Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-30
ROVER AND HIS FRIENDS.

Rover was a good faithful dog; but
his master, am sorry to say, was not
good man. He used to beat Rover
cruelty for nothing at all; one day the
poor dog made up his mind to run
away, and leave his bad master for
ever.
So Rover ran till he met little girl
and boy. Their names were Minnie
and Bonnie. Rover liked their looks,
and followed them home and tried to
make them understand that he would
like to be their dog. -
The parents of these children lived
| in cottage far away from any town,
with high hills all around, and thick
wood not far off. The father was not
rich man. Sometimes he went into
the woods to cut fagots, and sometimes
he went on the hills to look after a
flock of sheep.
Bonnie and Minnie begged their par
ents not to send Rover away; and at
should stay with them while on trial.
+ Rover soon made himself quite at
home with Bonnie and Minnie. When
they went on the hills to pick berries,
he would follow them; and one day,
when a bull chased them, Rover sprang
at him, and made him give up the
chase.
One summer evening, when the chill
dren used to take their suppers out OF
doors, they would share their oatmeal
cake with Rover. Bonnie taught him
to sit upright on his hind legs, and beg;
and to hold bit of bread on his nose,
while Bonnie said, make ready, pres
cnt fire." Then when Bonnie said
"fre." Rover would toss the bit of
bread fnto the air, and catch it in his
mouth as it fell. ,..
But one day when they were playing
with him by rolling ball down hill.
and making him run after it, all at
once Rover caught sight of man
walking along the road at the foot Of
the hill Then, instead of catching the
ball, Rover crept along near some
bushes, and ran away from the man,
though the children called, Rover,
come back"
Rover trotted along by the edge of
a wheat field for some distance, and
then darted off into the woods. The
children did not know what made him
run off; but I know; he had seen his
be caught by him, no. not while he had
legs to run with. Rover watched till
his old master was out OF sight; and
then the good dog came back and
frolicked as before.
The father of Bonnie and Minnie
taught him to take care OF the sheep.
It was hard work at first: but, as soon
as Rover began to learn what was
wanted, he seemed to be proud Of his
knowledge, and could drive the sheep,
and take care Of them, much better
than man could.
: One night in winter the silly sheep
got out of their nice warm shed; and
when morning came, not one of them
could be found anywhere. "The sheep
have run off; what shall we do,
Rover?" said the children's father.
Rover parked, and smelt around on the
snow: then looked at his master and
barked, as much as to say, come with
me-" Then off went Rover, and his
master with him, towards the high
hills where the sheep used to feed In
summer. 1t began to snow; and the
children and their mother grew quite
anxious, for sometimes people would
lose their way, and perish with cold on
the hills.
It was late at night when the father
got home; but Rover and the sheep
were not with him. Another night
came, and still there was no sign of
them; and he said II think they must
be buried under the snow drifts"
But while he spoke there was a
noise outside; "Baa-baa!" "bow-wow"
"baa-baa-baa!" "bow-wow!"
There's Rover back with the
Sheep" shouted Bonnie. Yes, there
they were, every one Of them! But,
dear me! so tired was poor Rover with
running, and so hoarse with barking!
But he was we'll praised and petted
and fed: and, when he lay down on his
mat that night, he was the happiest dog
in the country.
Esther Anderson, age II,
1922 Hayne ST., Ottumwa, Ia.