The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-05

with bone when the call fell upon his ear;
but bone to the winds with him when he
heard that whistle. Not even stopping to
hide the juicy morsel, he leaped like wild
towards the place of concealment of his
master Freckles had a long pole, to
which was tied longer Irvine holding n
hook Were going a-flshing, Snip" was
the information given by Freckles. Then
he ran down the alley towards the street,
with Snip bounding at his side Snip had
been taught to never go at Freckles
heels. That's the way with dogs what's
just DOGS" Freckles had explained,
land you aren't just dog; your my best
chum, and must go beside me-not behind
me-"
The day was perfect one and Freckles
and Snip were In no hurry to return
home. When at last the sun set behind
the row of tall trees that bordered the
river In the distance Freckles rose from
his seat on the river bank and said to
Snip, who was stretched out on his paws,
snatching at chance gnats to pass away
the time: well, Snipsey, l guess we'd
better meander homeward. School must
have let out by now and the folks will
be looking for me-"
But night was settling down by the
time Freckles and Snip reached home and
Freckles' mother was growing very I'M
easy over her little sons absence. But
when she saw him creeping stealthily In
at the back gate, hiding his fishing rod
In the hay beside the barn and dra wing
from the same place his slate and books
that had lain there all day, she knew
just what sort of trick the little lad had
been up to.
When Freckles entered the kitchen and
saw the expression on his mothers face
he knew excuses would be of no avail.
SO did Snip, for like his young master,
ne mad learned to judge of coming events
by certain signals and signs. Freckles'
mother gave both boy and dog cause for
serious alarm. Snip was the first to
catch the coming storm. He came In
contact with the irritated mothers foot,
which sent him speedily about his busi-
ness In the back yard. He hid in the
straw for quite time, then, seeing a
hgnt ship ing from an upper window, he
crawled cautiously forth and made his
way to spot beneath 1t. A low whine
brought Freckles to the window from
which the light was shining. "Ah, you
there, Snipsey?" he asked, bending from
the window. Just minute, old -ehum -
Inen Freckles withdrew from the win
dow to return again In a minute. He
cropped basket, which was attached to
rope, into the yard. Snip, accustomed
TO being hauled up In this queerly-con-
structed elevator, got into the basket and
IN another minute was inside his masters
apartment.
No supper for me tonight" said
Freckles sadly. There's company com
ing to stay over night, too-an aunt and
uncle and their kid, my cousin Tom, from
the city. Pm TO be allowed to go down
after everything has been ct up. You
Wee, we're punished for having gone fish
Ing. l should have gone to school and
learned the table of nine. II don't learn
all the multiplication table l shall never
be business man. for to know business
a man must know his multiplication table.
OF course, it's different with dogs; they
get on very nicely without 'rithmetic or
grammar or anything like learning books.
It's very nice to be dog, Snip. And
dogs mamma never whips him nor puts
him to bed without his supper, neither"
Snip nodded his head, blinked an eye
and laughed with his bobtaii.
But little did Snip know of the trouble
In store for him. Had he shifted It In
the air he would not have been so light
hearted now. He crept under his mas
ters bed after that little man had bathed,
combed, dressed himself In his Sunday
suit and gone down stairs In answer to
his mothers call: 'Burten. come down