The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-10-29
RALPH, THE ROVER.

RALPH, THE ROVER.
"Here, Ralphl Ralphl Hi, You scamp!
Come back here, sir! There, he's gone!
OF for two or three days tramp again.
Beg pardon, sir! l didn't see you.
was that busy callin the dog, reckon | /
nearly walked over you. The matter, |
sir? Well, it's that dog, Ralph You
heard me call him, dare say. A .
grander older fellow you couldn't find |
in a days travel but he has one bad .
habit. Most humans have more than |
that, and l amt sure in my own mind .
that he amt human.
"The habit? Well, its just this He |
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, |
snifiin 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. 'StolenE Why, sir, l
don't believe the ones liviu could steal
him or fasten him mp ever so tight he
couldn't get back ever since--an right
queer way got him too.
'Is he mine? Well yes, in one way;
an then no, in another 1t was a queer
story anyway.
Tell it, sin? Well, if had time l
might All, thank you, sir! y fine
| gentleman like you can afford to be
generous.
"Now, let me seel As near as re-
member, it was June, two year ago, as
/ 1 come down stairs rather early one
morning to light the fire for my old
woman. She waru't very strong then;
the youngster there was only a couple
of months old, an / was gettin the
things all handy for her to get break
fast. When she come down the fire was
lightin an the kettle singin-for joy of
seein her, I'm thinkin.
"Mollie was always a 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 a flash she came run
min back TO me with her face kind of
white an scared,
"'Oh, Jim, come ont here to the door!
Quickr says she.
can when followed her blessed if l
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
roomi 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 l set eyes on him. l always
know good dog, being rather in the
sportin line myself, an this was genu
, inc Gordon setter.
"Well, sir, suppose must have sait
. somethin, with surprise, for to wax,
J them up. The dog turned the solem'es
ewes round to me, aslsin me not to max,
: so much noise; an the man, all rags al
tatters, yawned an set up, An then
; seein Mullie right behind me, I'll be shot
! sir, if he didn't stand mp, take off hi
! piece of hat to her an begin to appel
ergise for settin ON our doorstep. Sal,
he'd been overcome with fateek.' NJ,
eve! For the manners of him l coulu
hardly believe he weren't swell cove
dressed in the latest fashion, with full
, blooded stopper at the gate waitin fo
him.
. Il know l must have stared at hiI
considerable, but, bless you, Molli
didn't spend no time starin till She
asked him into the kitchen, an when tn
breakfast was ready she gave him a
his dog, too, good one.
81 His feet We're blistered with walki
in shoes that left half of his feet on
doors an half in; an as he could scarcel
take q step we made him stay with us
day or so till they got better; but 4
couldn't bear it, an the only reason,
Sc think, was that he was afraid Of bu
denim us. But, Lord! He did as muc
for US as we did for him, I'll be boml
He filled the yard with kndlins, an
believe he'd a'.chopped all the wood
the village if Mollie hadn't seen h
We hands all blistered an bleedin, Th
give him away, sure, A gentlems
IT. born says l to myself when see tho
hands.
ry "Then nothin would do but Mol
must doctor an bandage them up f
him. An while she was doin it 81
heard a sound like a child tryin not
-, cry, an he just bends down an kiss
lily her hand, an then he says, kind Of 10
an choked like, more like a groan thi
words, oh, mother"
AN the way the little kid took to hi
was n caution. A mite like he was
sense at all; only puckered mp his ia
and cried when ! went near him. He
q. smile up in Roberts face that was VIII
he told us TO call HIM an hold on to
finger like he was his nurse.
Now, 10 be sure, sir, three days do
q seem much in a life, an you'll may
think it foolish the store we set by be
man an dog before that time was pass'
Ralph would lay down beside the bab
cradle, an nothin would move him
his master left the room; then he'd &
up an shake himself, as if it was til
to go, an he was goin,
Nd "Mollie said he was human, an if e'
a soul gets into an animals body-I h,
there's folks as thinks sO--there was
= good soul inside of Ralph
- eyes, we all liked Ralph, an Rob
Z even more, The fact is he was a +
r.. gentleman, that was plain enoui
e., brought down as low as he was by Ii
~, only knows what, But u true gent
.'@' man, an / know the right kind whe
see them. He never let ON for one D
ment, though, a single word about Ia
self but once am that was the last ey
E in he was here.
4 ''The dog was sittin beside him, "
- his head restin ON Roberts knee whe
sa saws, kind Of suddenlike
81 bet Ralph's a very yaliyble d
,a,, Robert
~ "'Yes, yes he says, sort Of SD
r.. TOO yallyble, stroking Ralphs h