Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-09
A Dog Story.

A Dog Story.
Rover and Max lay ont under the obi
apple tree in the orchard where it WAS
nice and cool. They were good friends.
these two. aud many were the jolly
times they had together
1t was fearfully hot day, but even
the scorching sun could not seem to
penetrate through the thick branches of
the tree and the dogs certainly had
found the coolest spot on the pace The
comfort of their situation suddenly
seemed to flash through Royer's mind.
My he said, but were well off
just think the way some dogs have to
scrabble round for their living, aud then
don't get half enough"
oh, yes, suppose So answered
Max, yawning. but then | don't know
much about that side of life. You see.
I'm very valuable dog, and have al
ways had the best of care" and he Gle
waited his snub nose in the air
We'll. I'm not" answered Rover. and
I'm not ashamed of il, either. -Four
years ago was only a llttle common
street dog. and if il hadn't been for o,lr
little mistress | might ~ homeless to this
day.
Goodness" said Max. aghast nj such
a disclosure. II thought You were born
and brought up right on this place
Mercy. no" answered Rover. Il first
lived in New York. and The way / came
to New Jersey and found this home Is
really the only event in my life SO per
haps you'd like to hear about that"
Max stretched himself ont comfort
ably and prepared to listen
The only thing ! remember about
the first part of my life is, began Ro-
haI IN a,tf
l had no home and slept wherever
could find shelter In summer il wasn't
so bad, but winter nights were terrible.
and | have often very nearly frozen to
death. Fortunately. | have Il good,
warm, woolly coat but I'm sure | don't
know what these poor short-haired dogs
do when the weather is cold.
"Whrn | was about 1 years old ! was
just as big as am now, and said
Rover. rather proudly, IF ] do say if
who shouldn't | was quite fighter.
Oh, yes. It's hard to believe. | know"
as Max looked incredulOuSy at his poor.
worn-out front teeth and shaky legs.
''hut to prove it | will just tell you one
little incident that happen to remem-
Der.
Il would generally hang around one
ncighb0rhood until | was either driven
away or else the food supply gave out,
! and in our old-faShioned house there
lived the ugliest dog think | ever saw.
| He was just about my size and had a
terrible reputation for fighting and gen
eral meanncSs. Right opposite him
lived a bull terrier, who had plenty of
| pluck, hut was 10 match for this over
grown beast. and the two were on the
worst possible terms They had many
small quarrelS, but in every one poor
| little Ginger was beaten and through
no fault of his either The other dogs
name was King, aud tell you he
thought he was one. too. That dog i'm
agined he could rule the whole neigh
| borho0d. Well, one day Ginger came
TO me with tears in his eyes and said
'Bill-mY name was Bill in those days
! 4 can't stand il another minute. That
brute King took bone away from me
| this morning, and ! couldn't do thing
to prevent it. Now / want to know If
| YOU won't come with me and teach that
| Odius creature leSSou'
TIP to this time | had never seen
| King, so to be perfectly honest. | was a
| little bit afraid. after all the horrible
| things ! bad heard about him. But. as
! said before. | was quite fighter in
| those days, and always tried to do n
| favor for Il friend. SO / finally con-
| scented, although feeling rather doubtful
| in my mind as 10 the outcome Of the
| battle. Off we trotted side by side down
| the street. and when we reached King x
| front yard there he was crunching the
| very bone he had stolen from Ginger
Ginger Went in first. and told him he'd
| either got to give UP that bone or else
| he'd send a friend in to take il away
| from him. King sneered, and said he'd
| Ike to see any one take away his din
ner This was enough. | flew ia the
| front gate. and made dash for King.
| II was the worst fight ! ever was in.
and several times | thought / was beat
Ell. But Ginger lent what aid he could,
| and finally we beat him. 1t was n happy
| day for me. | can tell you After that
| Ginger couldn't do enough for me. and
| ! was we'll taken care Of for months
| afterward The whole neighbOrhoud
| heard Of the battle. and often after that
/ was called upon 10 defend brow-heatcn
| dogs, and / always did it TO the best
/ Of my ability, too.
"Finally Ginger and his family moved
away. and | have never seen him from
| that day 10 this. | hated to have him
| 20. ] can tell you. After that / felt
more homeless than ever. and for a while
/ was pretty miserable. Then one day /
| met a poor wandering creature like my
! self. who lived round n ferry dock. pick
! ing mp the best living lac could. and from
my meeting with him dated my ever
| lasting good fortune.
One morning / was standing mjScr-
/ ably on the dock watching the crowds
and feeling fast. when ! noticed a lady
aud little boy standing there. The
I lady was talking 10 someone. and the
| child was standing there idly. and at
once / saw he had bun in his hand.
| For a moment / thought of grabbing IL
/ and running. but stealing had never been
much in my liue, 50 | simply sat and