Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-07
A Silent Witness.
BY NJ. 8. HANDY,

Starvation was a dog and deserved a
better name. 1t had been given him in a
spirit of fun when he first made his ap
pearance in the Nelson family. He had
come as tramp, on a bitter cold night.
and showed his Joy at being admitted to
the kitchen by eating everything in sight.
If he had not been SO freaky looking he
would have received a more dignifed
| name, but Joe Nelson, the wag of the
| neighborhood, saw possibilities in nam
ing their tramp visitor Starvation.
To start with Starvation was dachs
hund, the kind of dog that Is best de-
scribed as dog and half long and half
| a dog high" His legs were bowed and
| twisted. His toes turned out and SO flop
ped when he walked that on first seeing
Starvation one was sure he had been run
over by an automobile at least.
1t took all of Mrs. Nelson's charity to
even admit the misunderstanding object
that whined SO pitifully at her back door.
The night was bitterly cold, and, with all
the dogs ugliness, he had a gentle, APP
pealing eye. This eye and singing gust
of snow decided Starvation's fate. and he
was brought into the warm kitchen. The
animal beyond all question was starving.
He made bound for anything edible in
sight. Raw potatoes sour milk, cheese,
even sauerkraut, soon disappeared into
the long interior Of Starvation, and, from
the glad wagging of his stump Of a tail,
were regarded as iuxuries. In consequence
Tom christened the newcomer Starvation,
and as Starvation he was known until the
lawsuit. Mrs. Nelson said he must be put
however, the storm was still raging and she
| never even limited at carrying out the threat
| of showing Starvation the door.
Starvation himself simply beamed upon
everything and everybody Life to him had
become a beautiful dream. The fact that
everybody laughed and made sport of his
graceful awkwardness didn't worry him at
all. He made up his mind to make himself
| popular, and he did
He adopted the baby as his especial
charge. He would sit on the floor playing
| with him for hours, bringing the spools and
toys the little rascal insisted upon throwing
out of everybody'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 village
street. How Starvation glowered at them!
How wickedly he showed his teeth, which
| were as crooked as his legs.
The quarrelsome dog usually thought him
self of some other matter he had to attend
to- and speedily set about 1t.
When II o'clock came Mrs Nelson brought
the chldren's sled to the door and, calling
Starvation, would start him toward the
school house, his bow legs and web-like
feet wiggling and webbing in a wag that
made the passers-by shrek with laughter.
On the homeward tripna steep hill had to
be descended. How the sled flew down its
merriiy barking beside them. After each
child had a coast, then Starvation had his
turn. OF his own accord he would jump on
| the sled and. despite hills and hollows. there
| he would stay until the last bump had been
safely enjoyed.
| Under kindness and wholesome food Star
{, walton soon became more prosperous look
| ing. He grew fat and sleek, and all would
have gone well with his dogship had it not
| been for Mr.. Springer. Mr.. Springer was a
sour, cross, disagreeable neighbor, who for
| some unaccountable reason took a violent
| dislike to Starvation. Whenever he met the
| dog he would yell at him and raise his cane
| in so threatening a manner that even Star
| vations good nature was outraged.
One day something dreadful happened.
| Mr.. Springer trod on Starvations crooked
| turned-in toes. Starvation few at him and
left his mark on Mr.. Springer's tobacco
stained fingers.
| Mr.. Springer was furious. He declared
| 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 a
| state of great excitement when constable
made his appearance in their little parlor.
Mrs. Nelson was in tears. as were all the
children while Mr. Nelson read the war
rant It told him that he must appear be-
fore the court the following Tuesday to an
| swer to the charge of keeping a ferocious
dog. II the dog proved ferocious he must
be shot. and Mr.. Nelson, his owner. must
pay over a large sum OF money to Mr..
Springer.
| Mr.. Nelson smiled and promised to be on
hand to answer the charge In spite of Of
fers from several lawyers to defend him.
| Mr.. Nelson appeared in the court house on
| the day appointed. accompanied by no one
but the cause Of all his trouble-Starvation.
Mr.. Springer 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 In
| sisted the dog be put to death. saying the
whole neighborhood would be better OF II
such an ugly brute were out Of 1t.
| When the Judge called Mr.. Nelson to the
chair Starvation meekly rose and followed
him. There was 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 sheltering him by love. devotion and
i faithfulness. Starvation seemed pleased at
| these terms of appreciation and after Mr.
Nelson sat down he 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 sig
nal for Starvation to perform his tricks.
which he proceeded to do. He begged. stood
on his hind feet said his prayers, told how