St. Landry democrat., 1890-09-13
CARLO.


"Why. NV son, it was only last week
thst refused to allow you to purchase
doc and | should not think you would
again urge the matter: g,
"But. mamma" pleaded the boy. 81
found this nice fellow crying out In the
road. Some one has hurt him, and he is
ouite lame. If you will only let me take
care of him until he is we'll, will not ask
to keep him any longer
.sOf course l do not wish to have any
creature suffer, but if you have him here
shall depend upon you to keep him out OF
mischief"
"All right" returned Harold, glad to
avail himself Of this half permission. "lIl
keep him in that back room up stairs, I'M
less when am watching him. and lead
ing his new pet very gently, he went to
the kitchen to find something for him TO
ast Then he bathed and bound up the
wounded leg, and as the animal gratefully
licked his hand, he said: "Dear me, how
| wish could keep you. l suppose dogs
have to make some trouble as well as boys,
but they're lot of comfort, and I've al
ways wanted one so much
Day after day Harold's devotion to the
stranger never abated; so zealously old ne
feed and nurse him, and try to keep him
from making any trouble, that while the
attachment between the two became con-
stsntly stronger, no one in the house had
been annoyed or Inconvenience by his
presence.
Although, when he had almost recov-
cred from his lameness, Harold began to
fear that his mother might think she had
allowed him to remain long enough, MS
heart was considerably lightened upon
overhearing his father say 81 never
knew Harold to take so much comfort
with anything as he does with that dog
it would be most cruel to deprive him OF
so much innocent happiness"
Yes" returned his mother, "and If l
were sure that he would continue to be SO
far from troublesome, / should be quite
tempted to allow Harold to keep him"
"She will, she WILL" whispered Harold
to himself, and giving his treasure an al
fectionate squeeze, he hurried out of doors,
shouting and scamperipg about in the
| widest sort of frolic, into which Carlo
| seemed to enter with quite as much zest
as his young friend, though, as Harold
said later, he couldn't be expected to I'M
derstand what the celebration was for.
But alas for Harold's hopes Return
ing from school at noon, he met John, the
coachman. at the gate, who said, "1e IL
find yer dog out in the barn; he's done
some great mischief, an the mistress said
| was to take care of i'm till ye came home
It's pity, fer he's nice one, but ye can't
expect puppy to keep as quiet as an old
dog" 49,
to the house, and meeting the housemald
in the hall, asked eagerly: "What is 1t
What has Carlo donef' :,
Indeed and I'm sorry for you both, y
returned the girl, "but you see in some
way he got out of his room, and when no
one was looking he pulled the spread from
off the table, and the beautiful vase your
ma Thought so much of was broken in a
hundred pieces"
eyes," said Mrs Manning, appearing at
the door ''iti is just what one must ex-
pect If such animals are allowed about the
house, and want you to dispose of him
tonight without fall
There was such choking in his throat
that Harold did not venture to speak, but
passing out of sight as quickly as possible,
he went to the barn, where, lying upon
the hay, with Carlo in his arms, he crieo
as he had not done before in years.
He had no appetite for his dinner, anc
though later he tried to apply himself te
his studies he found it almost impossible
to control his thoughts, while the after
noon seemed very long and DISMAL,
At last school was out, and with tagging
footsteps he started for home. Arriving
there, he found everything in confusion
and soon learned that his father had beer
brought into the house in an unconscious
condition, having been thrown from hi
horse while riding.
In his new anxiety, Harold quite forgo
his lesser trouble, and waited uneasil.
about until assured that his father had re
gained consciousness. and that Their
seemed to be no further occasion TO
alarm.
But just here cry was heard, and Mrs
Manning anxiously asked, 'Where il
baby Kathleen?"
"Mrs Manning, in the worry and ex.
element I forgot all about Der" and witt
troubled face the girl buried from the
room.
At the first distressed cry, Harold hat
darted up the back stairway, and he nov
called from the upper floor, "Do come up
mammal"
Hurrying up stairs and in the direction
of Harold's voice. she beheld sigh
which made her heart stand still. There
|
little daughter, in such position that
} should she move forward but few inches
she must 90 headlong down the stairs
But she was not alone for just behind her
and Juggling at her dress with all hi
might. was Carlo.
After pulling to get free, the little on
would sit back, crying and scolding q
her captor, while he, as if to make hi
peace with her, would lick her face ant
hands carressingly; but the moment sh
again started to creep forward, he wnult
seize her clothing and brace his feet in
most determined way.
But Mrs, Manning could not long en-
dure the suspense of waiting and was sool
holding the venturesome child closely il
her arms, while with tear-flled eyes she
cried, "My darling, my darling, how
easily you might have been killed o
manned for lifel It makes me sick t.
think of it,"
mamma" here interposed Harold
s'you know God takes care of the spar
rows, and don't you suppose he let Carlo
come to me SO that he would be here t.
take care of sister? 2"
"God undoubtedly knew all about 1t, my
son, and Carlo has surely proved himsel
real friend in our need"
ssDon't you s'pose you could forgive hin
now for what he did this morning3' con-
tinued the boy, stroking the curly fellow
who had seemed so pleased when the BABY
was safely in her mothers arms.
81 do not see that there is anything elst
to do" returned Mrs. Manning, smilins
through her tears. "The great good h
has done surely outweighs the mischief.
That settled it. With q load lifted from
his heart, Harold went bounding down thu