The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
PIPE,
DOG
and
BOOTS
BY the Joiot.
BY the Joiot.

7 presume you belong to the sterher
sex otherwise you need not read this' ior
II can't possibly interest you. Agreed
vou are a male. duly endowed with mans
besetting ~luxuries n sins-so mucn i'
argument Now, let me see IL we nave
n,, q friend I'm common ! mean a friend
wbo as Jerome says, never wants 10
borrow money or talk about himseii III
fact. he never talks-and yet you ana
love him, his silence Is 80 consoiins. Al
though he is a most quiet fellow. we owe
TO talk to him, not only about our joys
hut also about our sorrows- HIS ever
svmpathetic ear Is always open to our
trials. or vice versa. What a confidence
ue have in OUR mutual friend; he never
d,.c,oses our secrets, and when II rains
he never asks the loan OF an umoreiia'
He IS no, In the least pushing-in fac''a
moro modest. unassuming fellow can oe
fornd We see him every day; eome'hins
u,o,,,d ecem all wrong II we uld not
psrhans the time we enjoy MS societS
nost Is at night. after n hard day "oiN.
rben I'VE have gotten into our "iupp.'
.rd SINNERS and are sitting DeIore an
90 a. .hat burma as slowly and grace
- eur friend talks II Is uheh'
my ssno sweet communion with my
80, reveries. that / take my pest iIIs"u
from the mantlepiece. A box OF 'en~ar
-, Golden leaf is on the table near
,gr,te a match, and az the h'ny
n,o,ds ~ smoke float up the chimney Wv
s,.annear I bless my best friehu~"'
oldest and strongest pipe.
~. ,,ob, is cold and dark. the so"ni
re driving rain against the "i"uV"
- g., a monotone that only CAUSES :"
e. draw closer TO the big woou me ~
4. crackling beside ge In the sia'e-
eide nv chair my dog, an hhsi9" .ons
&c lazily sleeping. His glossy coAe Iii
under the glow Of the nre' Ins the
r''u, animal Of beautiful proportions u
49, e. q dozen field trials, he - Ger
TT beautiful to gaze upon. A'"hH.e
a"tsos him Gracefully rising. ne COME
ga laws his head upon my Knee ~
- ~ into nv face, while MS ue
~" 80 ,aye such a look OF good-fello"sh'p'
,rno,, seem 70 say. what friends We are
49, many good times we nave hau W
ro,her" As I sit and talk 10 my! u"s
rocall the cool, crisp autumn uhss' ~
,ha long tramps after birds. "Nhat u"e
.a nave had. old fellow. how beauu-
", ranced back-stood. and point
"a " He shakes his long shaggy ears 90
a. In silent acquiescence OF my PraSv
1bus nv dog and / chat as we "atoh ~
e. lean I'D the chimney. He Is my
,r,ast friend. and would go TO the death
for me If necessary. There is no n.y.
cricv in his friendship, he Is true-Diue.
win a confidential wag OF the TAN ne
afhrms me. then recurls hinisel up :"
NV feet and goes 10 sleep.
NJ vou see that old pair Of riding
- yirg over there in the corner
lar nv chair? They look somewhat
eboddv will admit, but they are
daar old companions. - comfortdpie
,eo,, knov and | love them. My rect
never feel so easy encased In any other
foot anparel as they do in those oiu
riding boots. Some how, / can't explain
tho sensation. but they seem TO be IN such
svmpathy with my pet corns. Ihey never
rub. feel too tight. or draw my ieet.
| give myself up to an abandoned an VI
nerfect ease and luxury whenever wear
Them. How | enjoy my ride, and as L
rise on my heels and plunge by toes
forward. | bless those old boots ana
swear that ! will never part from them'
They have been In first at the dedth
in many a hard-ridden fox chase. True.
their polished surface Is besmeared with
mud and scratched by the stirrup, but
what of that? May be they have lost
something OF their faultlcss shape and
are not quite the thing. what OF that
reiterate? / should count myself migrate
full II / were to forget the past pleasures.
Yes. old friends, lie there In the corner,
Won have served faithfully.