The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-23
interesting Items to please the children.
EDITED BY UNCLE JAcl


the wonderful fragrances that had sent
thrills up and down his spinal cord, yet
seemed no nearer the goal of his desire.
How was 1t possible for a little alley dog
to catch a turkey roasting inside a house
shut up tight?
As IL in answe to his questioning thought
a Spitz dog. warm and prosperousiy robust
in his thick white furs, passed Tatters with
a scornful sniff, ran up a flight of steps,
scratched peremptorily on a closed door,
at the same time giving three quick, sharp
barks. Instantly the door opened, and
with a natter-of-course air the Spitz dis
appeared into a room thick with the most
delightful, greasy smoke.
Tatters's heart beat wildly. After all, it
was SO simple and easyi Trembling in
nearest him. Strong whiffs of roasting
turkey stole out through crack and key
hole. and the starving little. dog became
legs to knock his forepaws kept slipping
down the door panels, instead of boldly
scratching, While the three quick, sharp
comical catch in the middle.
promptly as the spitz's, and he stood tri-
fumes Of the long-sought turkey.
1.-THE nerve of himl' The shrlll voice of
the woman in the doorway, sent a culver
ly tried to wag his tail. An old alley dog
scratching at the door as If he belonged
here. Begone with you!'
A sharp pain caught poor little Tatters's
rib ms he was kicked down the steps, while
the opened door that had promised an en-
trance into fairyland shut with an angry
For a long time Tatters lay in a huddled
heap on the hard, cold sidewalk, pitifully
whimpering like a hurt child sitting a sob.
Then he struggled to his feet, and In spite
of his dizzy weakness and the throhbing
ache in his side bravely limped up the
alley.
But he had lost all hope. Thanksgiving
turkeys could not be intended for little al
ley dogs. The wind was rising, the snow
flakes eddying down faster and faster. He
would find some corner into which he could
crawl and die undisturbed.
Suddenly he came to a halt. Gould he be-
lieve his eyes? He blinked away a blur
ring snowflake. 1t was not a delusion or a
dream. A few feet away a back door
stood open upon the alley.
Weakness, pain. despair were lost in a
leap of joyful surprise, and the next &C.
static moment Tatters was entering a
beautiful warm kitchen.
as IL a little alley dog were an expected
guest-stood a tin plate piled with bones
that absolutely dripped with the delicious
turkey fragrance.
Tatters circled round and round on MS
hind feet. strenuously paving the air in a
vain effort to reach the bones. Then he
made a marvellous discovery. Close to the
table was a chair. He jumped upon it,
and in a flash snatched a magnincent
turkey drumstick, with luscious morsels of
r1cn meal SIlil cllnSlnB 10 lle DOne- |
Alas, the plate was so near the edge OF
the table that Tatters's awkward haste
turned 1t over and the tin clattered on the
floor as though a burglar alarm were going
off.
An inside door flung open into the
kitchen ard the whole room seemed to
swarm with yelling; chasing oys.
but escape to the street was already cut
off, and the only possible hiding place was
the dark cave under the kitchen stove.
As ha ~ no ~ lKn hama Il l
1t he heard a sweet, hute-like voice
silence the boisterous clamor that had so
terrified him.
questioned, what is all this hubbub
about?"
'The outside door couldn't have been
grandma" explained Tom, "and
the wind blew it open.'
"And-and an alley do walked straight
n" excitedly continued Arthur.
HE upset the plate of turkey bones
from the table, granny Paul iourished
a poker. Hes hiding under the stove.
IN get him out in a fly na,n mo.
tested the sweet, hute-like voice, and the
end of the poker, that had almost touched
nose, was hastily withdrawn.
Then the floor under the stove shook as
impulsively went down ON her
knees, and the trembling Tatters saw
peering at him the loveliest face into
which he had ever looked, for the lips had
a tender smile and the bright eyes shone
with love for all the world, including even
a poor little alley dog.
"Doggie! Doggie!" said the sweet, flute
like voice. Ibid those naughty boys scare
him most to death?"
but. grandma they protested in
chorus, 'he was stealing a bone!"
THE little fellow didn't know any bet
teri Why, the poor critter looks most
starved! Quick. Tom, bring out the mashed
potato dish. Arthur, get the turkey gravy;
carry 1t straight, now And, Paul, You
gather up the scattered bones so he can
one for dessert"
When all was ready-a bountiful supply
of the potatoes swimming in gravy on the
tin plate and besides 1T a newspaper nap
bearing the turkey wing-they gradu-
ally coaxed Tatters out to his Thanks
giving turkey dinner, and as they stood
grandma's eyes filed with tears.
Land of love- she rmured 81 amt
got the heart to turn the crftter out on
this blessed holiday! 1 reckon we can
manage to keep him till tomorrow
The three boys grinned from ear to car. /
for they knew that the little alley dog had
found a home in which he would be loved
and petted until the day of his death.
And Tatters, as he paused to catch his
breath after a rapturous lick of turkey
gravy, shyly but deliberately wagged his
tail.-By May C. Ringwalt in Washington
Star.