The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-14

charge. lie would sit on the floor,
playing with him for hours, bringing
the spools and toys the little rascal
insisted upon throwing out Of every
body's reach. He followed Jimmy and
Kathleen, the twins, to school, and woe
betide any dog that dared bark at
them as they passed through the vii
lage street How Starvation glowered
at them! How wickedly he showed his
teeth, which were as crooked as his
legs.
The quarrelsome dog usually thought
himself Of some other matter he had to
attend to and speedily set about it.
When ~ O'Clock came, Mrs. Nelson
brought the children's sled to the door,
and, calling Starvation, would start
him toward the schoolhouse his bow
legs and wcb-like feet wiggling and
wabbling in wag that made the pas
serby shrek with laughter On the
homeward trip, steep hill had to be
descended. How the sled fled down Its
slopes, the twins shouting and Starva-
ton merrily barking beside them. At
ter each child had coast, then Starva-
ton had his turn. Of his own accord
he would jump on the sled and, de-
spite hills and hollows, there he would
stay until the last bump had been safe
ly enjoyed.
Under kindness and wholesome food,
Starvation soon became more prosper
GUS looking. He grew fat and sleek,
and all would have gone well with his
dogship had it not been for Mr.. Spring
er. Mr.. Springer was sour, cross,
disagreeable neighbor, who, for some
unaccountable reason, took violent
dislike to Starvation. Whenever he met
the dog he would yell at him, and raise
his cane in SO threatening manner
that even Starvation's good nature was
outraged.
One day something dreadful happen
ed! Mr.. Springer trod on Starvation's
crooked, turned-in toes. Starvation
flew at him, and left his mark on Mr..
Springer's tobacco-stained fingers.
Mr.. Springer was furious. He de-
clared he'd have vengeance on the
whole Nelson family, unless Starvation
was Immediately shot.
Mr.. Nelson refused to do this, and
that evening the household was thrown
into state of great excitement when
constable made his appearance in
their parlor. Mrs. Nelson was in tears,
as were the children, while Mr.. Nelson
read the warrant. 1t told him that
he must appear before the court the
following Tuesday to answer to the
charges of keeping ferocious dog. Il
the dog proved ferocious he must be
shot and Mr.. Nelson, his owner, must
pay over large sum of money to Mr..
Springer.
Mr.. Nelson smiled and promised to
be on hand to answer to the charge In
spite of offers from several lawyers to
defend him Mr.. Nelson appeared in the
courthouse on the day appointed, ac-
companied by no one but the cause of
all his Starvation. Mr.. Sprin-
ger told the story of Starvation's ugly
temper, and proudly showed to the wit
nesses the scratch on his finger (Which
was made to look as bad as possible.
He insisted the dog be put to death,
saying the whole ghborhood would be
better off If such an ugly brute were
out of it.
When the judge called Mr.. Nelson to
the chair Starvation meekly rose and
followed him. There was a shout Of
laughter at his peculiar appearance and
crippled walk This subsidized as Mr..
Nelson told his story of Starvation
how he had repaid them for their shell
tering him by love, devotion and faith
fulness. Starvation seemed pleased at
these terms of appreciation and after
Mr.. Nelson sat down plead his own
cause. Wagging his remnant Of tail
he first made his way to the judge, who
patted him on the head. This action
was ever the signal for Starvation to
perform his tricks, which he proceeded
to do. He begged, stood on his hind
feet, said his prayer, told how old he
was, and gave his paw toe everyone
engaged In trying his case. When he
came to his accuser, Mr.. Springer,
OldTVdIlOH uuHS DdCh, dS IL dlIdiu VI
q kick or a blow. Finally, by some
sudden and fortunate impulse, he in
cluded Mr.. Springer in his friendly
greeting, to the amusement Of all in
the room.
The result of 1t all was that tho
judge declared that instead of Starva-
ton being vicious dog, he had shown
himself to be an unusually good tenn
pered one. If the plaintiff, Mr.. Sprin-
ger had been bitten by the dog, he was
sure there must have been some occa-
sion for it. He recommended that Mr..
Nelson be acquitted from the charge
brought by Mr.. Springer. The judge
finished his remarks by saying:
"Mr. Nelson, | would change that