The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-01
Five Gents.

Supper was waiting and when the good
farmer came in we sat down to good sub
stantial meal and / assure you that mOdesty
did not prevent me from smoothing out the
wrinkles of my little bread basket. Han
nah did not forget Tray.
SupperOver we soon retired for the night,
| in bed of feathers two feet deep. and
Tray was given tho liberty of the house,
which liberty he used in such manner as
to incur the lasting displeasure of the good
wife and debar himself from ever enjoying
the like privilege again.
Poor Tray, he was only a little. mex
perlenced pup and | cannot blame him, but
| verify believe that Ills imprudent conduct
brought upon me. as well as himself, the dis
favor of the good wife. Good wife by
courtesy Only.)
Before we begin with our farming ex-
perience which will be brief, will give you
a short description of the family. The head
of the family was the most even tempered,
kind hearted man ever knew. and / don't
think | ever heard him say an unkind word
to man or beast. His wife, well, she was
his direct opposite, except at rare inter
walls, when she was the most atfectiOnate
person ever saw. The daughter was
great pet but resembled the mother most.
When l awoke the next morning there
was every indication OF storm, and by the
lime got dressed it broke forth with great
fury. Although it was only a domestic
storm, yet it was terrible. The frantic
cries of poor Tray could be distinctly heard
above the peels of Irish thunder. There
was llghtning-the good farmer lit out for
the barn and lit after him. He looked
very grave but said nothing. By the time
we got through feeding the stock the STORM
had ceased and we returned to the house.
On the way l saw poor Tray sitting behind
the smOke-house rubbing his ear with his
paw and moaning ptifulIy That morning
was the beginning of the end Such scenes
were almost of daily occurrence during the
few weeks we remained there. First Tray
would be the victim. then me; and then the
good farmer. L and Tray had our faults but
| could see none in the farmer.
One morning the good wife came out of
the door with pan of old biscuits, and call
ing Tray she pitched him one which he
caught on the fly. but not closing on it quick
enough it passed down without chewing.
Several more met with the same fate--She
heSitated-he wagged his tail and nodded
his head-she gave it slow, meaning toss
he took it in--fatal error. Then with
terrible curse she hurled pan and all at his
defenceless head She turned and went
quietly into the house. but felt that some
thing was going to happen, and it did.
That same day l heard her Informing the
good farmer that boy and pup must both go,
and we did the next day. | believe he good
farmer pited us both and thought it his
duty to return us to our homes SO he put
us into the wagon again and we bid farewell
to farm life. remember that was not at all
sorry to leave the place. but the farmer had
been very kind to me and l had formed
great friendship for him and was little
him.
When we arrived in town we did not wait
to be taken home. but jumped out and Tray
followed anI we went for our different homes
as fast as our legs could carry us. l must
conclude SO ! will sketch the remainder as
briefly as possible. The farmers wife made
life such burden to him that he took to
drink. and | saw him many and many a
time lying in the gutter or under his wagon,
dead drunk.
Tray became town loafer, got into bad
company. lost his good name, and when dog
days came he fell into the hands of the dog
catcher. and having lost all his friends but
me, and as l was without money Orintluence
to get him out of the pound he was eyecut-
ed.
My own life so far has been similar to that
of poor Tray. ! am in the pound, but not ex-
ecuted as yet.
Now. dear reader. don't say that the
simile should have been carried ont to the
bitter end. l.. p.
C,,t~ H.