The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-23

Il can't -se what ~e're going 10 1o
Lion, said Mrs. Pettigrex.
She said Il aloud, though she VA
talking 10 a dog. aud the dog looked
into her eyes. ana wagged his tail, and
whined little, with n trembie going
all through his body. One ws1sd hav,
thought that he was making a desper.
ate effort Go talk, 80 earnest was he
and indeed. Mrs Pettigrew smiled al
him a little sadly and murmured:
''Poor Lion, can't you say il? But
you know all about il, you old feilow!'
Yes, he knew all about it. He knew
how the little old woman's struggle had
been growing harder from month 10
month. lie must have known il, Ice.
cause ne sat down in front OF her every
day, aud looked n; her with such intelli-
gent eyes that she always felt as though
she were talking it over with some conf
Dental friend when she mentioned il
10 Lion.
The trouble had been going on along
time. Mrs Pettigrew had lived with
some Of her family years ago, people
said, but the family were ali dead OF
scattered and she had come 10 this
town, where she had supported herself
for years by doing the fine sewing that
she did so well. TheFe We little profit
in it at its best, beause she sook too much
pains with il; and after awhile her eyes
failed, and she fell TO trimming hats
and doing "plain sewing" and so
to keep something on her
table, and fire on her hearth. But at
last even this had failed, for her hands
were too crippled with rheumatism to
hold the needle any longer.
Several weeks had passed, now, since
she had made anything; and she had
been living on the little hoard that she
had laid away for q "rdiny day."
as she tried to be, her
small savings melted away; and now a
whole day had passed, during which
Mrs. Pettigrew had not eaten.
ALI around her were people that
would have been glad to help her, but
she could not beg. She had outlived
her usefulness, she told herself and
Lion; and there was nothing for her to
io but to die.
But it appeared that Lion was not
willing 10 take so despondent q view of
The situation. When the mistress had
spoken, he ran down towards the gate,
md looked back, inviting her to come
IN. He had always gone with her on
her rounds TO make her simple pur-
,haseS. and he was greatly astonished
when she only smiled sadly and reius-
u to follow. And when he saw her
link into a chair and drop her wrink-
ed face upon her hands, he hurried
away down the path and leaped over
he fence.
"The dog has forsaken me" said the
little old woman TO herself. "And yet,
L is natural, for he is hungry"
But it seemed that Lion was not go
ng to remain hungry, for he went gai-
y down the street, jogging along in a
way that made it evident
ne had made up his mind before he
started. He turned the corner at Pine
street, and presented himself before the
counter of the little baker, bland and
"Here's Lion" said Baker Fritz,
Siping his hands on his apron. Mrs.
Pettigrew isn't far behind, | reckon" "
At the mention of Mrs. Pettigrew,
Lion frolicked all around the room,
With the absurd gambols that he affect
"a when he was particularly pleased.
Another customer came in just then,
and Fritz waited on Ler, and she took
AWAY the long brown loaf, wrapped in
l sheet Of paper.
Lion was growing inpatient He
stood up, with his fore feet on the edge
IF the counter, and shifted hungrily at
he Ioaves that were nearest, watch
ing Fritz with interest as the baker
moved about the little space back of
the counter. Lion opened his express
sive mouth i'm a most astonishing yawn
and when this failed to produce any
result, he barked at the
baker, his mouth hanging open, and a
smile showing all his
teeth; as though he felt sure that this
would be understood.
"Why, | do believe the dog wants
his loaf,~ said the baker to his wife,
who looked in TO see what ali the noise
was about. "He hasn't brought any
money. but never mind. My. ] wish
my driver had as much sense as that
dog hasr'
so Fritz tied up loaf in brown paper
and held it toward the dog. Lion ac-
cepted it gravely, and instead of wag-
ing his tail he wagged his whole body
as he went out OF the door aud started
up The street. Straight home he went,
with his head up and with a wary eye
ON the alert for any other dog that
might happen along. .
Mrs. Pettigrew's head was still down
on her hands, for she did not have
courage enough to look up and see the
bright summer sunshine, when all her
world was so dark. Then something
her hand, and there was Lion,
Looking straight into her eyes. and
irving TO show her the loaf. SO Mrs
Pettigrew left Off crying and began
laughing, and she and Lion sat dowr
and dined sumptnously on bread ano
water.
The next day Lion made his appear
ed at the bakers shop again, and bark
ed at the baker, upon which Fritz re
piled as though the dog had spoken:
"Ahs, you rascal, you think | Away
sell my bread without money? G'
home after the nickle, sir"
But Fritz's wife looked in again an'
said:
"Fritz, he took the loafstraight hom
yesterday, for | watched him; and hi
mistress hasn't been here for l don
know how many days. Give him tn
loaf, Fritz. We shan't miss it."
So Lion got his loaf again; and too
II home; but he did not stay 10 eat il