Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-24

house from view and he could nc
longer look back and wave lovingly tc
his old friend. ~
Mrs. Weston sympathized fully with
her son and said: II know it is hard tc
part from friend, though that friend
be dog. He is a noble animal ant
will miss you as much as you miss him
But he'll have much to entertain him
self with during the winter and when
vacation again rolls round you'll find
him the same dear old chum."
Yes said Mr.. Weston. "a dog has
very deep affection. One might say Of
a dear old dog, that he is truly disin
terested friend, for he loves you in
spite of your station in life. / have
seen a dog devoted to poor, dirty old
tramp All dog asks is companion
ship. He doesn't investigate your purse
or your social position
"And old Roxie is the noblest Of his
kind declared Archie. "He seems to
be possessed of real human intelli
gence and emotions. The day he came
to me in the pond-when thought
was drowning-he looked such sympa
thy from his dear old eyes; and once
we were on the bank he stood right by
me, rubbing the water from my hands
and face with his warm, soft tongue
just as you, mamma dear, would have
stroked me with your hands. He
showed such depth Of feeling; he's
not common dog.
After the automobile had disap-
peared from view the caretaker
loosened Roxie from the strap, saying:
you'll be lonely, old friend, for a
while. Archie was pretty good pal
of yours, wasn't he?" Then away he
went to the stable to look after some
farm chores, leaving Roxie to his own
thoughts. And what those thoughts
were no one had any way of know.
ing, but they must have been Of his
departing master, for he stood at the
entrance to the lane, looking longing
ly down the road over which the
great automobile had disappeared.
After remaining there for fifteen
minutes or more, Roxie turned about
and went to his kennel But the plate
of food just placed there by the care
takers good wife was left untouched.
He lay down his head between his
paws, and would not even notice the
chickens as they ran about him,
though 1t had always been his duty to
keep the fowls from the house yard.
But on this day they scratched about
in the blue grass at their hearts de-
sire and old Roxie paid not the slight
est heed to them.
An hour after the departure Of the
WeStOns for town, Roxie suddenly
lifted his head, looked quickly about
him, and, seeing that he was unob-
served, got up and ran off down the
lane in the direction the automobile
had taken. On and on he ran till he
came to cross roads some five miles
from the farm house. There he stood,
looking first one way and then an
other. It was evident that he did not
know which road to follow But after
some mental debate he decided on
one of the roads and ran on again. He
continued his journey until near dusk,
when his legs and back became so
weary that further travel was out of
the question till after he had rested.
He saw farm house nearby and en-
tered the grounds Another dog came
to meet him and made friends with
him at once. BY means Of dog Ian
guage Roxie told Of his WEAKNESS and
made request for q drink and the
farm dog led him to a trough of clear
cold water. There Roxie refreshed
himself. And instead Of romping about
with his good host, he stretched him
self on the soft grass beneath a
spreading tree and went to sleep
Somehow he realized that If he were
to continue his journey he must
gather strength through sleep.
An hour later one of the harm
hands saw Roxie there, and called tt
him. Roxie jumped up and ran, wag
ging his tail, to the man whose voice
had been kind. The man gave him
something to eat. which was welcome
to Roxie, az he had not eaten since
the early morning. After his meal he
felt refreshed and resumed his jour
ney, going off down the road at a brisk
trot. He continued to travel till late
that night, when he came to the edge
Of the town, a great, bustling place
filled with busy people. He was
somewhat astonished at the noises
and the number of people, for he had
spent his life in the country. But he
was not faint Of heart and kept on
down street into which the country
road had led him.
But that night poor, disappointed
Roxie slept in an old clubhouse behind
a large building. In the morning he
started out agresh in quest Of his
young master All day he searched
about the streets, and was very lucky
not to be taken up by the dog catch
ers. Many persons stopped to look at
him and to remark: what a beau
tiful dog!" or What splendid fel
1ow!'
Another night found Roxie still
homeless and hungry. He became
almost discouraged, but determined to
kee-, up spirits 2 little longer. If he
had been able to read the town papers
he would have seen in the Lost
Co1,1mnn his own name given and a