Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-18
A DOG SANTA CLAUS.
A Pretty Story of New Hampshire
Life Many Years Ago.

Many years ago, IN The state Of New
Hampshire, there lived two 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 sum-
mer were almost constantly together.
But in the winter Il 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 it 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
We're 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
We're allowed to venture upon it.
Now, on this Christmas that I am
| going to tell you about Prue had made
Dolly a pretty white apron for Il
Christmas present. Her mother had
cut it out, but Prue had done every
stitch of the sewing herself, and her
mother assured 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, a distance Of more than
three miles.
why don't you let Duke take it
across" suggested Prue's brother
Ralph. He enjoys nothing better than
a swim in the river. and he likes to
carry things, you know"
At first Ralph's proposition was
| laughed at by both Prue and her
mother The idea of letting dog
| swim across that leaping, dancing
water with an apron in his mouth
for usually that was Dukes way OF
carrying packages.
Il don't believe want to send Dolly
such wet Christmas present as that
| would be-" Prue rejoned. with a toss
of her head
| But when her brother produced some
| rubber cloth that had been used on II
camping expedition and offered to cut
off Il small piece for Prue's benefit she
| decided that boys We're sometimes wis
er 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 Sc
rene 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 boy. carry my
Christmas present to Dolly" with one
straning wrench he freed himself and
leaped bravely into the turbulent wa
ter.
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
| bark from across the river announced
that Duke was on his homeward way.
Dolly was with him and waved 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
| persistently around Prue until she dis
| covered that he still had. tied to his
| collar the bundle with which ne had
| started
Why Duke, what made you bring
| it back again." she cried in IA tone Of
| veXatiOn.
| open it! open it," the dogs impa-
| tent tail seemed To be insisting as it
| wildly dashed the air.
Eager-cyed he watched his little
mistress as she united the string. And
when out from the protecting folds OF
the uilcloth covering there fell a pretty
neck chain made of beads and a pair
Of warm mittens. gifts from Dolly and
her mother for Prue herself Duke
barked joyously, which was the dog
way of saying:
Il hope YOU see now that am a dog
mat can be trusted
But there is another little Pruc who
once in while is allowed to wear the
precious chain around her own neck.
and who often wishes that she had II
| dog as brave and faithful as her
| grandmother's dog Duke-Helen NJ.
| Richardson in December St Nicholas
| LANDES SHEPHERDS.