Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-02
RALPH, THE ROVER.

"Here. Rslphl Ralphl hi, You scsnpl
Come oack here, sir. There, he's gone.
OF for two or three days tramp again
Beg pardon, siri didn't see you. /
was that busy calm the dog. reckon
nearly walked over you. The matter,
cir? Well, its that dog, Ralph. You
heard me call him, dare say. A
grander older fellow You couldn't find
in a days travel. bat he has one bad
habit. Most humans have more than
that, and amt sure in my own mind
that he amt human.
1.-The habit? Well. it's just this: BE
will follow every blessed old tramp as
passes here. and keep followin EN-,
sometimes for two or three days. He's
a queer 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.
sniffin along, and kind Of castin his eye
back 10 let me know he's hearing me,
he acts every time he goes of. He'll be
back all right when he does CO ,e; and
he's been acting that way ever since
I've had him. 'StolenY Why, sir,
don't believe the ones Twin could steal
him or fasten him up ever SO tight he
couldn't get back ever since-an q right
queer way got him too.
us he mine? Well, yes. in one way;
an then no, in another. 1t was a queer
story anyway.
"Tell it, sir, Well, if had time /
might. All, thank you, sir! A fine
gentleman like you can afford to be
generous.
Now, let me see! As near as ! re-
member, it was June, two year ago, as
/ come down stairs rather early one
morning to light the ere for my old
woman. She warn't very strong then;
the youngster there was only couple
of months old. an / was gettin the
things all handy for her to get break
fast. When she come down the fire was
hghtin an the kettle singin-for JOY Of
seein her, I'm thinkin.
"Mollie was always q great one for
fresh air, so 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 fash she came run
min back to me with her face kind of
white an scared.
"'Oh, Jim, come out here to the door!
Quickr says she.
"An when followed her blessed If
don't see the FUNNIEST sight ever did,
an there | stood, starin like an ape.
"You see, these seats on the porch are
rather comfor'ble to sit on, an with the
vines hangin over this way makes it
most as shut in An quietlike as bed
room; then the posts here an at the cor
ners form good rests for the back. Well,
anyhow, good or bad, right here, a-leanin
back in the most uncomf blest way, was
the trampiest looking tramp l 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 knew
soon as | set eyes on him. always
know a good dog, being rather in the
sportin line myself, an this was genu-
inc Gordon setter.
"Well, sir, l 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
90 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 appel
ergise for settin on our doorstep. Said
he'd been overcome with fateek.' Ny
eyel For the manners of him l coul
hardly believe he weren't a swell cove.
dressed in the latest fashion, with full
blooded stopper at the gate waitin for
him
Il know | must have stared at him
considerable, but, bless YOU, Mollie
asked him into the kitchen. an when the
breakfast was ready she gave him an
his dog, too. good one.
His feet were blistered with walkin
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 =
day or so till they got better; but he
couldn't bear it, an the only reason, /
think. was that he was afraid Of bur
denim us But, Lordl He did as much
for as as ve did for him. III be bound.
He filed the yard with kindlin's. an
believe he'd a chopped all the wood in
the village II Mollie hadn't seen his
hands all blistered an bleedin. Ths:
give him away, sure. "A gentleman
born, says to myself when see those
hands
Then nothin would do but Mollie
must doctor an bsndsge them mp for
him An while she was dom it che
heard a sound like child tryin not q
cry. an be just bends down an kisses
her hand. an then he SAYS. kind Of low
an choks5 ike. more ike a groan than
words, 'Oh. mother
An the way the little kid took 70 him
was caution. A mite like he was--no
sense at all. only puckered tip ms face
and erred when / went near him. He'd
smile up in Roberts f8ce that was what
he told - - cali binl 81 hold on TO his
finger like he was his nurse
Now. 70 he sure. sir. three DAYS don't
seem much in a life. ST you i mas -
think ~ foolish The sore ~-e set hy b5fh
msn an dog before hist time was passed.
Ralph would lay down beside the t,aby'
cradle. an noshin weuld move him til
BIS master lefi the rcom; then bed &c,