New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

the versatility Of their special genius to any
fresh material that came 10 hand.
Hello. old Moses" began the spokesman, ad-
dressing aged pauper whose long mar hoa''u
on the breeze and whose beard was patriarchel
in length and hue, flowing down almost TO MS
waist "Who's yer barber? Has he gone OF to
sharpen his scissors
Say Moses" cried a second. What mar
grower do YOU use?'
Great Scott exclaimed another. what an
advertisement his picter 'ud be for new mar
oil,-eh. boys?
"By me-by-bye. Well see Old Moses-safe.
safe in the promised land and on the instant
every boy present Joined in the chorus and they
began dancing around the bewildered and half
demented old man. whose name being really
Moses gave additional point to their remarks
But he had not the meekness associated with
the Hebrew law gver and after a vain effort 10
silence and intimidate the crowd OF young row
dies he suddenly drew from his waistbeit "A
sharp-ponted knife and laid about with H.
right and left and had 1t not been that age ana
feebleness sat upon his arm it would nave iared
badly with his tormentors Even as 1t was. they
were glad enough 10 give him more room 10
move about in by putting the fence between
themselves and danger. while from the further
side Of it they continued to gbe and scon TIL
the matron hal gained control OF her charges
and had succeeded in drawing them again under
the shelter Of the almshouse.
This was how Stray had come to Scraps; and
because of the manner Of his coming he was al
lowed to remain--his reception. except by the
little waf, being not unlike that given to the
latter But Scraps poured out all the deep al
lection of his tender heart on the canine va
To- i'm, hA mr.
ment when his terror had subsidized. for instinct
told him he had found friend. II was pathetic
to see how Stray sought to express remorse for
The wounds he had inflicted in his fright but 10
Scraps they We're mere scratches ana never
troubled him again He and the dog ate to-
gether slept played, drank together-never We're
known more inseparabie companions Even the
old paupers saw the sad well as the humor-
Gus side Of this fr ndshp and now began TO
have some human feeling for the boy-more
than he had ever drawn from them till Stray
came TO his rescue For the dog had done
more for Scraps than Scraps had done for him
by Just so much as human soul Is worth
more than a dogs life. for the soul OF Scraps
lad been dying for something to love.
Scraps had been about years old
reckoning from the time when he had made his
first appearance in the almshouse-when he had
saved Stray: and IL was. two years later when
tho one awful grief OF his life fell upon him.
The enemies who had never forgiven the rescue
of the poor cur lay in wait for him many time:
and one night when he was trotting home beside
his little master they fell on him with sticks
and stones TIL they had killed him. When the
deed was over they were mOmentarily scared.
since it looked very much II they had killed
Scraps also: for the child had fought so hard for
his friend that my blows had fallen on his
defenceless body; and when the dog had died.
uttering one long. pitifu whine, as il to say.
Farewell little master" poor Scraps had fallen
unconscious clasping his dead close to his
breast
But soon-too soon II was for Scraps-these
murderous wretches heard him moan pitfully;
then his sobs and cries broke forth. and finally
he struggled 10 q sitting posture. rocking the
lifeless thing In his arms and calling 1t by every
endearing name that love had taught him
names by which no human lips had ever yet
called him.
His enemies listened a moment. glad Cor them
selves that he was yet alive and then they
went away. gbing still and trying to laugh but
not over-merry either. For there many
queer varieties in boys-so queer that we must
hope that cruelty Is often but another name for
ignorance.
When he had buried his dead friend the world
was a very empty place TO Scraps; and so large
and strange that he quite lost his bearings In
1t. He thought and thought all day; and all