The record-union., 1896-06-29
HAD A FISHING DOG.
hired Him Out In Central Park for So
rIuch an Hour.

nKeo Him Out In Central Park for So
nuch an Hour.
l saw precocious youngster do some
tning near one of the Central Park
ponds the other day which indicates the
possession of talent for driving bar
gain OF such a high order that it will
enable him to take rank with the multi
saliilonaires some day-unless It gets
turned the wrong way and lands him in
sing Sing. He was barefooted and
dirty. He had neither coat nor waist
coat. There were holes in his trousers
that were only concealed when he sat
ooWn. A piece of string served as a
substitute for suspenders. But he
walked into the park with an air that
implied a full knowledge of the fact
that he had as much right in it as
anybody. He had picked up some
where homeless little cur whose bones
could be traced without the x rays.
He had put cord around its neck and
trailed the wretched little beast after
him.
He wended his way to where a group
or boys were surreptitiously fishing.
They were all better dressed than he was,
but that did not make him feel a bit
aoashed in their presence. A street ur-
chin is always a true democrat with
the courage Of his convictions.
"Youse fellows had any luck?" he
asked nonchanlantly.
Nope" replied one Of them.
Il knowed it,
This was said with an irritating lit
tie sneer that was bound to draw forth
some retort
"Knowed it? Knowed nothing! How
did yer know it?"
Gus de only fish wot bites stays in
de center Nv de pond"
Experience had not supplied them
with any knowledge that would justify
them in contradicting that statement.
And experience had taught them that
the converse of it was true-that the
1ish were not biting at their bait near
the shore.
Maybe that's So" conceded one of
them grudgingly, but wors de use NV
KNOWN that if you doesn't know how
to get at emp"
knows how to get at EN-"
Yes, you DON'T
Well, me an de dog does"
Rats, Whoever heard Nv a dog
KNOWN anything about fishin'? That
uog don't look as if he knowed enough
TO chase a cat"
Rats, nothin', You never seed this
dog afore an you don't know nothin'
about i'm He's f1shin' dog-a trained
hshin' dog. That's wot he is"
Come off; wot's you givin' US?
sWher'd you get a trained fishin' dog?
AND wot's trained fishin' dog. any-
how?"
See here. now, fellers, you mout Just
as well stop yer kiddin' Gus I kin lick
any feller wot kids me. an I'm tellin'
wots dead straight. Dis yer dog is a
hshin' dog, an de man wot I works fur
PAID lot of money for him. He comes
mere nights wild i'm when de cons amt
iookln out an catches lots NV gold
Ilsh wild i'm. An it's dead easv. too.
lie just fastens line wild a hook an
balt to de dogs tail, an de dog-an'
oats where his trainin' comes in-iust
cruises around de center Nv de lake nm
III lie KNOWS by yank on his tail dat
ne 8 got hSh hooked an den he swims
10 MS master wild de fish An he keeps
is up just as long as he's wanted to.
see,"
Say, let's try him.
Yes let's" in chorus from the
other boys
WotH yer give me if let's yer?"
The boy with the fishing dog knew his
advantage and held out for the best
terms obtainable. At the end of ten
minutes there had been transferred to
ms pockets seven cents in cash. a pocket
knife with one rusty blade, a blade of a
KNIFE without any handle, a dozen mar
Dies, three tops, a bit of gingerbread.
Two stale fish, one live frog, a fishhook
ana much chewed bit of chewing gum.
for these sundry considerations IT was
agreed that the boys making up the
pool were to have the use of the dog for
one hour and TO keep all the fish that
ne caught in that time, at the expira.
ton OF which the other boy would re-
turn and claim him. He couldn't wait
ana see the fun himself, because he had
an errand to do for his employer.
Before a quarter of the stipulated
time had elapsed a half-drowned cur
was fleeing for his life, and four bows
We're discussing how they would get
even with the boy who had sold them
when he showed up to claim his dog
But ne never showed up