Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-21

way got him, too.
is he mine" Well. yes, in one way.
an then 40. in another. 1t was a queer
story, anyway.
It'll it. sir: Well. If had time
might Ah. thank you, sir! A fine gen
tleni,,n Ike you can afford to be gener
otis
Now. let me see. As near as remen.
Der, i, was June, two years ago, as ]
come down stairs rather early one mor,
ing to light the fire for my old woman.
She warn't very strong then: the yolns
ster there was only couple Of month
old, an was gettin' the things all hand,
for her to get breakfast. When she CONT
down the fire was lightin' an the ket'l.
s;n~ir'-for jov If .eein' her. Tn
tiinain
"Molie was always great one foI
fresh air. so as soon as she saw that
evcr,thin' was goin' right in the kitchen
she walks to the front door. turns the
key an opens it.
We'll. quick as flash she came run
min back To me with her face kind Of
white an scared.
" On. jim! come out here to the door
Quic.i. SAYS she.
An when followed her, blessed If ]
don't see the FUNNIEST sight | ever did:
an there stood, starin like an ape.
.Yo,i SEQ. these seats on the porch are
rather cor4fnr bic to III On, an with the
vines han@in over this way, makes il
ui,,ef in ,,pint l'ga 10 haA
"oam: then the posts here an at the cor
Il, rs form good rests for the hack Well,
,fyhow. good or bad. right here, lean
~ back in the most uncomfblest way,
VAS the trampiest lookin' tramp l ever
;N. sound asleep. An On the seat be-
ide i'm, with his head on the mans lap
~as the danii,,at setter ! ever expect to
see. A vallybIe dog. sir. too. "a knew s
soon as | set eyes on him always know
4 good dog. bein' rather in the sportin'
iiue myself: an this was a genuine Cor
don setter.
Wei. sir. suppose l must have said
,oinethin'. with surprise. for to wake
them both up. The dog turned the SOL
em'est eyes 'rounu at me, askin' ME not
to make so much noise; an the man. all
rags an tatters. yawned an set up An
then. seem Molle right behind me- I'll
b.. shot sir. II he didn't stand up, take
off his piece Of a hat to her, All begin to
appoiergise for settin on our doorstep
Said he'd been overcome with fateek.'
Ny eye! for the manners of him could
hardly believe he weren't swell cove.
dressed in the latest fashion, with full
blooded stopper at the gate waitin' for
him.
Il know l must have stared at him
considerable, but, bless you, Mollie didn't
81 zen no time a starin' Till she'd asked
him into the kitchen. an when the
breakfast wa, ready She gave him. an
his dog too. a good one.
His feet We're blistered with walkin'
in shoes that left half of his feet outdoors
an half in: an as he could scarcely take
a step we made him stay with us dav
or 81 iiii they got better; but he couldn't
bear i. an the only reason. think. was
that lie Was afraid of bur,enin' u.s. But.
Lord! he did IL much for us as we did
for hm. I'll he bound. He filed the
ward with kindln's. an believe he'd a
CHOPPED all the wood in the village If
MoIiir h,4n't seen his hands all blistered
an ii, ,,liL That give him away. sure.
y gentleman born. says ! to myself
wien | sec those hands.
Then notiIn would do but Mollie
must doctor an bandage them up for
aim. IN While she was dom it she
he..Td IA sontd ike a child trying not ~
cry. an i.. Just bends down an kisses
her hand. an then he says. kind of low
an chol,ed like, more like a groan than
words. Oh. mother
AN the way the little kid took to him
was a caution A mite like he was-no
sense at al; only puckered up his face
anI cIi.,! wien | went near him. He'd
smile up in i,obert's face (that was what
loii .. to call aim, an hold on to his
TN ar like he was his rurse.
snow. to lie sure, sir. three days don't
seem much in life, an you'll maybe
think 1t foolish the store we set BY both
man and dog before that time VA
passed. Ralph would lay down beside
the baby's cradle, an nothin would move
him till his master left the room; ther
he'd get up and shake himself, a. il 1,
vas time TO go, an he was goin'.
"Nollie said he was human; an il Q
soul ever gets into an animals body
hear there's folks as thinks so-thers
was good soul inside Of Ralph.
"les. we all liked Ralph, an Rober,
even more. The fact is he was . rea
gentleman - that was plain enough
brought down as low as he was by Lord |
only knows what. But Q true gentle |
man, an know the right kind when ! |
see them. He never let on for one mo |
ment, though, single word about him
Self btt once. an that was the last even |
in he VAS here
The dog was sittin' beside him, with |
his head restin' on Roberts knee, wher
says, kind of sudden like;
=" Il bet Raiph's very vallyble dog
Robert
Yes, yes he says, sort of slow. 'To<
railyble.' stroking Ralph's head with
lovin hand, while the dog looked at him
with just as much love. Twas the hu
manest eyes you would ever sec, sir.
sd He is worth great dea! of money,
he said again, after a moments think
ing. I am very sorry for it sometimes
I've been in many hard straits at times
an I've been afraid-aye, afraid Of my
seif-that I'd be tempted to sell him
Not while was myself, old fellow. 70,
understand. but " hen was the brute II
sometimes am
by George, sir! you wouldn't believ,
it, dare say. but Id take my afydavy
that dog looked up. sort Of sad like, ant
shook his head
ITO make the story short-thoagh, a
told it Was not 30 very long-wheu w
came down stairs the next mornins
Ralph lay on the door, guardin' his mas
ters stick, but his master wasn't no
where round.
'Teli me the dog didn't knowi H.
knew - we'll - We did Why it was done
that tn uAnfnS h. LovaA a~s-h>