Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-04

and affection.
Little David had found the dog one
day just outside the driveway gates,
a poor, half-starved, forsaken crea-
ture that licked his hand and mutely
asked pity.
David's heart was touched. He
brought the animal to the house, fed
him, bathed him, and comforted him,
and ended by christening him Prince
"a forlorn prince, without pedigree
and without a heritage. After this the
lovely child and the uncomely dog be-
came closest comrades.
Indulgent parents looked on disap-
proving, yet admiring, and studied to-
gether how they might dissolve this
unsuitable partnership without wound
ing the tender heart of their darling
child.
On the lawn little arm was
thrown around a rough hairy neck and
a pair of rosy lips brought close to
something, Prince"
The ear went up triae higher and
a warm red tongue made light moist
dash across the child's cheek.
''Im sure you'll be glad, Prince. I've
got it all thought up. Are. you lis ming?
It's most my birthday, you know, and
father always brings me a present;
but this time, doggie, I'm going to ask
him to bring something for you-all
for you! Do you understand, Prince?"
The stubby tail patted the turf gen.
thy but delightedly, and the dog look
ed interested.
I'm going to tell you what 1t is,
Prince, though you do have the sur
prise now. Just listen" and the rosy
lips were brought still closer to the
cooked cara collar"
A happy little laugh followed by
responsive bark frightened the birds
from the overhanging branches.
THAT will show you belong to some
one, Prince. Dogs that belong to some
one always wear collars, you know.
And you belong to me now-forever-
and-ever."
Prince brought the stubby tail down
hard twice on the turf as though re.
iterating the last word.
The sound of an automobile on the
driveway made the pair look up.
"Theres father!" cried the boy, and
child and dog raced across the lawn
pell-mell to meet the tall, pleasant
looking man who sprung from the car
and came toward them.
Flows my David?", he asked lift
ing the child in his arms to kiss him.
"And- how's the Prince of Cur-dom
too?"
Were just splendid, father" an
swered the boy, embracing the big
brown head with all his might, "and
we've got something to ask you,
haven't we Prince?'
Prince gave two short barks as if to
say, 1--WE have"
"What now" asked the father.
Shall you make me promise?' Let
us sit in the shade and hear all about
it," And with light kiss on the bright
curls, he lifted the boy gently to the
ground.
Seated beneath the great elm with
one hand in his fathers, the other on
the dogs rough head, David preferred
his request with serious, hopeful eyes,
that looked straight into the loving
ones above him.
"You see, father, I might lose him
without the collar" he ended, but
when he has a collar with Prince on
it. a Prince of Curl don't blieve l
like the name you call him 80 we'll,
father. We could put it a Prince-a
prince that belongs to David l think
that would be nice-dont you? Then
know he's my dog. A sill
yer collar with A Prince that belongs
to David on it. Wouldn't that be beau.
ti.ful? On! will you get It father? I
most know you will" And the hand
that stroked the dog was raised to
clasp it's mate behind the big down
bending head.
The mans countenance became
somewhat perplexed, and his eyes
studied the shadows on the turf for
space while he remained silent.
A shade of doubt dulled little the
radiant expectancy of the child's face
and he repeated, "Will you get 1T,
father?"
Birthdays, David, are times for sur
prises, you know, so l mustn't say
Just what will happen then, some
thing nice, I'm sure. Just wait and
see-one, two, three days, that's all.
David seemed quite satisfied and
said, prince and I'll wait very patient
ly. won't we Prince. And on the sug-
gestion that they go find mother, the
trio crossed the lawn in merry mood,
and were soon lost to view behind the
clematis vines that dropped over the
low piazza.
The evening before the birthday,
David's father returned from town
earlier than usual. The boy did not see
him when he arrived. In a large held
at the rear Of the house was an artl-
fetal pond stocked with fish: Thither
the boy, accompanied by Prince, hao
gone.
It was a lovely spot. The waters
from the upland springs, heidi captive
in a deep green bowl, seemed sweetiy
resigned to imprisonment, and laugh
ed into the face of the sky. The banks
were lightly shaded by rock naples
On the farthest side the trees thick.
ened with the ascending slope, until
they formed little grove at the crest
of the ACTIVITY.
So simply rural was the effect OF 1t
all that it was difficult to believe 9th
or than nature had dropped the little