Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-05
A DOG STORY.
BIZ y. W. IVES.

apple tree in the orchard where It was rice
and cool They were good friends. these
two, and many were the jolly times they
had together.
II was q fearfully hot day. but even the
soorching sun could not seem to penetrate
through the thick branches Of the tree. and
the dogs certainly had found the coolies.
spot on tho place. The comfort OF their
situation suddenly seemed to fash through
Rover's mind.
MY" he said, "but we're well off. Just
think the way some dogs have to scrabble
round for their living, and then don't get
half enough"
'Oh. yes. suppose So" answered Max.
yawninR ''but then I don't know much
about that side of life. You see I'm very
valuable dog. and have always had the best
of care" and he elevated his snub nose In
the air.
well, I'm not" answered Rover. land
I'm not ashamed of 1t. either. -Four years
ago was only a little common street dog.
and IL 1t hadn't been for our little mistress
might be homeless to this day
Goodness" said Max, aghast at such a
disclosure. II thought you were born and
brought up right on this place.
IN Mercy no. answered d. Rover ~ ~ first st
New Jersey and found this homo Is really
the only event in my life. so perhaps you'd
like to hear about that"
Max stretched himself out comfortably
and prepared to listen.
THE only thing 1 remember about the
first part OF my life is. began Rover. that
I never had enough to eat. l had no home
and slept wherever l could find a shelter.
In summer 1t wasn't bad, but winter
nights were terrible, and l have often very
nearly frozen to death. Fortunately / have
a good warm wooliy coat. but I'm sure
don't know what these poor short-haired
dogs do when the weather is cold.
when I was about four years old / was
just as big as l am now, and" said Rover,
rather proundly. 'if 1 do say it who
shouldn't. 1 was quite fighter. Oh, yes
It's hard to believe, know as Max looked
fncredulously at his poor, WORKOUT front
teeth and shaky legs, but to prove it
will just tell you one little incident that l
Happen to remember.
Il would generally hang around one
neighborhood until 1 was either driven
away or else the food supply gave out and
in our old-fashioned house there lived the
ugliest dog ] think / saw lie
just about my size and had terrible rep
utation for fighting and general meanness
Right opposite him lived a bull terrier who
had plenty of pluck, but was no match for
this overgrown beast and the two were on
the worst possible terms They had many
small quarrels, but In every one poor little
Ginger was beaten ard through no fault
of his, either The other dogs name was
King, and tell you he thought he was one
too That dog ina gined he could rule the
whole neighborhood. Well. one day Gin
ger came to me with tears In his eyes and
said: 'Bill-my name was Bill in those
days-I can't stand 1t another minute That
pFu'e hlhs TOOK bone away from me this
morning, and l couldn't do thing to pre-
vent 1t. Now l want to know If YOU won't
come with me and teach that odous crea-
ture a lesson
Up to this time had never seen King,
SO, 70 De perfectly honest. was little bit
afraid, after all the horrible things l had
heard about him. But, as l said before 1
was quite fighter In those days. and al
ways tried to do a favor for friend So
lnallE consented. although feeling rather
doubtrul In my mind to the outcome of
the battle On we trotted side by side
DOWN the street and when we reached
klnss front yard there he was crunching
Ginger went In first and told him he'd
either got to give up that bone or else he'd
Seno 1r1end In to take 1t away from him.
hlns sneered, and said he'd like to see any
one take away his dinner This was enough
| l flew In the front gate, and made a dash
FOR King. 1t was the worst fight | ever
was IN. and several times thought I was
pea a but Ginger lent what aid he could.
ana nnally we beat him. 1t was a hanpy
day for me. can tell you. After that din
ger couldn't do enough for me- and 7 was
Wen taken care of for months afterward,
The whole neighborhood heard of the hat
| tie, and often after that was called ,,non
to defend brow-beaten dogs, and I always
did 1t to the best of my ability too
pinaliy Ginger and his family moved
mat day to this. l hated to have him go.
| | can tell you. After that / felt mora
nuatt,. than ever; and for while was
poor wandering creature like myseIf
who lived round ferry dock, picking nm
the best living he could, and from INV
good fortune
one morning was standing miserablv
| on the COCK watching the crowds and
feeling last. when noticed a lady and a
| little boy standing there. The lady was
| talking to some one, and the child was
| standing there idly. and at once 1 saw he
| had bun in his hand. For a moment
| thought of grabbing 1t and running but
| stealing had never been much in my line.
so simply sat and gazed wistfully. Just
! then the little boy looked up. saw INV
I've hungry eyes s,. fixed on him. and. be-
doggie. want my bun? at the same time
holding out the tempting morsel Just
at that delightful instant the gong
| sounded. the lady grabbed the boy by the
arm and started aboard. and l. Of course.
| was obliged to stand there watching my
only visible means Of breakfast fast dis
| Of second to make up my mind for the
| boy stood on the edge OF the boat still
holding out the bun to me. I made one
| dash and jumped on the boat just before
the man shut the gates. bolted the bun
and turned to retrace my steps. But 1T
was too late We were already slowly
steaming for the Jersey shore. and sud-
denly saw New York grow dim in the
distance. I sat down to collect my
thoughts, for I was terribly frightened.
My native town / knew was hard enough
to exist in. but this unknown land ahead
| might be a thousand times worse. How
ever. there was no help for 1T, and /
wasn't quite so hungry. anyway.
Il staid close by my friend. the boy
and he patted me occasionally. so 1 think
the deck hands thought l belonged to
him.
when we reached the other side lost
sight of him. and then my idea to
stay right the boat, which L knew
went back to New York again. Two deck
hands. however, spied me. and each
started for me with big wet mop