Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-16

be successful in such an undertaking.
The boy was, however, unusually strong,
and with stick he had used to beat Toby
he struck them as hard as he could. In a
minute the boys subsidized, and the leader,
farming 70 Jean, said.
"'There is your dog You see, keep
my word. You have paid us we'll. Jean
took the end Of the rope tied around the
dogs neck. And you lot of brawlers, ;
continued the boy, turning to his compan-
IONS follow me, and let's follow this queer
chap to his house. Afterward we will
divide honestly
GAS soon as Jean had taken the rope
Toby licked his hand. The poor animal
had received a severe blow on the jaw and
covered my sons hand with blood.
Fer a few moments l had been calling
my son without getting any answer. On
entering his room found 1t empty and
the window wide open. l was beginning
to feel alarmed at his absence when
heard a loud noise in the garden. The
thought of an accident crossed my mind,
and l hurried to the front door. When
reached the steps, l saw a crowd of ragged
children, and in their midst Jean, holding
Toby's ropo in one hand and his empty
purse in the other.
Jean, my darling, what has happen
pdT exclaimed.
Mother, have bought this dog, that
these boys were going to bury alive, and
paid guineas for hiSS.'
"'Six guineas! IsTt possible"
"'They would not give up killing him
for less, SO gave it to them
"'You behaved shamefully,' said, adj
dressing myself to the boy who seemed to
DO the leader of the band. NYou fully de-
serve to be arrested for your cruel behav.
Tor and for taking such q sum from q
child like my son.
"'Well, ma'am, it was our price. If I
should wish to sell you my old clothes at
a ridiculously high price, 1 suppose 1
should have a right to do so, and you
would have a right not to buy them
Mother, said Jean, turning his res
oluto little face to me, the price was dis.
cussed and paid, and 1 will not take back
my money
''Instead of answering him, I pressed
him to my heart. 1 understood then that
in this frail childs body was mans soul,
and thanked God
THE little rufIlans really felt quite en-
barrassed at seeing me embrace with SO
much tenderness the child they fully ex-
peoted to see well scolded. For one mo.
ment, think, the one who had received
the money even thought of giving it back,
but his bad genius soon regained its pow
er. However, they retired quietly and
humbly What they had seen had deeply
impressed them and made them feel moro
ashamed than a lengthy sermon.
Your dog is not handsome and seems
very sick. How will you pay for the care
he needsP' said to Jean, showing him
his purse, in which not even a penny was
to be found
"'Surely, mother, you will let mo have
some of next years Christmas money in
advance
eyes, darling, and the interest also, I
laughed back to him. we will talk about
that later. Get your heavy coat, and wo
will take your new friend to the dog doc
tor
after having carefully examined tho
dog the veterinary surgeon told us there
was little hope Of saving him. AS we were
going to leave, after having interested tho
doctor in our new friend by TELLING his
pitiful story, I said to my son:
You have forgotten to ask his name
You must give him one.'
"'Well, If you like, mother, let us call
him Toby, after fathers dog
jean bent over him, saying: Your
name is Toby. Goodby, good Toby, get
we'll.
Shortly after this Toby, who had most
unexpectedly recovered, came to join u.s.
Henccforth he became the happiest of dogs
Did you not dear old Toby" Tobys an
swer came in the form of a wag of his tail.
Not very long while after these
events we concluded to change our resi-
dence. We had kept pleasing recollections
of New Brighton where we once spent O
delightful summer day, and decided to
rent house there. l went through sew
eral villas, and preferring this one to
many 1 had seen we became your neigh
bors, and to that circumstance l probably
owe the preservation of jeans life.
doubt if any one could have cared for him
as you did, my dear friend" Saying these
words, Nine. Derville gave me her hand,
which l respectfully kissed, after the
French fashion.
When Jean was able to go out, they
came to dinner twice a week. On those
days my good housekeeper was more care
full than ever to have an irreproachable
dinner, and Nine Derville never forgot to
pay her some nice compliment, which
went to the old lady's heart.
loved Jean as son and often won
dered how 1 had lived before getting ac-
quainted with the dear child and his
sweet mother. When 1 thought that some
day they would leave England, felt SO
sad that / ought to have been warned and
understood what was going on in my soul.
However, allowed myself to drift along,
happy in the present, closing my eyes not
to see the future and putting my fingers
in my ears in order not to hear the voice
of reason.
jeans strength was coming back slowly.
I understood, not without regret, that a
change of air would be beneficial to him
and advised trip abroad. When l gave
this advice, assure you that felt 1 was
most unselash. Two days later he started
for Ireland, with his mother and his gov
erness. Toby, more fortunate than l, &C
companied them.
What became of poor DR.. Cutler during
their absence? do not know. Life seemed
very empty, and he only smiled when he
received certain letters.
Well, during this separation DR.. Cutler
changed great deal in some respects. He
often examined himself carefully in the
glass, in order to get fully acquainted with
his physical advantages, or rather disad-
yantages. With profound bitterness he said
to himself: II am losing my hair. and it's