The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-09-05
TRAMP A FRIEND
OF THE WEAK
A Dog Who Mould Not See Others
Abused.

III was Tramp's own fault thai he was
not a member OF the Society for the Pre-
vention OF Cruelty to Animals one OF
the officers OF the society came 10 see
him oue day and tied badge on his
collar, but Tramp ungraIefully tore it
OF and ate it. turning and twisting his
head all the time asthough the ribbon
didn't taste good.
We were living az the old home then.
and Tramp was fun grown when he
came into our possession He arrived in
a basket with a not attached, saying that
Mrs. Dora Mitchell. whom we had seen
once when we were on visit 10 the
city, had found that we were kind TO
animals, and so SHE would make US a
present OF Tramp. because she was going
on a long Journey and could not take
him with her.
Not that Tramp was glad Of the
exchange: no. indeei: he resented It bit
terly. and we feared. for week. that
he was going to s;arve himself 10 death.
But in the course Of time he became
reconcsled to his new surroundings and
allowing us to take turns in petting him.
Tramp was terrier. but not very
small one Nor was he so nervous and
restless as most dogs OF thas kind are.
He was rather inclined to sit sin and he
quiet looking wistfully at the distant
hills, as though he We're trying 10 think
out some difieult problem When We
were reading aloud he sat down in front
OF us and stared into our faces until we
half believed thar he understood every
word we said. THere were. no other pets
on the place. and Tramp was monarch
OF all he surveyed
Soon after Tramp arrived we found
that he loved mother better than he
loved any Of US. He had hts peculiari-
ties Among others he would obey mother
hut he showed the greatest indifference
to our requests. and Aunt Cinthy," the
old negro cook and the victim Of our
craze for pets. he most cordially despised
No marts- what Tramp was doing,
mother had but to speak to him. in her
low. gentle voice, and he obeyed without
the least hesitation. She might even tell
him 20 get up from the rug and leave
the room. and. though ne loved the place
there, he would go without delay. cast
ing back imploring glances. as though he
were asking her to reconsider the
question.
But thre were times when Tramp abso-
lutely refused to obey even ner. II she
ever so far forgot herself as 70 speak
sharply, Tramp Immediately sat down in
front Of her and showed his teeth. He
never attempted to use them, but he
merely wished TO show her what he
could do if such conduct were persisted
in. 1t amused US so much that some
times we begged her TO scold him. Just
to see what he would do.
On one occasion she yielded, and or
dered Tramp from the room. Instantly
he sat down. with two rows Of gieam-
ing teath on exhibition. watching her
with such a look Of surprise that she
almost failed to keep her countenance.
Sne spoke again sharply. and Tramp
looked at her a moment. growing in an
ur.dertone. and thz1 he deliberately
turned around a time or TWO and lay
down and went TO sleep before her eyes,
giving a preliminary yawn 10 show us
that he was tired Of such foolishness.
No matter whether We scolded or
begged. Tramp did not growl or show his
teeth at US; he merely ignored US alto
gethe- He liked US. and was never tired
of playing hide and seek, but he did as
he pleased, not as We pleased. Very
often We tried TO make him do something
we had set our hearts on, but he pre-
tended not to hear us, and frequently
sat down in the very midst Of our striv-
ing and looked at the landscape as
though he were thinking Of painting
picture Of IL.
Brr between Aunt Cinthy and Tramp
there was opcn war. II was no: neces-
sary for her 70 speak 10 him; she had
but 10 look at him. and ne rushed at
her, and few around her, and leaped into
the air. and shook her skirts, as though
a small whirlwind had taken possession
of her.
u does despse dat no-count ornary
dawg," Aunt Cinthy proclaimed twenty
times day as she skurried into her
own house and bolted the door, after
which Tramp would lie down on the
step and waft for her to come out
We knew all about it, Aunt Cinthy
had abused all the dogs We had ever
managed to obtain possession Of, soaring
them half TO death with her "bresh
broom" and shouting at them whenever
they showed their noses in the kitchen
door and now Tramp was getting even
for it ALL
It was NOT only that he would not be
abused himself. but he was the natural
protector Of all other animals. There
was something in his nature 50 averse
to cruelty that he became distinguished
all over that country. saw him fright
en- a crowd Of boys half 70 death when
they were making preparations for the
drowning OF kitten. They were stoop-
ing down, beginning to tie stone to
the little creatures neck, when all at
once there was Tramp swarming all over
their backs, shaking their collars ana
barking his shrill bark right in their ears
and the boys fed for life, leaving the
kitten behind. Tramp came walking so
berly into the house wtth the kitten in
his mouth after awhile, every hair on
the small body standing erect as the
ungrateful kitten hissed at him with all
It's might.
His sympathies were always with the
smaller animal in any difficulty. and his
courage knew no bounds. If he had
been a human being instead Of a dog,