Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-10-20
RALPH, THE ROVER.

was that busy callin the dog, l reckon
nearly walked over you. The matter,
sir? Well, it's that dog, Ralph. You
heard me call him, l 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 l 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 followin 'em,
sometimes for two or three days. He's
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, snifin,
snifin 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, ]
don't believe the ones livin could steal
him or fasten him up ever so tight he
couldn't get back ever since-an a right
queer way got him too.
SIS he mine? Well, yes, in one way;
an then no, in another. 1t was a queer
story anyway.
"Tell it, sir? Well, if 1 had time l
might. All, thank you, sir! A fine
gentleman like you can afford to be
generous.
"Now, let me seel As near as I 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
lightin 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!
Quickp 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 a 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 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. / always
know good dog, being rather in the
sportin line myself, an this was genu-
inc Gordon setter.
"Well, sir, suppose I must have said
somethin, with surprise, for td wake
them up. The dog turned the solem'est
eyes round to me, askin me not to make
SO 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.' NY
eyel For the manners of him could
hardly believe he weren't swell cove,
dressed in the latest fashion, with full
blooded stopper at the gate waitin for
him.
II know I must have stared at him
considerable, but, bless you, Mollie
didn't spend no time starin till she'd
asked him into the kitchen, an when the
breakfast was ready she gave him an
his dog, too, good one.
"His feet were hlistered 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 a
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, Lord! He did as much
for us as we did for him, I'll be bound.
He filled the yard with kindlin's, an I
believe he'd "a chopped all the wood in
the village if Mollie hadn't seen his
hands all blistered an bleedin. That
give him away, sure. "A gentleman
born,' says to myself when / see those
hands.
"Then nothin would do but Mollie
must doctor an bandage them up for
him. An while she was doin it she
heard sound like child tryin not to
cry, an he just bends down an kisses
her hand, an then he says, kind of low
an choked like, more like a groan than
words, 'Oh, motherr
San the way the little kid took to him
was a caution. A mite like he was-no
sense OF all; only puckered up his face
and cried when I went near him. He'd
smile up in Roberts face (that was what
he told us to call him) an hold on to his
finger like he was his nurse.
"Now, to be sure, sir, three days don't
seem much in life, an you'll maybe
think it foolish the store we set by both
man an dog before that time was passed.
Ralph would lay down beside the baby's
cradle, an nothin would move him till
his master left the room; then he'd get
up an shake himself, as If it was time
TO go, an he was goin.
"Mollie said he was human, an il ever
D soul gets into an animals body-I hear
there's folks as thinks so-there was O
II In NOT unusual for colds contractad In