Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
TOMMY.
BY C. H. Armstrong.

crawl slowly through the damp grass or
among the small bushes that hang close to
the ground, turning his curious head slowly
from side to side and pausing between steps
to snap up a fly or ant, or to take a bite
from some choice leaf that grows within his
reach.
But Tommy hasn't always lived in his
masters back yard He was brought there
from the country long time ago. At first
he was very unhappy; for whichever way
he turned there great fence many
times higher than Tommy, with his short
legs, could ever hope to climb ovs; and
Tommy didn't like to lose his freedom. But.
after while, he began to like his new
home and to feel quite contented and hap
Ply, because it was pleasant in many ways.
All down the center of the long yard was
fine grass plot, fresh and green, and around
the edge grew a row of just such bushes
and flowers as Tommy loved to ramble In;
and always in the cold mornings, the warm
sun came streaming in above the house
tops. Then, too, when the hot summer at
ternoons came and everything was dry and
dusty and Tommy was very uncomfortable,
John, the butler, would often bring the gar
den hose and sprinkle the lawn, flowers and
bushes with cool, refreshing water: and all
this made Tommy very happy. Besides, John
often threw out odd bits of things that
Tommy liked to eat and so Tommy became
luOIc anu more COnCenleQ ana, except IOT
one thing, would have preferred his new
home to the one up among the New Hamp-
shire hills.
All the trouble in Tommy's small life was
brought about by Rex. Rex was a fine.
lively spaniel, with long glossy ears and
curly coat, who also belonged to Tommys
master.
To be sure, Rex went out a great deal
with his master and had a great many i'm
portant things to attend to. but he found
time for play sometimes; and above all
things Rex loved play. Now, there was
only one place where Rex could play, and
that was in Tommy's back yard; and there
was only one thing in the yard for him to
play with, and that was Tommy, at least
SO Rex thought. But Tommy didn't care
for playmates or for play. He was quite
contented to be left alone to wander
among the flowers and grasses, and enjoy
the brigA, sunshine and pick up crumbs and
flies But when Rex came into the yard
Tommy had to crawl away off in some cor
ner out of sight, and stay there until Rex
was gone And so he came to wish that
Rex never would come into the yard at all.
Tommys first Introduction to Rex was
very funny-that is, it was funny for Rex.
AS for poor Tommy. he was nearly fright
ened out of his wits Rex came bounding
into the yard for frolic one morning just
as Tommy could hide away behind and
before Tommy could hide away behind the
bushes Rex had spied him. Rex had never
seen such curious creature before, but he
lost no time in trying to get acquainted.
He ran straight up to Tommy and stood
wagging his tail and waiting to see what
Tommy would do. Tommy was too much
frightened to do anything but draw his
legs. tail and head up into his stout shell
just as far as he could he always did
when he was frightened, and wait for the
terrible monster, whatever he might be, to
go away. But Rex had no idea of going
away; goodness, no! He was becoming
more and more interested every minute and
wagging his tail harder and harder until
it seemed as if it must break off. Finally,
he began to grow tired of waiting for Tom
my TO come out, so he planted his great
front paw down hard on Tommy's back
But Tommy was only more frightened than
ever, and drew himself up farther and far
Their into his shell. Then Rex planted both
feet on Tommy's back again and again,
and jumped and ran round and round Tom
my-dancing on his hind legs and barking
In high glee-and rolled Tommy over and
over with his nose and paws, until finally
John the butler, came and called Rex into
the house.
Poor Tommy! After such a tumbling it is
no wonder That he wished himself back
among the old hills where there were no
dogs to tease him. You may be sure that
he was very careful not to let Rex catch
him away from the bushes often after that.
But, by and by, when Tommy had become
better acquainted with Rex and had learned
that he was only in fun, Tommy wasn't so
much afraid of him. And, although Tommy
never learned to play as Rex did he man
aged to enjoy himself quite well through
the lovely summer weather and until one
day in autumn, when the leaves had fallen
from the bushes and all the flowers had
gone to sleep. Then a very strange thing
happened to Tommy.
2 He began to be sleepy ike the leaves and
flowers; SO sleepy that he could ha rdly keen
awake. Then, too, his appetite began to
fail SO that he no longer cared for the
choice bits that John, the butler threw him.
But Tommy didn't care so much about the
appetite If only he could keep awake For
when, on these bright October afternoons.
he lay by the edge of the rose bushes and
CHANGED to fall into doze in spite of him
self, Rex, the rascal, was sure to find him
out and then another tumblfng followed
for, of course, Tommy was too sleepy to
get out of the way.
oh. dear!' thought Tommy, 'if Rex
would only let me alone If he knew how
sleepy l am, I'm sure he would" But Rex
didn know how sleepy Tommy was, and
I'm afraid he wouldn't have cared if he
had known; for Rex couldn't understand,
for the life of him, why in the world any-
body should care to sleep when there was
fun to be had
And so affairs stood until one day a
bright idea occurred to Tommy. Feeling
more sleepy than usual he resolved to po
away up close into the corner of the yard
between the high fence and the wild sage
bushes and dig down into the soft earth
where Rex could never find him and then
sleep 10 his hearts content. And so he did;
and for nearly a whole hong month he had
slumbered soundly and Rex looked for him
in vain, when one day, as Rex was shifting
along the fence and among the low bushes
he came suddenly upon something that
surprised him very much. He could !;2rdly
believe bis senses; but, sure enough, it was
one of Tommys feet sticking up above the
dirt. For must tell you that Tommy had
become so sleepy and had found the fresh
warm earth SO soothing that before he had
quite hidden himself in it he fell sound
asleep with his feet still sticking out in
plain view, and SO it was that Rex found
him after all.
But it was no use for Rex to try to
awaken Tommy now; for he had begun his
long winter nap. Soon the kind old lady
Tommy mistress, came out into the ward
and called Rex away She put more soft
earth over Tommy's bed and covered If ali
over with leaves and twigs, and then the
snow came falling down and buried Tom
my deeper. than ever: and there he will
sleep until the warm sun steals in over the
great fence and melts away the snow and
the soft spring breeZes begin to rustic the
tree tops, and the little buds on the wild
sage bushes begin to open. Then Tommy
will awake and look for his old friends
acknowledgements Review
My Lost Baby.
Lou J. Beauth amp In the Philosopher