Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-28
A DOG SANTA CLAUS
A Pretty Story of New Hampshire
Life Many Years Ago

Ala young girls named Dolly and
Prue. They were great friends. They
went to the same school, attended the
same church and Sunday school and
during the summer were almost con-
stantly together
But in the winter a whole week
would sometimes go by without their
seeing each other. They lived on the
banks of the same river, but on oppo-
site sides of it. And during that sea-
son of the year the river was at times
swollen very high at places where in
summer the little girls could often
cross barefoot by jumping from one
stone to another.
Dolly and Prue used to think it great
sport to cross 1t in this way; in fact,
they did not mind if there was consid-
cradle water In the river, for that only
made it more exciting. In winter when
the river was frozen solid they could
walk across it on the ice. and those
were happy times for these two little
friends. But the current at that point
was very strong, and it was usually
after Christmas before the children
were allowed to venture on it.
Now, on this Christmas that I am
going to tell you about, Prue had made
Dolly pretty white apron for Christ
mas present. Her mother had cut 1t
out, but Prue had done every stitch of
the sewing herself, and her mother as
sured her that she had done it very
neatly. There had been a great deal of
rain all through the fall, and Roaring
river was swollen very high, so that
there seemed no way of getting the
gift to her friend except by the road,
q distance of more than three miles.
"Why don't you let Duke take 1t
across?" suggested Prue's brother
Ralph. HE enjoys nothing better than
a swim in the river and he likes to
At first Ralph's proposition was
laughed at by both Prue and her
mother. The idea of letting a dog
swim across that leaping, dancing wa
ter with an apron in his mouth!-for
usually that was Dukes way of carry
ing packages
'T don't think I want to send Dolly
such a wet Christmas present as that
would be- Prue rejoined, with a toss
of her head.
But when her brother produced some
rubber cloth that had been used on a
camping expedition and offered to cut
off a small piece for Prue's benefit, she
decided that boys were sometimes
wiser than girls and joyfully accepted
his aid.
On Christmas morning the apron was
carefully wrapped in the oilcloth, with
a string tied tightly around it, and this
was fastened to Dukes collar and the
dog led to the bank of the river, which
was leaping in little waves instead of
lying placid and serene as on summer
days. He enjoyed a swim, however,
even if he did have to struggle against
odds for it, So when Prue led him by
his collar with the words: ''In. old boyi
carry my Christmas present to Dolly"
with one straining wrench he freed
himself and leaped bravely into the
turbulent water.
Prue watched him until he reached
the other shore: saw him shake the
water from his tawny sides and then
dash up the bank. Then she wandered
slowly along the shore, waiting to well
come him on his return trip.
Half an hour passed before a sharp
bank from across the river announced
that Duke was on his homeward way.
Dolly was with him and wCved her
handkerchief at her little friend, and
Prue waved hers back, while Duke
plunged into the water again and was
soon dancing around his little mistress,
shaking the water from his body until
Prue laughingly declared that she
might about as well have swum across
herself, she was so wet.
But Duke was uneasy and fawned
pefSlSIenly around Ffue until Sne as
covered that he still had tied to his
collar the bundle with which he had
started.
"Why, Duke. what made you bring
1t back again?" she cried in a tone of
Vexation.
"Open it, Open it," the dogs impa-
tient tail seemed to be insisting as it
wildly lashed the air.
Eager-eyed, he watched his little
as she united the string. And