Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-04
RALPH, THE ROVER.

"Here, Ralphl Ralph! Hi, you scampl
Come back here, sirl There, he's gone!
OH for two or three days tramp again.
Beg pardon, sirl didn't see you. l
was that busy callin the dog, reckon l
nearly walked over you. The matter,
sir9 Well, it's that dog, Ralph. You
heard me call him, dare say A
grander older fellow you couldn't find
in days travel, but he has one bad
habit. Most humans have more than
that, and amt sure in my own mind
that he amt human.
"The habit? Well, it's just this: He
will follow every blessed old tramp as
passes here, and keep tollowin 'em,
sometimes for two OF three days. He's
aqueer one. Did you notice him just
now? Didn't see him? Well, he keeps
just far enough behind the fellows so
they won't drive him back, sniffin,
snif11n along, and kind of castin his eye
back to let me know he's hearing me,
but not heedin me. Just the same way
he acts every time he goes off. He'll be
back all right when he does come; and
he's been acting that way ever since
I've had him. 'Stolen!' Why, sir, l
don't believe the ones livin could steal
him or fasten him up ever so tight he
couldn't get back ever since-an right
queer way got him too.
sis he miner Well, yes, in one way;
an then no, in another. 1t was queer
story anyway.
"Tell it, sir? Well, if had time l
might. All, thank you, sir! A fine
gentleman like you can afford to be
generous.
"Now, let me see! AS near as l re-
member, it was June, two year ago, as
l come down stairs rather early one
morning to light the fire for my old
woman. She warn't very strong then;
the youngster there was only couple
Of months old, an l was gettin the
things all handy for her to get break
fast. When she come down the fire was
ightin an the kettle singin-for joy of
seein her, I'm thinkin.
"Mollie was always great one for
fresh air, 80 as soon as she saw that
everythin was goin right in the kitchen
she walks to the front door, turns the
key an opens it.
"Well, quick as flash she came run
min back to me with her face kind of
white an scared.
"'Oh, Jim, come out here to the doorl
Quickr says she.
IAN when followed her blessed if
don't see the FUNNIEST sight ever did,
an there I stood, starin like an ape.
"You see, these seats on the porch are
rather comfor' BILE to sit on, an with the
vines hangin over this way makes it
'most as shut in an quietlike as a bed
roo,u; then the posts here an at the cor
ners toym good rests for the back. Well,
ANYHOW, good or bad, right here, a-leanin
back in the i0ost unconf'blest way, was
the trampiest looking tramp ever saw,
sound asleep. An on the seat beside
him. with his head on the mans lap,
was the dandiest setter ever expect to
see. A vallyble dog, sir, too, as l knew
soon as I set eyes on him. l always
know q good dog, being rather in the
sportin line myself, an this was genu-
Inc Gordon setter.
"Well, sir, I suppose must have said
-somethin, with surprise, for to wake
them up. The dog turned the solem'est
eyes round to me, askin me not to make
80 much noise; an the man, all rags an
tatters, yawned an set up. An then,
seein Mollie right behind me, I'll be shot,
sir, if he didn't stand up, take off his
piece Of hat to her, an begin to appol-
ergise for settin on our doorstep. Said
he'd been overcome with fateek.' My
eyei For the manners of him l could
hardly believe he weren't a swell cove,
dressed in the latest fashion, with full
blooded stopper at the gate waitin for
him.
.sI know must have stared at him
considerable, but, bless you, Mollie
didn't spend no time a starin till she'd
asked him into the kitchen, an when the
breakfast was ready she gave him an
his dog, too. q good one.
"His feet We're blistered with walllin
in shoes that left half of his feet out
doors an half in; an as he could scarcely
take step we made him stay with us a
day or SO till they got better; but Ae
couldn't bear it, an the only reason,
think, was that he was afraid of bur-
denim us. But, Lord! He did as much
for us as we did for him. I'll be bound,
He filled the yard with kindlip's, an
believe he'd a. chopped all the wood in
the village if Mollie hadn't seen his
hands all blistered an bleedin. Thai
give him away, sure. "A gentleman
born says I to myself when 7 see those
hands.
'Then nothin would do but Moliie
must doctor an bandage them up fol
him. An while she was doin it she
hecrd sound like child tryin not te
cry, en he just bends down an kisses
her hand, an then he says, kind of low
nm choked like, more like groan thar
words. tOh, raotherv
A.An the way the little kid took to hin
u " = canton. A mite like he was-nt
san, V at all; only puckered up his fac'
ond q lied when 1 went near him. He'(
emile u, y in Roberts face (that was wha
ha told ma to call him) an hold on to hi
finger like Ne was his nurse.
ssNow. to BIZ sure, sir, three days don
saem much in Q life, an you'll mayb'
think Il foolish the store we set by botl
man an dog before that time was passed
Ralph would lay down beside the baby
cradle an nothin would move him ii
his master left the room; then he'd g
mn an shake himself, as if it was tin
to 90, an he was goin.
ssMOllie said he was human, an II ev'