Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-10-17
ONLY TWO VAGABONDS.

length with all the hurrying throng
that business and pleasure send along
that thoroughfare. Merchants and
clerks were going to dinner, with the
preoccupied look to whom the soup
and fish are an anticipation, not a re-
greet. Women were going home, car
rying with them the comfortable con-
seriousness of mornings shopping
thoroughly done and various speci-
mems of common and uncommon hui
mainly bound on various errands
went their way and helped to make up
the throng.
But nobody noticed the shutting fig
ure that made its way down the busy
thOroughfare for several blocks, and
then turned down a cross street where
the passers by were few. His rags
futtered in the wind. which chased
him around the corner and made sport
OF him, Gashing his lettering form
against the wall and laughing in al
most human fashion. He was an old
man 70 whom age had brought wrin-
klss and gray hairs and the sinking of
the blood from its higher levels in the
brain without bringing genial ease and
honCrs and rest from labors. He was
an old man. and blind. and a beggar.
Some one was with him. however
some che who led him with the tend
dercst solicitude through all that hur-
rying throng.
And the some one was a dog! He
was not much OF dog TO look at. He
was very small. improved as to ances-
try and nondescript as to color. If he
had any lofty lineage heredity had
failed to hand it down to him. His
coat was shaggy and his ears were
plebeian enough, but his earnest soul
was in the large amber eyes with
which he looked into the old mans
sightless face. What mute intercourse
flashed from the earnest eyes OF the
dog to the sightless eyes of the man.
and back again. who can tell? But
the dog looked into his masters face.
and the face was constantly turned
toward the dog.
What is it. Dick? Dinner time,
hey?n asked the blind man. suddenly
stopping. as the dog ran back and
clasped him about the neck with two
shaggy paws.
Dick at once intimated that his sup
position was correct by standing on
his hind feet and executing a difficult
dance, with his paws dropping in a
InCst affected and lacka1aisical fashion.
''All right boy" rejoined the old
man, as though his companion had
spoken. his face lighting up with a
smile. You shall have your dinner.
Go on and find good place"
The dog at once abandoned his gym
nas,ic performances and was in an in
slant the soberest and steadiest OF
DIGS. He led the way carefully down
the sidewalk, and. having selected a
proper place on the curbstone. where
the gutter was dry and the wind not
too strong, he made known by series
al iubilant barks that nothing better
could DO desired.
They sat down side by side As the
bcggar thrust his hand down into the
pocket OF the garment that had once
been q coat Dick watched him from
the corners of his eyes. little thrill
OF expectancy running over his frame.
As bundle wrapped in paper wa;
drawn out he yawned in "a most ex-
pres i've fashion and licked his lips.
ONE, now, Dick, said the old
1G.l, passing and turling his atten.
tvs face toward his companion; what
cones next my boy?"
With an appearance OF great com
Function for his thoughtlessness Dick
Immediately sat upright with his paw:
pressed together, his head dropped
and his eyes closed-as pious-lookine
q dog as could be found in the land
The old man, with bowed head MUIR
INJURED:
Lord. make us thankful for wha
we have"
At many a well-filled table. tha
day. men and women sat down anC
ate with no sense of gratitude; while
the beggar sitting on the curbstone
thanked God for what he had, and tn,
dog beside him uttered his praise a,
eloquently as though he spoke viii
the tongue of men and of angels.
The bundle was unrolIed. and Their,
was brought to light slice OF stall,
bread and a small piece of sausage
Dicks eyes glistened when he saw it
and again he licked his lips but h
made no unseemly demonstration.
Now, Dick" said the beggar
with smile lighting up his old face
''you are very tired to-day, / know
and you shall have the first bite. Ant
as don't care much about sausag
myself. l will give you the most 0
that. A little piece will do for me,
very little piece.
The division was made on this plan
and they were soon busily engaged
Dick eating the sausage with an ap
pearance OF the liveliest satisfaction
and the beggar munching the DIR
bread. A whole tender story of de
votion and self-sacrifice was in thi
one simple action. il any one ha
been near to read it but those tina
were near could not read such storie
as this.