The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-07-06
TOMS DOG.
A Singular Companionship, and How 1t
Was Formed.


If you were to meet my dog Tom by
night, as he paced to and fro about the
house, keeping guard over the sleep
ing family, you would perhaps be
alarmed. His head is enormous, and
his expression is fierce. His eyes are
red; his large mouth is usually half
open, showing his long, stout teeth;
his coat is rough and shaggy; his tail
is formidable, and his footsteps leave
in the dust of summer or 1.-THE snow of
winter marks as big as the palm of q
man's hand.
And yet he is most peaceable ami
NAL. The children ride him bareback.
The babies clinch their pretty fists in
his hair and hang on to his tail and
pull his ears. and he bears it all with
unfailing amiability. Moreover, if you
come suddenly upon him, as he lies in
the path. and by accident tread upon
his tail. he will perhaps make a dig
niied protest, but he will bear no mall
ice. There is one thing, however, that
Tom will not permit. and that is, any
sort of Interference with his dog.
What. Toms dog? Yes, he has had a
dog Of his own for two years. | will
tell you how it happened.
One day, as l sat on the veranda
smoking cigar, l saw Tom come to
the usual place for his dinner. The
cook had put out a big dish of meat
C,,1 tot fpr hi,,, ,Uhio1, h.
devourcd, and then he turned to a
generous heap of chicken bones, which
seemed to serve him in some manner
as q side dish or possibly as dessert.
just at that moment a doleful-looking
object crawlcd out from under the
hedge. 1t was q wretched little ami
NAL, yellow in color, its hide bare in
spots, lonMnosed, gaunt, its ribs show
ing like The hoops on powder-keg.
and bcda1)cd with dirt. There it
crouched, with its tail between it's
legs, its muzzle thrust forward. its
ears dropping, shifting the aroma of
the feast-the very pict,re of q half
starved, ill-used, fricndless canine. 1t
was, indeed, one of the most wretched
of all living beings, dog without a
master, dog that gets kicks instead
of carcsses. a dog that is never fed, q
dog that wanders from place to place,
sleeping under barns or warming him
self under haystacks-a poor, de-
spondent, suffering animal that ought
to arouse the pity of every kind heart.
Well. this little wretch was attract
ed by Toms dinner. and watched to
see what he would do. He looked at
the bones, and then at Tom with sup
plicating eyes. He crept slowly toward
the spot, and then skunk back, whin-
ing and trembling. He was so hungry,
and yet what would become of him if
that great, fierce beast were to become
angry and turn upon him? One stroke
from Toms big paw would end his
misery forever.
But nothing of the sort. Tom
showed no sign OF wrath. On the
contrary he looked at the newcomer
with an indulgent air, as if he were
saying: Poor chap, he must be very
hu:.gryr The yellow dog felt encour-
aged. and drew little nearer, goaded
by hunger. held back by fear He
arose, crept along a few steps, then
crouched down again. Tom became
more and more friendly. He looked
at the stranger, then at the bones.
Then he moved a yard or so, in order
that his immediate presence might not
be q source of alarm.
The yellow dog took the hint and
sprang upon the heap of bones. There
was a crunching sound, a few gulps,
and the bones had disappeared. Tom S
dessert was the strangers chief dish.
When he had eaten the whole and
licked his chops, he began to be con-
scious of sensation of gratitude. He
then walked toward Tom, wagging his