Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-27
The Daily Story
TOM S CHRISTMAS GIFT-BY r. A. mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1913 by Literary

say. Tommy. how is Nebuchadnezzar
today?' aud you'll answer. 'Nebuchad-
nezzar is very well. thank you Don {
you see how hard that would be TO
speak?"
"It won't be hard Al ALL" gruntcd
Tom. I'VE can call him Neb for
short"
$50 we can" chimed in the mother.
that
Tom thus assumed command OF his
dog the very morning he got him and
kept it as long as Neb lived. No in
reference was permitted. except with
regard To the dogs diet. for Tom was
assured that If Neb were fed on mince
pie or plum pudding or even roast
beef he would die. So he Craciously
permitted his mother 10 make up the
pets meals for him. Neb grew up to
he quite a large animal. and. though
he was lost several times, he always
came back. and every time he returned
Tom loved him better than before
Neb came TO be quite useful. In the
first place, the Irwin family lived I'm
the country. and the children were
obliged TO walk n mile over a lonely
road to school. Neb was sent with
them and waited Mt the schoolhouse
door for them TO come ont and escort
ed them home. He seemed to know
that it was his business TO protect
them, and whenever they met any i'll
favored person on the road Tom was
obliged to hold on To Neb's collar 10
prevent his making an attack. Some
times Tom was obliged to exercise all
his authority TO prevent the dogs bit
ing some one who was innocent of all
intent to do the children harm.
Tommy returned from school one day
feeling i'll. His mother put him TO bed.
and the next morning, the child being
no better. doctor was sent for. BY
this time Tommy was covered with a
rash. and the doctor said he had scar
let fever The little patient was kept
in bed. and a great fear came upon the
family, for scarlet fever is very in
sidious disease.
Neb had been used to being allowed
to go up TO Toms room every morning
to see his master before he arose. He
would jump on the bed and fiouncc
about. much delighted But when the
after Tom was taken Ill came
round and the dog was not permitted
to go upstairs he began TO fret.
Tom grew worse every day. and Neb
seemed to know that something was
the matter. Finally there came a cri-
sis, and Tom hung between life and
death. The household We're so absorb
ed in the child's critical condition that
they did not pay any attention to Neb.
who went upstairs and lay at the door
of the sick chamber. In the middle
of the night Tom heard his dog moan.
himself. he said:
"Neb"
Neb heard him and before he could
be stopped ran into the room and
Jumped on to the bed. From that mo
ment Tom began to get well. 1t was
not long before he had completely re-
covered. and he and Neb loved each
other better than ever.
One day it was noticed that Neb was
lcting strangely Mr.. Irwin was ad-
used of the fact and looked the dog
,ver. He poked at Neb with stick,
md the dog. that bad always been
perfectly good naturesi under any prod
ling. snapped. at the stick vlciously.
Then he began to foam at the mouth.
Mr.. Irwin began to fear that the dog
vas suffering with fncipient hydropho-
1ia and decided that he must be killed.
lie shut Neb up in the cellar and told
lis wife that she had better break the
news to Tom. This was sad duty for
he mother to perform, for she knew
hat Neb's death would well nigh break
Ter boys heart She took him on her
an and told him what had happened
nd what a frightful misfortune It
you'd be If Neb should bite any one.
Besides. II the dog were permitted to
lie of the disease he would suffer great
gony, whereas If he were shot he
would be saved all this.
The tears rolled down Toms cheeks
S his mother conveyed this informa
lon. He put his arms about her neck,
ut said nothing Presently he went
way by himself into his room and
,cked the door. His mother had not
Did him when Neb was to be killed.
ut he inferred that II was to be very
BON. He had not been long in his
pom when he heard an explosion.
hen he knew that he had lost Neb
)rever.
Neb was buried I'm a corner OF the
ard, and Mr.. Irwin, on Toms account.
nd "Nebuchadnezzar" cut I'm n piece
: marble he found In an clubhouse on
lie place and set it up over the grave
Tom is now a man. but he has never
'rgotten Neb One thing especially
)out his dog he would like to forget
1t he IS unable to do so-that is. the
,plosion he heard when Neb was shot
was one Of the events OF his child.
,od that made an indelible. impress
On upon him. In the morning. in the
ening. lying awake at midnight. he
Ill hear that mufiied sound which
rted him from the friend who came
him on Christmas day.