Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-11-26
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
ght. 1913. by the Mcclure News.
paper SYndicate.O

mute master, Robbie Barnes, found
him When he was a puppy in a lot
him..
These bad boys nae poor little Jacl
In a box too deep for him to jump out
of n We're throwing sticks and stones
to make him bark.
He was very much frightened when
Robbie rescued him and he nestled
close inside Robbie's coat and heard
him say to the boys: You fellers
ought to be ashamed of yourselves
plaguing a little puppy. l wish he was
big enough to bite YOU"
Now Robbie's mother was very poor
and his father was dead, so that when
Jack was brought into the family Rob
feed. =
You will have to give him away,
h said. I'VE do not have enough
for ourselves, and then you will have
70 pay the license, too; you canno
keep him.
But Robbie overcame all obstacles;
he worked and paid the license, and
in time every n was SC fond of Jack
that he seemed like one of the family
One day, not long before Thanksgiv-
ing, Robbie's mother said: 1--WE will
nave to do without turkey this year:
thefe nave been so many way for the
money to go that we shall be lucky
TO v a roof over our heads"
Even the money Robbie earned had
10 go for shoes for himself and his
little sister, so there was to be NO
Thanksgiving dinner.
robbie die not care for himself, but
when he saw the tears in his sisters
eyes and in the still night heard his
mother crying as she prayed that her
little family should be cared for. he
felt sure it vas going without the
Thanksgiving dinner that made her
cry.
Robbie thought and thought. but
there was no way he could think of
what would get the dinner. Yes, there
was one; it made him feel sick ia
think about it.
In the room at school with Robbie
was a boy named Frank Reed. Franks
rather was a wealthy man n Frank
had everything that he wanted. All
but one thing, and that was Jack.
Jack could 10 all sorts of tricks and
his devotion to Robbie and his will
1nsness to obey him made all the BOYS
envious. OF course, Frank could have
had a dog worth much more than
JACK, put ne wanted Jack because he
could do tricks.
I'll give you So for him." Frank
said one day after h had watched
Jack perform his tricks.
Five dollars seemed a fortune to
Robbie. but he did not hesitate. NO"
4iO aiA l. WOIl I sell llIn no matter
how much you Offer
Il don't blame you" replied Frank
but If ever you do want to sell him
let me ave him"
AS Robbie lay there in the dark
thinking Of a way to get the Thanks
giving dinner, he remember Franks
offer. He put it out of his mind, but
he had made up his mind to part WITH
Jack.
All traces of tears which he had
shed were wiped away, and he gave
Jack a good breakfast had him
do ell his tricks. Jack seemed to know
something bothered his little master
and after each trick would jump up
and lick his face and put his paws
on Robbie shoulder, as though to
tell him how much he loved him.
Robbie choked back the tears and
put on his cap. Come on, Jack" he
called.
Frank was only too glad to give the
IS. but Jack whined and cried when
he found that he was not to go with
Robbie.
Keep him in for a day or two" he
told Frank; "he will run away if YOU
as he could to get out of reach of
Jacks cries and his eyes were wet
when he reached the market.
Where did you get this turkey and
vegetables? asked his mother when
she saw the basket Robbie brought
home.
II sold Jack to Frank Reed said
Robbie, turning away; 'he wanted him
n he can give Jack a better home
than we can, SO l let him have him"
You sold Jack?" She asked You
go and get him this minute and TAX e
this dinner back"
Il can't do that" said Robbie ri sold
Jack and that Is all there is to IT.
Thanksgiving day. when the steam
ing turkey and fixings were pue on the
table, Robbie's sister and mother were
the ones who seemed to enjoy 1t. Rob-
bic did not; every piece Of turkey
seemed to choke him; he could only
think OF Jack.
Someone is at the door," said Rob-
bie's mother, Il. heard it rattle"
Robbie opened it and in bounded
Jack. He barked and jumped up to
Robbie as though to say: II got here
n time for Thanksgiving dinner,
didn't II"
The dinner was forgotten, and Rob
bie's sister and mother gathered around
Jack, as pleased as he was to see them.
When they sat down at the table
Again Jack was in his accustomed