Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-08

This barn had been his headquarters DUR
ing the winter. and the people In the
house had been his good friends. NOT
that Speckles really belonged to the
household for he had only found the
place Just as the hard winter days were
setting in. During the summer months
Speckles had lived with some boys who
had carried him away from his mother $
kennel one dark night and who had
named him Speckles. and who used to
take him about the streets with them
and sometimes to the country on fishing
trips. But when the cold weather came
these boys seemed TO forget Speckes, for
every morning they went away from the
place where they lived and did not re-
turn till late in the evening. OF course
Speckles did not know they were going
to school. He only knew that he was
lonely and that his summer friends were
beginning 10 neglect him. This was
very hard to bear for, being dog,
Speckles loved company.
So one morning after his tWo-legged
comrades had left him for the day Speck-
les decided to find some other friends who
would use him with more consideration.
So he ran out of the yard and down the
street turning first one corner and then
another till at last he found himself in
Sparsely settled part of the town. And
then 1t was that he began to feel hungry.
thirsty and tired, and began looking
a bout for a place to rest. Fortunately.
it he peeped. The great place being
empty SPECIFIES entered and lay down
to rest. his legs were so tired from run
ming. While he lay there. wondering
where lac should go to find meat and
water. :. form darkened the doorway and
a big boy stepped inside the barn. See
ing Speckles lying in the unused manger.
he smiled and said: 'Howdy. puppy.
Where did you come from? Gee! you're
a fine little tramp.
And from that day to the day on which
this story opens Speckles was very con-
tented. He had the barn all to himself
to sleep and play in. and he was invited
to the house to eat his breakfast and
dinner on the back porch. which had a
southern exposure and was bright and
warm. And nice old lady placed his
food for him on plate and patted his
head every time he came to eat And
in the alley were other stray DOGS with
whom he would play. but with whom he
would not run away. He knew what
wandering about meant. and since he had
found such a. pleasant place to live he
meant to stay on indefinitely.
One evening the big boy came into the
barn where Speckles was very busily en-
gagged in digging for a rat. He had seen
the rat run into the hole and was deter
mined to get it out So. being SO occu-
pied, he did not pay any attention to the
big boy when he said: We'll. SO long.
puppy NIe had no way Of knowing
Speckles' name) I hate to leave you here
all alone. but mother and I are giving up
the house and moving into a fiat away
down in the city. and we couldn't take
you with us. But another family are
moving into the house tomorrow and 7
spoke to them about you. and they said
they'd allow YOU TO stay. and would be
glad to have YOU for keeps. So I'll have
to say goodbye. old fellow. and good luck
to you. Mother is leaving plenty of food
on the back porch for you, and a dish of
water is beside the pump. Tomorrow
you'll have new friends to look after
You"
And then the big boy went away after