The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-28
Bell are in the kitchen cooking"

Bell are in the kitchen cooking"
The mans face fell.
Il jest asked to see if you couldn't
git fifty cent piece outer 'em. You
needn't say it's fur dog, you know,
sence they're dead aginst 'em. Why,
bub, you're SIGH KNOWN, smart
chap, you kin certainly make up
tale that'll bring the chinks."
was as simple boy for my years
as could we'll be found, and no one
bad ever called me smart before.
But with the story of Ananias con-
stantly dinned in my ears, was ter
riblY afraid of telling lie. l shook
my head, and sat dismally looking at
the much coveted dog.
"See here" said the tramp, sud-
denly. "I've taken fancy to you,
and you shall have this valuable dog
fur your fifty cents and good meal
of victuals. And its clean give
away, that's what it is and its certain
to be stole if l keeps him by them
that knows the good p'ints of dog"
l crammed the fifty cents into the
mans hand, and flew to the ice closet
in the cellar, where cut off large
piece of cold mutton and big chunk
of bread. I was allowed to go to the
closet whenever l pleased, so l felt
no scruple in taking what I choose.
I never saw a human being eat as
that man did. He swallowed great
chunks without chewing. When he
had finished he laid the string, by
which the animal was tied, in my
hand.
"Keep him tied, bub" he said.
Hell foller arter me, sure as shoot
in, eft he has chance. I've raised
him from pup. Good by, old Snap,
good by" He raised his dirty sleeve
to his eyes, as if wiping away tears,
and slouched off. That fellow must
have had some dramatic talent, and
enjoyed exercising it, even before
such an uncomprehending auditor as
myself.
l held Snap tightly, but the dog
sat quietly on his hind legs and did
not attempt to follow his master.
When I called Snap, Snap, he did
not seem to know his name, though
he did get up feeble wag when l
patted him. He was the most solemn
looking dog 1 ever saw, and had, at
that time, the most incorporating
tail with hardlya wag in it. He had,
doubtless, been one of those home
less, ill-treated ours you often meet,
and why the tramp had picked him
up has always been m ystery to me.
But in those first moments of owner
ship, only felt pride and pleasure.
l gave little jerk to the string.
Snap uttered such a heartrending
howl that | shivered for fear Aunt
Bell would come out to see what was
the matter.
What on earth was | to do with my
elephant until the moment came when
| was to electrify the household by
his feats
| | had got it fixed in my stupid
little head that | was to keep him hid
den until he had killed such pile of
rats that he would be taken into ia
vor. Where was l to put hims There
was mothers big press, but he might
be smothered in it, and then she went
to it every day.
Suddenly l thought of the china
closet in the dining The best
china was kept in it, and it was sell
dom opened unless we had company.
| knew nothing of dogs, you see, and
thought could keep Snap there
without any one being the wiser. 1t
was not difficult to coax Snap into
the closet, for l held before him a
biscuit taken from the cracker jar on
the sideboard; then, with beating
heart, l closed the door, and left him
to darkness and the rats.
lounged about in the dining room
until my parents arrived. l did feel
little guilty when they kissed me
and asked me if l had been good
boy. 1t wasn't exactly clear to my
mind whether l had done wrong or
whether | was benefactor to the
family. l had heard my mother say
the closet was infested with rats, and
that she must get good cat, and
orally, Snap could do as much as
any cat.
Dinner time arrived, and my secret
was safe. AS we were sitting down
to the table Aunt Bell said:
"Where have you been all the
morning, Larry, that you didn't pay
me visit in the kitchens You're gen
ealiy there all the time when cake
| -. =