The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-02
"TICKET. !"

GU 500, L hIu WAop POcRAO SUA~ 49, O~~-
maid" and live good deal alone in the
old house, not having any nieces or
nephews to live with me and make the
place bright and sunshiny.
have to make friends with all the chill
dren in the village, and that's the way
came to know Ticket. To be sure Ticket
isn't a ohild, he's only dog, but he
knows as much as some children-grown
folks, too, for that matter.
Right across the street from my house
live Tessie, Jessie and Joe Hamilton
their real names are Theresa, Jessica and
Joseph, and I'm just old-fashioned
enough to wish their mamma would call
them by those names, but she doesn't
and can't expect to manage everybody
il I am "aunt" to the whole village.
To 90 back to my story. 1 remember
the day Mr.. Hamilton brought Ticket
home. He was small Gordon setter
pup. and even then seemed very know
ing. Joe brought him over ito see his
Aunt Deborah" as he said, that same
day. His dogship did not wish to go
anywhere, and set his feet-even sat
down-to show that he objected; but the
collar was stout and the chain strong, SO
Joe brought him in q way that made the
poor dog look as if he were being choked
to death. MIR. Hamilton named him
"Ticket" because he wanted him to
have a name unlike other dogs; then
he told the children ticket was useless
il it was punched" and SO then Ticket
would be good for nothing if punched.
pounded or kicked. They must treat
him kindly always.
Well, they did treat him kindly. and if
I were to write book I could scarcely
tell all the wonderful things Ticket learn,
ed to do. He would go to the office for
the mail with his mail basket, and take
letters to the office in the same way. Mrs.
Hamilton would often send him over
with a note to me, tying it on his collar,
saying, "Take it to Aunt Deborah" He
would then come over the fences il the
gates were shut, to my, sitting room win
dow, which opened on the veranda; and
he was always glad to "wait for an an
swer," for he liked the cakes kept on
hand for him and the children.
Tessie sent me note one day by
Ticket, and this was what it said:
"DeAR ANTie KUN TO TE WITH
TIKeT AN Me-" xef1tsa
/ went to "te" Jessie had her little
table out under the trees, and che,
Ticket, the dolls, Jessie, Joe and I had a
fine time. Ticket sat in q chair with
bib on and was as we'll behaved as the
dolls, which is saying a good deal for
live dog. Tessie told me afterward she
spent the whole morning making up that
invitation = "Cause it's poetry, you
know
As Ticket grew older he became ia
nous watch. dog. MIR. Hamilton used to
worry about my being alone so much
and trained Ticket, whenever tramp or
peddlsr come along, to stay on my veranda
until he went by. It's no wonder I
grew to love the dog, for he seemed to
think was under his especial care and
he was responsible for my safety. He
would see tramp long before any one
else knew there was one about, and no
one ever came who was brave enough to
open the gate when Ticket showed his
white teeth and growled.
One morning, glancing down the road,
saw an Irishman trudging toward the
house with bundle swung over his
shoulder. smiled and turned toward
Tickets place on the porch to speak to
my faithful friend, but he wasn't there
Just then saw Tessie, Jessie and Joe
rushing in at the gate, hair flying and
eyes swollen and red.
30 auntie," they exclaimed, all in a
breath, Tickets goneF"
"Ticket gonel Where?"
"Oh, we don't know" and the girls
cried, while Joe. fairly howled. "Papa
says he's stoled."
And SO it was. Ticket had been stolenl
The whole village was excited over it.
Notices were posted up and rewards Of