The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-19
Nv ryrzABETH WEST PARKER.

IT began the day that Honey came.
Afterwards FaireIla said that she was
40 glad that she chose the puppy she
did. for perhaps It wouldn't have hap
pepsd If she had taken one Of the
others. The man who came TO gee
her father brought three little dogs.
and her father xa1d, Now, Fairelia,
take your chores"
Fairelia looked at the puppies long
and carefully Two were small and
light colored the third dark, fat, and
sprawiy; and, when she touched hiA
head he put out big, red tongue. ard
gave her hand vet lap.
"In take him. she said quickly.
Why, Fairella," said her father.
as If he were astonished. he's the
horleliest one OF the three"
That's why I like him,' said
Fairelia. II shall love him more be-
cause he isn't pretty, BESIDES, m
ho,neiy. too. Aunt Sarah says so
The man laughed, but Faire1la s
father put his hand under her round
chin, and lifted the little freckled face.
Wont 1t make you feel bad he said,
when you hear people say, What a
homeiy dog"
But shall name him Homely' "
answered FaIrella- and then people
won't tell me he's homely, cause
they'll know I know it already
I guess that's her dog all right, !"
said the man. Then he began to put
them all back into the basket.
Cant I have him now?" asked
Fairella~
I'm few days" said the man. II
must trim his ears. All these dogs
have their ears cut pointed"
Why" asked Fairella-
People DO ii for lot of reasons, +"
said the man, but mostly for looks,
guess"
II shouldn't want my ears cut, "
said Fairella- tsWoald you2-T lks
Homely's best that way. TOO. May ]
take him now. father, without his
being hurt ?"
Yes dear" said her father. The
man went away with the other two
puppies, and Homely was Fairella 4
own.
IT was a busy day. She didn't have
time TO read word, It took every
minute to watch Homely and keep
him out of mischief. He was so fat
and clumsy for his size and his paws
were 80 much too big for the rest OF
him that he kept falling into all the
places that he nosed out. The whoie
IGitlA4N Etop0 6l cQiid HiiQ AAuEhEQ 10
see him lose his balance and tumble
into his dish OF milk at dinner, and
emerge with soft paws and black
wrinkled nose covered with cream
But il didn't take him long to find
out that Fairella was the one to
whom he belonged, and he followed
closely At her heels. ersrN. time .sh Y
moved, Whens siae we nj down TO the
brook. he went along. TOO. OF course
he fell IN right away, and seemed to
be go surprised at getting cold and
wet sll over that he was content 70
lie upon the bank in the sun and
watch Faireiia go !1shinS. She had
neither line nor hook. She could not
bear to kill worms for bait. and she
loved the little brook with its cool
eaYk shadows and silvery pebbles. SO
well that she knew tho little fsh
must love II too, and she would not
deprive the little swimmers of their
happy lives II was lots OF fun ia
catch them, though, in q round moi
at the end Of stick, and then. after
hooking a minute at their pretty,
shining colors and fringy fms, to sink
them gently in the clear brook, and
see how gladly they escaped from
their net-prison to their water homes
again.
But today Fairella had tempta'
ton, for once. when she lifted her net
she found in It the big ninnow she
had tried for days TO catch. In size
he was very grandfather minnow
She had seen him often, and had tolt
her father how big he was. measuring
with her hands held apart, and heI
father had always laughed, and sait
that Faireila was telling FISH story
And here he was. the big minnow
right In her net. and. yes even bigger
| than she had said.
Now, father'il see that I wa,
right" said Faireila, and she started
| towards the house with her net Their
| she stopped and thought Her fathe
| would not be at home until night an'
the fish might die even, II she KEEP
| him In water Then she could nevel
| catch him again he would be dead
| dead. gone from his pretty home, ant
! shed always be looking az the hroof
and wishing he were there +
'.Rut now that rive nut him back