Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-09-12


zGN2E
II was a hot sultry afternoon at the
end Of July. All the mo ming the sun
had shone pitilessly on the dusty nave.
ments n slate roofs of the busy
town, and now the very paving stones
were hot, and everyone went limply
ABOUT his work and remarked on the
intense heat of the day.
In the center of one of the most
crowded pavements in one OF the bust.
est thoroughfares of London. trot.
ted a little black.and.tan dog. His
eyes were strained and bloodshot. and
white foam dropped from his o
as he vent along, glancing furtively
from side to side in search of a drop
OF water TO moisten his parched
tongue.
No one took any notice of the IN.
tie animal except to move hastily ont
OF It's way or 10 cry to zach other
that the dog was mad. but he was
too small TO cause much fear. and for
the most part he slipped unnoticed
through the crowd, only pausing now
and then to sniff the dusty gutter or
to try and cool his tongue against the
sun.baked kerbstone.
A retriver dog passed within a yard
OF him and disappeared down a turn.
ing not a stones throw from where he
lay. Presently he re~appeared with
water dripping from his shining black
muzzle, and the little dog groaned in
envy. Another dog passed by with
dry tongue hanging from between his
teeth, and then he too returned with
s~prightly air and moistened lips. An.
nther. n yet another. Our little dog
raised himself on tottering legs and
followed In the wake of an Irish ter.
rier.
Down the little valley trotted the
irish terrier, and after him limped the
little ~black.and.tan dog, painting in his
e~agerness to keep the other in sight,
In less than a minute the terrier
halted by a stone doorway. and as the
little dog drew near he could hear
the long gurgling drauGhts of water
which the Irish dog was taking in.
The little dog waited till the others
thirst was assuaged. then he also
thrust his head into the pan and
eagerly Tapped up the small quantity
OF water which was left. How good
tlose few drops felt to the little
3arched tongue But oh, how he
longed for more, And even as he
longed, someone bent over him with
gentle words and filed the earthen.
ware pan with water to the brim.
Once more the little dog plunged his
head into the pan-nose and ewes and
ears. all were Immersed in the de.
licious GOODNESS OF the waite Then
he began to drink afresh, and Tapped.
and Tapped, and lapped until someone
lifted him gently from beside the pan
md stroked his little black head
kindly.
NO more just now, little dog;
you'll be i'll, you know. Wait a Bit
said a soft voice, and the sad lonely
eyes of the dog looked into the sad
lonely eyes of a little crippled boy,
and straightway a friendship was
formed which was TO last those two
as long as both remained on earth.
Il eve did see such a child said
Jemmy's mother that evening, when
she got back from work. Amt yer
three.legged kitten enough, or yer
blind canary, that ye must have =
dog for a playmate, too
He seemed to want for to stay"
said the boy. looking fondly at the
little black.and.tan head which rested
contidingly across his foot.
We'll, let i'm stay, then; its not
many pleasures ye have" said the
woman, and she smiled in answer to
the look Of JOY which flashed into her
little suh's face.
Hell remind me to keep the dogs
basin filled regular" said the child.
TITS quite a number of dogs come
every day now, mother. to have a
drink. ! think they must tell each
other there's always water here and
the little h%unchback laughed at the
thought. The big retriver comes
every day, and the Irish terrier; but |
had two new M to-day, which amt
never been before, and then this lit
tie un,' c~aressing the little dog Is he
spoke, and two pigeons and one
sparrer."
Quite a circus. amt it," said his
mother. Il wish they all paid their
pennies for the drink, Jenny, and
that nd pay for the little dogs Ii.
cense,"
why, seven and six for keeping a
dog said his mother. "Ieger mind.
] must try and get a extra days work
now and then-that won't hurt. And
again her hard-featured face was il.
Iumined by a sudden smile in answer
t o the look Of grateful pleasure which
the child gave her.-The Culver.