The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-10-27
Young Folks
The NeiEhbOrhcOd Dog.

Following the boys On the heights of
Ashland you will always see a mongrel
dog of dirty no color, but wearing a
beautiful silver collar.
The boys cannot remember just when
they BEGAN to notice the dog ever at
their heels: He was neither big nor lit
tie, light nor dark, smooth nor curly.
but just bctwixt and between in all
things but his disposition, which was
perfect.
When the stranger first Joined them
ne was driven off with many kick, cuff
and cross word; but soon made himself
SO useful in finding lost balls and car
rylng packages that the boys grew fond
OF MN, and were ready to quarrel for
the privilege of taking him home for dim
ner. and the night. But TRAMP" was
80 impartial there could be no ouarrclS.
IT the boys forgot whom he STAYED with
ast' ne never did. but went friSking
nome with a different boy each night.
Inc boys had another follower, little
Curly' Wilson, aged ), who would have
been a nuisance but for Tramp, who kent
as good watch over him as the stray
balls and missing hats, shoes and coats
Twice Tramp just escaped the pound
mans wagon, and it was then the bows
dubbed their pocket money and bought
leather collar and license for him,
ana gave him his name of Tramp. Dur
ing school hours Tramp played With
Curly, or snoozed by tho gate of some
boy, or chased cats: but noon and 1
o'clock found him waiting at the steps
whore the boys left the street car com
ing from school
They took him to the lake for swim
on Saturdays, or when they were too
busy Tramp went by himself Now this
little lake, although lovely to look at
had its dangers like all lakes and one
that most lakes have not. 1t is an arti-
fetal lake made by walling in an arm
of the bay, and has it's tides like the
ocean,. When the tide is out, about half
around the lake lies smooth. broad.
slippery belt Of deep mud
Tramp knew enough to keep off it, but
little Curly was not so wise. So one
Saturday when the boys were very busy
with plans for an afternoon outing, they
sent Tramp to battle alone Unseen by
them, Curly followed him. When they
reached the lake the tide was Just be-
ginning to creep in, and Tramp waited
for deeper water. The two friends raced
about the asphalt boulevard for while,
then Curly ventured on the sand; and
the shining mud, he took off his shoes
and stockings and stepped out on it,
On, how good and cool it felt to his lit
tie bare toes! Tramp tried to coax him
back, but could not, and soon Curly went
one step too far, sank to his ankles and
stuck fast! POOR Tramp! He couldn't
get him out, and he hated to leave him
But help must be had! 50 Selling Curly's
little wet hat, he dashed off up the hill
to the boys.
They saw him coming far off, and Won
dered what treasure he was bringing
them. Some guessed rat, some duck,
some rabbit; but when he dropped the lit
tie hat before them, and flew madly back,
the boys all cried, Poor Curly
drowned"' and rushed after.
Now we know he wasn't drowned, nor
in very much danger yet, although the
tide was coming in fast, and he stood in
water above his knees when the boys
reached the lake, a very scared, uncom-
Portable little boy.
1t was no easy matter to get him out,
for the boys sank so deep in the mud.
They each tried and they tried together,
but all to no purpose, and the water was
slowly rising; they had finally to go out
in boat from the Other side, and then
by hard pulling they got him out.
For days his feet and legs were so
bruised and lame he could get into no
mischief. Tramp was the hero of the
hour, and Curly's mother gave him the
fine silver collar.-Lizzie E. johnson in
Youths Companion.