Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-07-01

ful red setter,
.,r,,st his cold nose into Ben's face
md sa:d, as plainly as a dog could
NV Yves, do buy me-" but Ben's
sather shook his head doubtfully.
Is TOO large a dog to take care
=, IN the city, he said. II wanted
" huv a small dog" The dog-fancier
S.oi,ed ia Ben's eager little face, as
W. matted Don's beautiful head.
.aThey nave taken such a liking to |
ooch other now that | am afraid you
oannot persuade Ben to ever consider
orotber dog" he said to Ben's father;
and they O found this was the
aose No other dog would do. At
sach ncetty pug or terrier Ben shook
bis head.
mo" he said each time. IF /
.sn't have Don, l don't want any
ether dog, papa" Finally, the dog
%fancier, who knew Ben's father very
vpll. and who vas very fond Of Ben
besides, said:
DIll tell you what I'll do, Mr..
Rogers. You may take the dog
home with you and keep him for a
dav Tomorrow is the Fourth of
1ulv and a holiday, SO I will not have
anv chance to sell Don then. Give
him a trial; and then, If you don't
want him, bring him back on Thurs
day morning and exchange him for
any dog I have
"Oh, yes. Do that. please, please"
cried Ben. THANK you SO much,
Mr.. Wood"
"Then, if mamma and l decide we
cannot keep him, will you give him
I'D and take another dog instead?"
asked Mr.. Rogers. Remember it
will be harder to give him up then
than it is now" {,
1T could not be much harder"
said Ben, with a sigh. eff you say
cannot keep him after we give him
trial, 1 will give him up; but I
don't want any other dog" Ben
thrust his hands into his pockets,
and, walking to the window, swal-
lowed once or twice very hard. Ben's
father looked at Mr.. Wood with a
smile.
1T is hard to refuse the boy" he
said in a low tone. "[ think we will
have to give Don a trial" Then he
added in a tone loud enough for Ben
10 hear:
"All right, Ben. We will take Don
home, and keep him a day at least"
Ben ran back to them with a bright
face, and Mr.. Wood said:
There, Ben, that is better than
not having Don at all. Now see what
he can do before you take him." Mr..
Wood pointed to a newspaper which
lay on the floor some distance away.
Bring it here, Don," he COM
manded; and Don trotted obediently
e over to the paper, took it up his
mouth, and brought it back to Mr..
Wood.
Drop it," said Mr.. Wood: and out
dropped the paper from Don's mouth,
while he wagged his tail and looked
from one to the other, as much as to
say, Gould any dog do better than
that?"
Now jump!" said Mr.. Wood. hold
ing out a long stick; and over Don
went like a flash.
NOW give me your right paw
Ion held up his right paw, and placed
II IN Mr.. Woods o~utstretched hand.
Good!' said Mr.. Rogers, laughing,
Does he know the left paw also?"
Lett commanded Mr.. Wood.
ana up came the left paw, to Ren,s
intense delight.
GOOD dog" said Mr.. Wood. .'He
sU"etnnes gets a little puzzled about
eiish1 n left paws, but he is eyi.
aen'ly on his good behavior to-day
A1'er several more tricks. which Dor
tu = n after the other, Be1
rouho to his delight that the dos
ouio obey him also, when he usei
Ny same words of command tina,
Mr.. Wood did. en
VIII put a pretty collar on him.
Mr. Wood, as they were leaving
n auo nook a light chain to it, so b,
mi1 not get away from you" Ben
,os u SHINING eyes and a bright face
a,Doh out. All that evening Bel
auu Ion and Ben's little sister. Doro
~ romped and played together
~i Don apparently was delighte
nl'u the entire family. Mr.. and Mrs
osels said very little about keepin
Jog; but Ben felt he had mad
soou impression, and he hoped, a
oniy a sn@all boy can hope, that some
enlng would happen to make them de
eide to keep him.
lne next day, the Fourth of Jul.
80; : was occupied all day with shoe
Is OF hre-crackers, from an earl
a nuur IN the morning till supper tim
~ OF which went off with a satisfyin
osis' Don at first was a little afrai
the noise, but soon grew accu
do nied TO it, and sat up on the vera1
steps, watching the fun from
.eSpectful distance. Just before su,
IT, as a special treat, Ben's fath'
aoushe him a giant fire-cracker,
cd tempting one, with a lo1
s'lng fuse hanging out of one en-
entlfe cracker about eight inch
ous and covered with brilliant r.
popeF. 1t was one of the sort tn