The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-06
RALPH THE ROVER.

"Herp. Ralph! Ralph! Hi, you scamp!
Come back here, sir! There, he's gonel
OF for a two or three days tramp again.
Beg pardon. sir. l didn't see you. l was
that busy calm the dog. reckon nearly
walked over you. The matter, sir? Well,
lis that dog Ralph. You heard me call
him, dare say. a grander old fellow you
couldn't find in q days travel. but he has
one bad habit. Most humans have more
than that and I 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 a queer one. Did
you notice him just now? Didn't see him2
Well, he keeps just far enough behind the
fellows so they won't drive him back;
snitfin', sniffin' along and kind Of castin' his
eye back to let HE know he's bearin' 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
actin that way ever since I've had him.
Stolen? Why, sir; don't believe the ones
liyin' 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.
rs lie miue2 Well, yes, in one way; an
then NO. in another. II was queer story
anyway.
"Teli it, sir? Well. If had time l might.
All, thank you, sirl a fine gentleman like
you can afford TO be generous.
Now, let me see! As near as l remem-
Der, it was June. two years go, and l came
downstairs rather early one morning to
light the fire for my old woman. She
warn't very strong then; the y0ungster
there was only a couple of months old, an |
was gettn' the things all handy for her TO
get breakfast. When she come down the
FIRE was lightin' an the kettle singin'-for
Joy of secin' her, Pm Jhinkn'.
'MOllie was always 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 runnin'
back to Inc with her ia e kind of white an
scared.
"'Oh, jim, come out here to the door!
Quick 7 says she.
AN when l followed her blessed if
don't see the FUNNIEST sight l ever did, an
there | stood, starin' like an ape.
You see, these seats on the porch are
rather cOm'or bic to sit on, an with the
vines bangin' over this way makes it most
as shut in and quietlike as bedroom; then
the posts here and at the corner form good
rests for the back. Well, anyhow, good or
bad, right here. a-leanin' back in tie most
uncOmI bleSt way, was the tTampiest look
ing tramp ever saw sound asleep. An
on the seat beside him with his head on the
man ; iaps was INC uduuitSl setter L ever
expect to see. A vallyble dog, sir, too, as l
knew soon as l set eyes on him. | always
know a good dog, being rather in the sport
ing line myself, an this was q genuine Cor
don setter.
well. sir, l suppose l must have said
somthin', with surprise, for to 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, III be shot.
sir, il he didn't staEd up, take of his piece
OF hat to her and begin 10 appolergise for
settin' on our doorstep. Said he'd been
overcome with fateek.' Mye eyel For the
manners of him / could hardly believe he
weren't swell cove, dressed in the latest
fashion, with a full-blooded stopper at the
gate waitin' for him.
Il know l must have stared al him con-
siderable, 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,
god one.
''His feet were all blistered with walkin'
in shoes that left half of his feet outdoors
an half in; an as he could scarcely take
step we made him stay with us day OF 80
Til they got better; but he couldn't bear it,
an the only reason, think. was that he was
afraid of burdenin' US. But, Lordl He did
as much tor US as we did for him, I'll be
bound. He filled the yard with kindlin',
an DeneVe ne'd a ch0ppFQ all the wood
in the village II Mollie hadn't seen his hands
all blistered an bleedin'. That give him
away, sure. "A gentleman h0rn,' says to
myself when / see those hands.
Then n0thin' would do but Mollie must
doctor and bandage them up for him. An
while she was dom it she heard a sound
like a child tryin' not 10 cry, an lie Just
bends down and kisses her hand, an then
be says, kind of low and choked-ike, more
like grO1n than words. oh, motherp
AN the way tie little kid took to him
was caution. A mite like he was-no sense
al all; only puckered up his face and cried
when ! went near him. He'd smile up in
Roberts face chat 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. and you'll maybe think
II foolish the store we set by 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 and shake him
SELL, as IL 1t was time TO 90, an lie was
Molly said he was human, an if ever
soul gets into an animals body-I hear
there lolks as thinks so-there was good
soul inside OF Ralph.
es, we all liked Ralph, and Robert even
more. The TACT IS, he was a real gentleman.
that was plain enough, brought down as low
as he was by Lord only knows what. Buta
true gentleman, an / know the right kind
when | see them n a never LAT on for ora