The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-05
THE
COURThY
TRAMP

"Ah, you don't know Babe" and r
stroked the dog, who looked very hao
and very proud Now for some trick
Babe ! Show the young folks WIN
you can do" A moment later the dog
was balanced delicatcly on his hindlcgs
and walking forward or backward at
signals from his master, Another signal
and he jumped through the hoop made
| by his masters arms, then limpcd sor-
rowfully on three legs, and at i final
signal dropped limp and as il dead at
his masters feet and lay there till a
snap of the fingers told him his task was
over, when he friskcd about the road
barking glcefully-
Il guess Babe and / can get enough
milk for all of us on that, at the nearest
farmhouse he said TT always fctches
them
Il don't wonder" | replied Then,
my mind on the theatre, added, 'T
don't see why you don't show him on
the stage. He's fneI"
That's an idea" said the man. "But
what theatre d take me in these
clothcs7"
They'd take you with Babel" He
| laughed when | said that-it made the
| dog seem of so much more account than
the man-and then, with Babe" follow
ing. he went toward farmhouse little
off the road.
The milk was good. but we didn't get
it till late in the afternoon. for, while
Babe" and his master were gone, our
| fatigue got the better of us and we fell
| fast asleep on the bank by the roadside
| That evening we came 10 little hamlet
called Mountain View, only about ten
mile from San Jose. (And we had ex-
pcotcd to reach San FranciscoD The
man took us to the little hotel there,
and after some conversation with the
landlady which we didn't hear, shook
hands with US Babe" jumped up on
us and said goodbye with quick little
lick on our faces. Then master and
| dog went their way.
Things happened very quickly after
that. At the supper table San Fran
cisco drummer looked up from his paper.
gave a start when he saw us. and whis-
pcrcd to the landlady as he looked from
US to the paper. while she nodded her
head in assent Next morning VIC were
awakened by sobs OF JOY at our bed
Sidc-our dear mothers weeping as each
held her respective offspring in her arms,
our fathers trying to look severe but
/ ~ Keep DdSh lnSll OWL tCdISs
| That noon we reached home, not famous
as we had expected, but chastened in
| spirit; eNileS from the theatres for
other for nearly as long,
| OF course, our parents were immense
ly interested when they heard about the
man. tho tramp, who had given US his
| protection. They advertised for him
and the papers printed the story with
| sensational headlines, but he never ap-
pcarcd to claim reward
Ten years later / was on the stage and
| acting with AuguStin Days company in
| New York One afternoon on my way
from rehearsal. stopped in at one OF
| the continuous" houses. A dog act
was Just going on, The man was on
the stage. There was something oddly
familiar about him. seemed to have
heard his voice before Yet | could not
place him. But when. looking into the
wings. he called, Now for some tricks,
'Babcp Show the young folks what
you can do" and an Irish terrier deli
catcly balanced OH his hindlegs came
out from the wingS-probably, alas, not
| the original Babe" but his SUCCESSOR
how the scene came back to me, Il
don't see why you don't show him en-
the stage" / had said and That's an
idea had been his comment
My first impulse was to ask at the
stage door if | could see the trainer.
and recall myself to my old friend of
the Santa Clara highway. But on re-
Fiction l thought better of it., He
looked prosperous, was dressed in an
Immaculate Tuxedo suit. and was billed
as one OF the chief attractions of the
house would he care to be reminded
of the days when he was a tramp
Probably not But when reached
home, | dropped him a note, unsigned.
telling him that the two girls whom
he had safely guided to Mountain View
ten years before never would forget
his kindness, I think my not signing
the letter was a guarantee to him that
| never would disclose his identity. L
owe that to his chiyalry.