Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-01-19
Ma and His Dog.

He made motion with his hand to.
ward tue door, but the boy fingered,
twirl ng his well-worn cap in his hand.
please, Sir, he said, at length, I've
dog, real clever little chtp. Mothers
ont washing all day, and | don't know
where to leave him. He follows me
round everywhere, and ii l sho nd
turn him ont by himself he mig hit ges
lost. Would you mind, sir. if he sat
in the entry while | was inside?'
1t was a novel re quest for the new
Office boy to make, and the head of the
firm frowned; but, fortunately for the
boy, he was fond of. dogs.
Have you got the animal with you:"
he inquired.
Eyes, sir" was the eager answer
Right outside, sir
He followed the boy ont through tho
front Office, where three clerks were
sitting, writing busily.
The dog, small Scotch terrier, was
lying on the pavement, his bright eyes
fixed on the door, patiently waiting for
his master to come.
He is not bad, not bad ut all. " said
the head of the firm, surveying him
ClIllt atiN' iOti Noul'ih VAIN w sen
him, now"
Please, ST, - said the boy, flushing,
I'D n deal rather have Mop than tho
money he'd bring"
"Well, we'll" said the gentleman,
somewhat touched by the boys evidenf
devotion to his little favorite, keep
the deg, and b:ing him every morning,
if he gives no trouble"
And so the matter was settled. How
proud and happy Mop and his master
felt, as they ran home through tho
streets of the city that afternoon, to
think that they had obtained the covet,
ed position!
Il wonder, Mop" said tn boy,
whit jim Elder will say whan h.
h ars of it. | guess h wanted tho
position mos rs bad as we did" And
Map wagged his tail as if to say he
WIS glad they ha | be II the succ ssful
candidates.
Sudd My the tall, ungainly figure
of the subject of their thoughts
loome be ore them, with dark SC ,wl
on his face.
Il say, Nat Meadows" he com.
melcal, so | hear you've snelked into
that place. You knew | wanted it,
and it was mighty mean; thlts all
have 10 SAY. Everywh re, in schoo,
and out OF it, You are always getting
mo my way"
He spoke with a mixture Of despai,
and pas SION that was pitiful to see.
Il can't say I'm srrty | got tn
place" s,i Nat, gently; "but 1 wish
YOU had ona, too, jim"
ooh, it il all very well for YOU to
say that" said the boy. Get out OF
my way!" AMI h gave the too in.
quisi!ive Mop ii kick with his foot. an
was off the next instant down side
stree. Mop pursued him, hlrk;na
furiously; but Nat called him back,
and they w,nt home quite soberly to.
gethtr
The next morning Nat comm anced
his work, and very soon had b come Il
great favor t. with tn clerks, as well
as with the head of e firm He wa.
Away co lscientio Is, prompt and
obllging and full of rtain brigh
hlm)r tn 1t rough freshness and If
into the quiet office, Mop, instead o!
beng a trout le, was great anus
mem; and the young men tau2ht II m
numb of tricks, Cf which he was
VIZ proud. Somnt III the noticed
q sh d OF anXiet an troIhle on Matt
bright face: but the Id no. know
TINT Oh the boys wa home at night
he w.s OFT N ~ Djected to petty perse-
ou ions that he found it hard to bear.
Oae morn ne h burs into the offic
with ia III ne e,es and the tears run,
ming down his fac. The clerks looked
up in cons ,ernati IN.
What i the matter?" one of them
asked anXiously.
Jim Elders killed NY dog" cried
Nat, pass onately. co I'D stand any,
thing h did to me, but Mop"
He stopped. 1t seem as if he could
MT 60 on
~ hat shame, How did he do it?"
askc his SYM athiz.ng and indignant
| stenerS.
Threw stone a him and hit him
in tha Aea l." sad Nat, in smothered
tone when l took him up he was
quite dead"
Where is tn wretchel boy?" they
asked with righteous Indignation.
He cut and run while | was seeing
to Mop" C led Nat. de &c 'edlv. ooh.
there Is no use talking any more about
it,"
The boy went around for the mex.
few days looking as il he had lost
near and dear friend, and they all .rl.
profoundly sorry for him Un his wav
home in the evening Nat looked in vain
for the destroyer of his dog, intending
to take SUMMARY yeng ance ON him,
but nowhere did he see him.
81 guess he knows enough to keen
out of my way" he thought gloomily.
20 Mop, Mop, how l miss YOU"
Not long afterward messenger bov
came into the Office with a note directed
to Master Nat Meadows, from one Of
the nurses in - Hospital.
There is boy in my warl," the
note ran, every i'll with a kind of low
fever. He says he has done you an in
jury and cannot rest until he sees you.
Will You come to him.
at must be Jim Elder, thought Nat,
and | don't want to 60"
All his life Nat had been taught by
his honest, Woodworking mother to
listen to the voice of conscience, and
do always what is right. Yet it was
hard to put down anger and n sense of
injury and injustice done to himself and
his compani)n, Mop. But the mex
afternoon he walked slowly up to the
l,ou,oikoI