Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-04-07
The Death 0f Raua-


Rags belonged to a sawyer, who one
the saw-mill and met his dea tn before
any one could reach him. Rags saw
the cruel teeth coming nearer and near
er, but could not drag his master away
though he tried with all his loving
might
These two had lived their simple
lives together and when the sawyes
was laid under the churchyard daisies
Rags was left alone TO wander back
aud forth between the low, Quies
mound and the noisy old mill.
The next man AT the mill did not care
for dogs, but he never drove the gentle
creature away. and If anything was
left at lunch time he seldom forgOS
to toss 1t to Rags. But he nevey
thought to toss L pleasant word or +
gay whistle along with II to cheer tho
dogs heart as we'll as his stomach
and the hours often came to poor Rags
his stomach.
He tried to make friends with the
truant boys that lounged about the OLD
pond. He guarded their clothes while
they were swimming. fetched the sticks
they tossed upon the water, and al.
most every time brought back the
marked stones they had thrown as far
as they could.
And this is the way they repaid such
gentle behavior.
One autumn day, when it was 20 cold
I.. 90 l.
the sunshine. the boys began throwing
sticks into the water and sending Rags
out after them. He plunged in once.
twice and came out shivering, but GLAD
to be Of interest to any one. A no
body's dog 10 quite conscious Of the
fact that he is nobody's dog. He may
appear very gay sometimes, but 1t IL
only because his loving heart Is try.
ing to coax some one to come into IL
and make it happy. A third stick and
fourth were thrown. The chilled.
reluctant creature brought them back.
But at the nth he whined and wag.
ged his tail, and did his very dogs
best to make them understand how
hard a thing this was that they wsrs
asking Of him.
But the sun shone warmly upon thet
own shoulders. They must have sport.
The biggest bully Of them all threw q
stone with such perfect aim that poor
Rags gave a sharp yen Of pain and
plunged again into the chilling water
He was long in reaching the floating
stick. Even then he passed 1t once
for he appeared to be a little dazsd-
and when at last he was ready to swim
ashore he semed not to know In which
direction It lay.
One Of the lounRers gave . Careless
laugh. Rags heard him, turned slowly
then sank out Of sight He s drown
tngv cried a distressed voice: and the
httle daughter or the new MIL owner
came sDringing from log to log until she
reachAi the one nearest the shore.
Then she leaned far forward to look
for poor Rags.
The lounsers scrambled to their feet.
The head Of Rags appeared again. Tine
little girl cried out encouragement
One of the aroused idlers gave whis-
tie to cheer him onward. But after
faint struggle he went down again with
the cruel stick between his faithful
teeth.
Then Turner Robbins threw on his
coat and boots and before the others
realised what he was doing he had
brought the dog ashore, and was kneel
ing beside him upeA tAs yellow saw
dust squeezing the water from his
long, thick fur.
The little girl kneat, TO. EAe smooth-
a the naae. WnH laaA oAA sraAA ovex Q