Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-10-16
Three Franks a
Boy, a Dog and
a MAJOR

From the time he WAS . baby tod.
ding about the floor in. the family
yard, Frank Graziadei, aged ten years.
has had for his playmate curly-haired
black dog. The boys father, DOM
mick Graziadei, is boot-black who
has numerous family 10 support In
Utica, New York. Three years ago
the city enacted an ordinance com.
polling all owners of dogs to pay
yearly license fee of one dollar fol-
every dog. There are sevon little
tots in the Graziadei family and tho
parents decided that It would be fool
ish to use for q dog license money that
was badly needed for the children But
Frank begged so hard for his pct that
the dog was kept and the license paid,
One day last year drunken man
Jabbed the point Of an umbrella say.
agely into the eyes of Franks pet.
binding the animal. Tho boy wept
bitterly over the tragedy, bandaged
the sightless eyes every day, fed the
dog from his hands and when the pain
had gone and the wounds healed, took
his pet out several times a day for
romps in the parks or on tho streets,
The dog, not being able to run around
except when accompanied by the boyi
gradually became fat and unsightly I'M
| appearance. Mrs. Graziadei complains
ed that the animal ate more than any
of her children and was in the way
around the house. But the boy collects
ed meat bones from butcher shops, fed
the dog carefully, and tried hard I'd
keep it out of his mothers way.
The dog license year expires May L
and ten days are usually allowed fol-
the renewal of licenses. After that tho
cog catcher will seize unlicensed dogs
take them to the dog pound and put
them to death unless they are redeem.
ed by their owners in three days. Si1
weeks ago Frank overheard his par
ents saying that they would not get
license for his dog this year because
it was blind and useless. Frank tells
what followed.
| 81 cried like everything that night
and told my dog he was going to die.
But he just wagged his tail and licked
my hands with his tongue. He wasn't
bit worried. Before l went to sleep
l planned hard on how to save him.
The next day went out in the streets
and tried to earn dollar to buy the
license tag. But was too small My
teacher caught me crying in school
and told her why. She brought me
to her house alter school and gave me
ten cents for raking her yard. Shd
told one OF her neighbors about me and
the dog, and l made ten cents moe.
1t just seemed as if everybody wanted
to give me jobs raking yards and run.
ming errands after that. made the
dollar in no time. Then l stole Frank
out of the house and took him down to
the city hall. He got in everybody's
way down there because his eyes amt
any good any more. One woman with
her hands full Of tax money fell over
him and screamed. But Frank just
wagged his tail call him Frank De-
cause that's my name and were
chums. A tall man ran out Of his Of
flee and Frank got between his legs
and nearly threw him down, too.
Everybody acted mad until told them
Frank didn't have any eyes any more.
Then | got my license and some
money, too"
The boy in his eagerness to obtain
the license for his pet had gone to the
city hall before the time fixed for the
issuance of dog licenses. The tall man
who ran out Of his Office to see why
the woman screamed was Mayor
Frank Baker After he had gotten the
blind dog out of the dile4--n ma in which
his affliction had forced him, the may
or chatted with the boy, heard the
story of his love for the dog, Of his
fears for his safety and his efforts to
keep him. Then he told the city clerk
to give the boy his license tag. The
mayor praised the lad for his devotion
to his dumb and blind companion
while the boy counted out his dollar
in pennies, nickles and dimes. Then
he patted the blind dog gently on the
head.
Frank can't understand English"
said the boy. Both of us are Italians"
Il wish we had more Italians like
the two of you" said Mayor Baker,
laughing a few moments later ne
and City Clerk Bannigan and several
others Clipped in and made up little
purse for Frank The boy led his
blind dog home proudly, and there
aren't two happier chums in the city
of Utica today than Frank, the boy,
and Frank, the dog.-F. M. Sammons
in Dumb Animals