instant he wanted them.
Coming SIR" said the policeman,
and l saw he was leading the way for
the man, the boy, and the dog. As
they came to the railing that separates
the spectators seats from the wide space
in front of the judge, there was sin
gle step down, and then, as the boy
gently guided the man by taking his
arm, | saw, for the first time, that the
man was blind.
"Wrong, after all, l again thought.
''This is a professional beggar. The
boy and the dog go around with him.
There is a law against mendicants,
and that is why they were brought
here"
The face of the man had sad, pa
thetic look, as do the faces of all blind
persons. The boys clothes were poor,
and covered with many patches. His
face and hands were dirty; but it was
not a bad face There are some clean
faces that are bad, and some dirty faces
that are good. His was dirty good
face. There were muddy streaks in the
dirt leading from the eyes down over
the cheeks.
''Well?" said the judge, inquiringly,
turning from some visitors with whom
he had been cracking jokes. You've
no idea how much fun an experienced
police court Judge can extract from the
cases of the miserable folk who daily
pass before him, for the entertainment
of boon companions who drop in for an
hour ''to see the show" the same as
they would at the minstrels' or q
circus
A short, frowning faced fellow step
ped brisky to the bar. He had short,
coarse, red hair, standing out from his
head like bristles; while his little, sharp,
nervous eyes, peerlng out from an un-
! derbrush of shaggy, fiery eyebrows,
giving him a particularly y repulsive
look.
"Well, you see, your honor, Mr..
"Stopp said the Judge. 'What's
your name 2''
Heinrich Schwab, and Mr.. Judge,
your honor"
"Stop, stop" said the Judge again.
care you the complainant in this casep'
II should say l was. I'm letter
carrier, your honor, Mr.. Judge, and |
have to go into the yard of the tene.
ment house where these Murphys live
They've got a dangerous, yelping cur
that acts like mad dog. Yesterday
afternoon had to go through the yard
to deliver letter for woman on the
second floor, and when l was passing
peaceably along, the Murphys dog flew
at me and bit me on the leg, and l had
all could do to get away; and what
want, Mr.. Judge, your honor, is to have
the dangerous brute killed, according
to law"
Schwab had talked so fast he was out
of breath, while his stubby red hair
stood out straighter and fiercer than
ever.
''Are you Patsy Murphy 2" asked the
judge, turning to the blind man.
mo, your honor; Patsy's my boy.
The dog belongs to him. II is kindly
dispositioned little thing, your honor.
and she's just like child in the house,
Every one likes her, your honor, except
this man. She never harmed baby,
let alone grown man"
''Don't you believe him, your honor,
Mr., Judge" broke in schwab. 1T
amt"