Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-08
Donkey's Mistake.
BY KATHARINE JACKSON.

1t happened that when the great snow
storm came suddenly that Sunday night
that Billy's father had been called back
to New York. so Billy was the only man
in the house. He had never before felt
very much like man, because he had had
nursery governess; but now he had to
take of his delicate mamma and do
things for her which the two stupid SER
wants could not do. When he awoke Mon
day morning, which he did because of a
cold nose trust in his face and two inn
patient paws patting his shoulders, he saw
a great white blanket of snow heaped up
against the window pane. which brought
him bounding to the window.
Papa was wrong when he said yester-
days thaw meant that the winter was over
Donkey" he said.
Donkey barked his answer. which was
apparently yes
Perhaps you will be surprised that Don
key" should bark instead of bray. or that
he should be in the bedroom at all; but he
was a fox terrier, whose real name was
Don Quixote-the real Don being Billy's
hero. Billy had started to call him Don
as a small puppy, but he was such a stub
born little creature about having his own
way that papa had dubbed him Donkey
When Billy went downstairs he found
his pretty mother suffering and IN need
of the doctor; and the cook wringing her
hands; the waitress had slipped on the
stairs and sprained her ankle.
I'VE must have the doctor at once said
Billy, decidedly. 'Ill put on my boots and
go on"
1t was a full half mile to the doctors,
who was in fact the nearest neighbors.
The cook declared she would not stay
alone with two sick persons till he came
back
Then you go for the DOCTOR" said Billy,
land III stay; I'm not afraid"
But she refused to take her rheumatism
our into the damp snow.
ShOnldp't RillV said his
mother, nervously. I'm half afraid of the
cook; she's SO queer. Can't you think Of
some other way to get him?"
Il might fire papa's pistol" suggested
Billy. but that made his mother still more
nervous.
I'D fly a flag. only he couldn't see
through the storm. added Billy $500.
this afternoon, I'm afraid said his
mother. tears filling her eyes. She was
very weak and nervous. do what you
can to make Mary comfortable, and I can
get along if you will stay near me-
Billy had his breakfast alone. and it
wasn't cheerful meal at all; he fed
most of it to Donkey. He was cudgeling
his brains for a plan to get the doctor.
eff you were any good. Donkey" he be-
gan. when Donkey interrupted him with
not?'
you think you could go to DIR. Skaters
Donkey?" The little dog barked. Then
Billy set to work to get him ready. Writ
ing note. he put 1t in his mothers rub
Der tooth brush case, and, taking Donkey's
collar off, tied the blue ribbons of the case
about the little dogs neck. Then to put
him on the right scent, he got bottle of
medicine which DR.. shafter had made the
dog take when he was sick few weeks be-
fore. made Donkey smell 1t. and said.
Now. Donkey, go straight to DIR. Shafter
as fast as you can-Shafter, Shafter, Shat
terri
Donkey barked as if he understood ex-
actly, and when Billy opened the door he
frisked off in the right direction, enjoying
the snow.
But the drifts were very deep. and
Donkey's legs were short, and in a few
minutes he found he was almost buried
at every bound. He had to make a zig
gag course, in order to rest by the trunks
of trees where clean spaces had been
blown.
When he reached the main road he was
a very tired little dog. but he knew he must
go on. He probably said to himself: Now.
that bottle contained something I've smell
ed before-ah, l know. 1t came from the
drugstore in the village for Eve been
there many times" and he turned to the
right.
DIR. Shafter lived a quarter of mile to
the left. s------
half hour later the druggist found an
exhausted little dog trying to crawl up
the steps to his store. He was taken in
side, rubbed and warmed; and the message
in Mrs. Greeley'S toothbrush case was read
You've struck the wrong trail. old man."
said the druggist patting him; but Donkey
was too exhausted to. understand. He
thought he was being praised for his brav-
cry, and tried to wag his tail.
IF the doctors telephone wasn't out of
order your message would be all right" the
druggist went on. but as it is, the only
way to reach him is for some one to go
out there in a sleigh. and unless some one
passes going that way, / don't see what
can be done.
a that p1inuta sleigh ha1lS ware hoard
The druggist FASTENED out and signaled
Mr.. Spence. jolly old farmer, but he was
going in the wrong direction.
Hard pull said Mr.. Spence, land I'm