Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-01-08
THREE FRIENDS.

What lido and S4MCnO EOund IN the W ORD
When They Ran Away from Mittens.
Never were there more intimate
friends than Mittens, Sancho and Fido.
They lived in a very pretty house in a
village where there were a great many
children, but In the house in which they
lived there were none. Perhaps this was
the reason that the dear old lady who
lived in the same hchse had so much
time to give to them. Sancho had pos
session of tree fastened firmly in box
that stood in the corner of the sitting
room. It was short and stumpy. but
strong. and the bare limbs would
bear Sancho's jumping and play
ing without breaking. Mittens some
times was his playfellow. Poor Fido
really was unhappy at these times, for,
with all the desire TO be with them in
their game of romps in the trees, he
could not, for he did not know how 10
climb. He would stand on his hind legs
and bark until he was tired. and then
he would stretch out in front of the tree
and wag his tail until it seemed impossi-
BILE for it TO stand it; you really felt
that it would wear out.
1t was very evident that these three
friends had a language of their own;
that they made plans and carried them
out For instance, Mittens would go
down cellar and watch a hole for a long
time: she would dart and dash at the
hole and between the barrels a number
of times, and at last, with determined
stride, go to Fido. who would prob
ably be asleep on the cushion in the big
rocking-chair, and call him. He would
jump down, follow her to the cellar,
and they two would watch the hole.
At last Mr.. Rat would dare to venture
out. Alas! he never would get back.
There would be a whirl of ears, eyes,
tails, jaws and hair, and Mr.. Rat was
gone. This was one pleasure that San
cho could not have with Mittens, for he
did not know how to catch rats.
Their special time for talking was at
the table, or should we say plate? For
they ate out of a beautiful blue-and
white plate, that was l do not know
how many years old.
One morning in the early spring the
three friends were drawn out-of-doors
by the sound of music. Imagine their
surprise when they got on the stoop to
see the person who ground the music
out of box have in his arms another
Sancho. Larger and stronger, but
surely another Sancho. Sancho hoped
on to Fidos back. his favorite place
when Fido permitted it, and watched
his strange relative. The old lady
hurried out, took Sancho in her arms,
gave the man who made the music some
money, and he hurried away 1t was
the event of the day; they talked about
it constantly, and finally concluded that
the Sancho with the music man
must have a lovely time seeing
the great world Mittens frowned
angrily when Sancho suggested they
should follow. hut Fido thought
that for day or Two he would like it.
When Mittens heard this she plainly
told them how foolish they were, and
that any one could see that the man was
hungry, and his Sancho miserable;
probably he was beaten; and, having
freed her mind, she Tapped her milk
without another word.
That afternoon she was in the cellar
while Sancho and Fido were in the rock
ing chair When she came back they
were gone, and could not be found
At that very time very tired Sancho,
with thorn in his foot, was on Fido's
back, who had concluded that home
was a very comfortable place, and they
would better go back. But, alas! a
man, the very man with the other
Sancho, appeared on the road, and held
out a piece of meat. In the most
friendly spirit Fido, with Sancho on his
back, trotted up to him. Quicker than
flash collar and chain was slipped
on his neck, and Sancho found himself
shut up in bag.
Two weeks after, Sancho, very quiet,
because SO very unhappy, dressed in a
riding habit, was on Fido's back in a
crowded street in the city, where there
was roar like thunder always over
head, and dirt and noise and confusion
always about them.
How often they thought of the old
tree, the soft, warm cushion, the rich
yellow milk, and Mittens! They saw
something of the world, but what a
lonesome, dreary place it was, with it's
crowd of strangers!
Mittens watches patiently for Sancho
and Eido from the top of the gatepost in
summer and inside the window in win
ter, but they never come back.-Chris-
tian Union.
FROM YOUTHFUL MINDS.