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


most Of the time he absolutely refused to
take any food.
observed the poor animals behavior
with the greatest interest. One day as
wac talking with the governess she said:
Toby has quite history When Jean
gets we'll, you must ask Nine. Derville to
tell it to you"
Whom Jean was able to sit up for the
first time and eat a small piece of chicken,
His young mothers face was beaming.
believe-may 1 be forgiven-that she
would almost have embraced DR.. Cutler If
she dared. AS for the old governcss, her
administrative French ways getting tho
better of her, she absolutely seized mo in
the boldest fashion and kissed me on both
checks. Pierre exclaimod Doctor, you
have saved Master jeans life. You can
dispose of me-"
But let us return to the delicate chicken
breast that my patient was contemplate
ing with affectionato eyes. He had begged
his mother to cut it in very small pieces in
order to make the pleasure Of eating it last
longer. Toby was not forgotten.
Your dog little Jean, said, lis a
wonderful animal. l now fully under
btand why your mother has given him to
you rs a companion in spite of his looks,
and would like to get acquainted with
his past history"
My mother can tell you better than I.
Our good Toby has suffered, but now he
is very happy"
One day when Jean felt stronger his
mother told me Toby's story in the fol-
lowing words:
LAS soon as the Prussians advanced to-
ward Paris to besiege the city went to
England with my son. Having some bust
ness to transact in Liverpool, chose that
place as residence. In the neighbor-
hood Of Princess park rented house,
near which was an empty lot, or rather
large field without any fences. Children
found this very convenient as n play
ground My son often played ball there.
We almost considered it as our property.
After school hours rude boys gathered
there, often ending their games by dis
graceful quarrels and fights. 1 had told
Jean never to go in the field when those
boys were assembled there, and he obeyed
me.
my sons windows opened on the field.
Frequently he would sit and watch the
rough sports, which sometimes became
positively ferocious, for many boy went
homo from there with black eye or a
bleeding nose.
ION a certain very gloomy afternoon
Jean, who was at his post of observation,
saw tho crowd of boys coming, more OK
cited than usual and pursuing something
with fury.
WAS it person or an animal? At first
he could not tell, but when they got near
er he distinguished an unfortunate dog,
dragged along by rope. Every now and
then on2 of the band picked upa stone and
hit the dog. One stone bigger than tho
rest, or thrown with more force, broke tho
animals leg. A pitiful howl reached my
sons cars. This cruel blow famed Toby.
Now it was harder than ever for him to
walk, and when he stopped a hail Of stones
assailed him. Ono of the wicked wretches
carried spade on his shoulder Jean,
terror stricken, wondered what he was GO
ing to do with it.
1--WE were nearing the end of March, and
the day was very cold. Nevertheless my
son opened the window, in order to be
able to sec better. Having arrived in the
middle of the field, the boys formed a
large circle around Toby, and the boy with
the spade began to dig hole, while tho
rest kicked and abused the dog.
"Wero they going TO hurry the poor ami
NAL alive? AS this thought flashed through
my sons mind, carried away by indigna-
ton, he ran to his chest of drawers, took
CT a purse containing his Christmas
Honey, rushed out of the room and down
stairs, crossed the garden and reached the
field. All out of breath, he approached
the boys just as they had seized Toby and
wcro going to throw him in the hole which
they had dug.
"'You shall not do this, said Jean.
"'And why not?' replied the oldest boy.
Have you right to order us about2 Go
on, boys. Don't listen to that little chick.
en- hearted Frenchman. Throw this dirty,
NANCY dog in the hole, since we have not
been able to stone him to death.
II beg Of you, don't do It, will buy
him.
"'You buy him9 What a good joke
What will you buy him with, you hum
bug2
"'With money, of course-money that 1
have here in my purse.
"Toby, probably understanding that he
was discussed, looked at my son with eyes
that would have moved heart of stone.
Jean felt like crying, but kept back the
tears, for he understood that he needed
frmness to save the poor dog from those
horrid wretches. Two or three of the big
gest boys retired, dragging the dog after
them, to discuss whether they should &C.
cept jeans proposition. In few seconds,
which to my son seemed like hours, they
came toward him, and the one who had
spoken before said
"'Well, we will sell him to you for
guinea.
Here it is
"My son was trembling so that he could
hardly open his purse.
''How stupid you arel A guineal' said
the child who carried the spade. You
have not recognized him, then. You have
mistaken him for the poor little French
man who comes here to walk with his sis
ter. This one is the rich Frenchman,
whose beautiful house VIC see here, and
who has SO many servants
"'Oh, well then, Q guineas.'
"'Here they are
1t isn't enoughP shouted the band,
excited at the sight of gold. Three gum
cas-, or else'--
And they made the motion of throwing
something in the hole.
1.-THE poor dog cast most imploring
look toward Jean as If to beg him to res
cue him.
Four guineas. Five guineas.'
Each time the price was raised the
motion of throwing the dog in the hole