The midland journal., 1907-11-01
The
Lonesome Dog
BIZ JESSIE WRIGHT wH1TcoMB


A good, kind dog found himself all
alone in the world. He was hungry
and thirsty and lonesome, and thought
he would see if he could improve his
fortunes.
AS he trotted through the streets
of a town he smelled fine smell.
"That means something for me at
last" he thought, and traced the smell
to meat shop. The screen door
was shut, but he waited patiently
until some one went in and he fol-
lowed close behind.
A most excellent smell! He nosed
along up close to the counter. With
grateful heart he waited for his share.
1t fell and he snapped it up. No SOON
er had he done so than the butcher
saw him, and the butchers boy and
two customers and they all shunted at
him and jumped at him and hustled
him out of the shop, bereft of his
meat and ashamed
my sakes," he said to himself, as
he ran down the street, tail between
his legs, II have learned one lesson
never to go into place that smells
as good as that again!"
When he could run no more, pant
ing with the heat, and with his tom
que hanging out of his mouth. he
looked for a place to rest. He had
reached a house with green grass,
and with vines on the porch, and
with soft. damp-looking flower bed,
full of bright flowers, in front of the
vines. There was no fence.
''It is quite free," thought the tired
dog, and / am glad of place to
rest" So he went over to the flower
bed, turned around and around on
the cool soil until he Had crowded
out for himself comfortable resting
place among the plants.
"Oh, how good this is,' he thought,
as he painted for breath. "how kind
these people must bel"
He was just doing of, when he
heard a scream above him. peter!
quick! quick! an awful dog! right in
the flower bed! Drive him away!"
Move as quick as he could. the dog
could not get away before he had
been pelted with all sorts of things,
and had been called all sorts of
names, which hurt him almost as
much as the missiles.
He ran as far as he could without
stopping, but he was SO intolerably
thirsty he kept looking for a place to
drink There seemed to be no water
In all that town. AS he Jagged SLOW
ly along one street he reached a lat
ticed kitchen porch. The porch door
stood open. He knew there was water
on that porch. The open door in
vste& him. These people know how
it feels to perish of thirst" he
thought, "they have left their door
open"
Up the steps he crept; he could
see the pail of fresh water; he was
just about to bury his nose in the
pail and drink his fill, when the kitch.
en- door slammed back, and a broom
descended on his head, and he was
ordered off in no uncertain tones.
With his head aching from the blow,
and thirstier than ever, he ran slow
ly along.
There is no place for me-" he
thought wearily, nor any food. nor
any drink. do not understand it.
He ran by more houses with vines,
and hower-beds, and green lawns, and
no fences, but he did not venture in.
A pretty child sat on some steps and
called, Here doggie. here, doggie"
How he would like to be called that
wayl He turned his head imploringly
"Here doggie-good, pretty, kind
doggie, come to Roxie."
The dog hesitated; could the child
mean him? Was 1t a boy? Some
children were boys and some were
girls. But he couldn't tell this one,
Some boys were named John and
Tom and David, and some girls were
named Daisy and Lulu and Sally. but
he didn't know Roxie.
"Come, doggie," urged Roxie,
@ceme-I1l give you dgink-a nice,