Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-02-19

he was. The boy who was fighting in
defense Of the weak and the helpless
never once thought Of giving in, and so
the other had to. They finally went to
the ground together, with Arthur on
top, and this ended the struggle. The
kid" began to cry: "Lemme upl Lemme
upl don't want to fight no more wild
professional. Lemme upr'
Then Arthur left him and walked
to where poor little Rusty was crouch
ing with his rope held by one of
the tramps. Taking the rope in his
hand, and lifting his brave, flushed
face, blood-stRined from slight cut on
his forehead, to that of the big tramp
who had ordered the pup to be beaten,
the boy asked us he my dog now?"
"of course he is, sonny OF course he
is answered the big man, promptly.
you've fought the bulliest kind of
fight for him, and I'd like to see the
man as would try to take him from you"
As he spoke the big tramp glared
about him, as though wishing somebody
would dare dispute his words; but no
body did. Every one of those who now
crowded about the boy, anxious to
shake hands with him and congratulate
him on his victory, expressed the
heartiest approval of what the big man
said. They all seemed TO regard Arthur
as hero and to feel highly honored by
his presence in their camp. Even his
dog received a fun share OF praise and
petting, and was utterly bewildered by
the sudden turn in the tide of popular
opinion concerning him.
Seeing that the young champion was
rendered uncomfortable by the over
ofiiciousness of those who crowded
about him, the big tramp, who seemed
to exercise an acknowledged authority
over them. ordered the rest to clear out
and leave the little chap to him. Then
he took Arthur to the brook and bathed
his face and hands and even his bare
feet, in its cool waters, with degree of
tenderness surprising in one so big and
rough.
A few minutes later supper was an
nounced. and the big tramp made
Arthur sit beside him on the ground, in
front of kettle that contained a most
Notwithstanding stew of chicken, and
potatoes, and onions, and green corn,
and several other things. To be sure,
Arthur was obliged to eat his portion
out of a hastily improvised bowl of birch
bark. made for him by his big friend,
with rude wooden spoon provided by
the same ingenious individual; but how
good it wasl How often that bark bowl
was refilled, and how proud the cooks
we're to have the hero of the feast thus
compliment them so highly.
As for little Rusty, who seemed to
recognize Arthur as his friend and pro-
tector and kept close beside him, there
never was dog treated with greater
Everybody wanted to
feed him, and kept tossing choice NOR
sells OF food to him. He ate every thing
thus offered, with perfect impartiality,
until at length he had no room for
another morsel, and even the daintiest
bits of chicken failed to tempt him.
After supper all the tramps we're an
ious to learn something of Arthur's his
tory, and who had taught him to fight
so sldllfully. and how he happened to
visit their camp. So be told them about
his own dear father who had given him
boxing lessons, and about living with
Uncle John and Aunt Nancy, and how
be and Uncle Phin had decided to go to
bis grandfather's in Virginia and were
travelling in boat, and how it had run
so that they couldn't get it of,
and Uncle Phin had gone in search Of
help and how he happened TO get lost
In the woods. and finally, how be dis