Sharp County record., 1891-06-11

| bed for three days.
We all grew very much attached to
him. Father had large cog house
| built for him, shingled and painted,
like any house, and put a lagpole on
it. Mother never felt afraid of burg
lars after Tramp came, and she let him
90 in and out of the house as much as
he liked.
was on my way home from school
one day when saw, going down side
street, dog that looked just like
Tramp following ragged, dirty-look-
ing boy about my size. had a peculiar
whistle with which l called Tramp.
whistled, and sure enough it was
Tramp, for he turned and came toward
me.
Then the boy turned and whistled,
and called out Jack" Tramp went
back little way, Then he stopped
and looked at me-
Tramp often came to meet me when
it was time for school to be out, so |
was not surprised at seeing him, but
what did surprise me was that he was
following the boy.
got within speaking distance of the
boy then, and called out: "What are
you doing with my dog?"
"He amt your dog; he's mine! He's
my jack"
He isn't! He's my Tramp! I'll leave
it to any of the boys in the village"
The boy looked at me sullenly, as if
he did not know what to say. By this
time | had got up close to him, and
saw that, though he was very poor and
miserable, he had not bad face He
| looked like one of mothers strays, un-
happy and neglected,
While was looking at him, he seemed
to be making up his mind what to do,
and at last he spoke:
IF the dog knows his name and fol-
lers me, you might tell by that whether
| he's mine or not"
Then he called: "Jack!' and started
off
The dog started after him. Then l
whistled and called: Tramp" and he
stood still again and looked first one
way, then the other, and then he sat
right down in the street and whined
piteously.
"Look herew | called to the boy
"Come back and let's talk it over. Did
he run away from you before picked
him up, or did somebody steal him? |
suppose he must have been yours once,
or he wouldn't run after you now, for
he doesn't take to strangers easily, like
that"
"No; Jack never took to strangers" "
the boy said, slowly, and then he said
nothing more.
"Well, what are you going to do
about it?" | asked, impatiently, with
my hand on Tramp's head. 'I've had
him more than year, and father has
grown fond Of him, and built splendid
dog house on purpose for him, and
mother and Patrick and all of us-why,
| don't know what we would do now
without Tramp
broke off suddenly. for a sob came
up in my throat, and did not want to
act like baby.
The boy looked at me curiously.
"You've got your father an mother
an home an lots of friends, / sup
pose, an as for me, amt got nothin'
-nothin but Jack. Him an me,
we've been just like brothers. We al
ways stuck together through every
thing, till they took me away from
him, Many's the night | laid awake
an cried for him. | thought he'd be
dead; never expected to find him, but
I'm awful glad"
He patted Tramp with both hands,
and laid his cheek down on the dogs
head with such loving expression that
it changed his whole face,
Hes gay, Jack isl" he said, admir-
ingly 1--WE never seen him fat like
that ! didn't know him at first; he
knew me! He's remembered me ever
since I've been gone-more'n year"
! saw tear drop on the dogs head,
and the boy drew his coat-slecve across
his face
That's an awful handsome collar
he's got on. always wanted to get him
one, but couldn't get anythin' but a
strap of old leather | picked up and tied
together with a string Did you say he
had u house.-a real sure enough dog
house?'
"Yes," answered, rather Grossly,
I'm afraid, "and ! guess he'll miss it
some II you take him away, Have you
got good home for him?"
The boy flushed so red that | wished
! had not asked him that question,
He muttcrcd low, as II he did not
more than half mean that should hear
81 amt got any home for myself, let
alone him."
"rhcn why do YOU want to take him
away from me, when he's so comfort
able and happy?' urged "lf you care
so much about him, | shouldn't think
you'd want him to be roaming about
half starved
was sorry again rs soon as spoke,
but wanted Tramp so much
The boy seemed to be trying hard to
keep from crying, and when he spoke
he turned away his head
"All rightl' he said, slowly. "You
keep him didn't think he'd be alive,