Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-10

Tne door was open. he entered and
climbed the crumbling stairs to the
belfry. He jumped into one Of the
arches and sat down. his legs dangling
halr and worried look. Behind them,
on a battered trunk, sat Peter, who
was not thin, who wore no worried
look, and who chewed gum. Beneath
Inc wagon, invisible at first, trotted a
mud-bespattered yellow pup. The wag-
on stopped.
Good morning, Mr.. Upton" said
Mrs. Pillig. "This is me and Peter"
where's BusterT said Peter.
AT the word Buster, the yellow pup
emerged from beneath the cart, wag-
cling the longest tail, in proportion to
the dog, ever seen on a canine. 1t
would be more correct to say that the
tall wagged him, for with every ex-
cited motion his whole body was IN
dulated to the ears, to counter-balance
that tail.
I went out and aided Mrs. PiIlig to
a1ght, and then Mike and I lifted the
trunk to the porch. l looked at the
dog, which had also Joined us on the
porch, where he was leaving muddy
paw marks.
"Do | understand that Buster is also
an arrival" said l.
"Oh, dear me, Mr.. Upton, you must
excuse me-" Mrs. PiIlig cried anxious
ly. Mrs. John Barker's boy Leslie
gave Buster to Peter a month ago, and
Of course l sent him right back, but
he wouldn't stay back, and yesterday
we took him away again, and this
morning he just suddenly appeared be-
hind the wagon, and I told Peter he
couldn't come, and Peter cried, and
Buster wouldn't go back, and I'll make
Peter take him away just as soon as
the rain stops"
well, | hadn't bargained on Buster,
that's o fact" said |. / didn't like
dogs; most people don't whO've never
had one. But he was such a forlornly
muddy mOngrel pup, and so eloquent
Of tall, that l spoke his name on an
impulse, and put out my hand. The
great tail Wagged him to the ears, and
with the friendliest Of fluctuations he
was all at once close to me, with his
nose in my palm. Then he suddenly
sat up on his hind legs, dangled his
front paws, looked me square in the
eyes, and parked.
That was too much for me- PETER"
said [, you may keep Buster"
"Golly, I'd "a had hard time not
to-" said that young person, tmmedi-
ately making for the barn, with Buster
at his heels.
Mrs Pillig and I went inside. While
she was inspecting the kitchen, Mike
and | carried her trunk up the back
stairs.
Il hope your bed comes today" said
/, returning You see, the house is
largely furnished from my two rooms
at college, and there was hardly
enough to go around"
Mrs. Pillig looked into the south
room. did you have all them books
in your two rooms at college?" she
asked.
/ nodded.
"They must "a been pretty big
rooms" she said Books is awful
things to keep busted"
(which reminds me-" smiled, lead
ing her over to my desk, at which
pointed impressively. Woman said
I, in sepulchraI tones, that desk is
never to be busted, never to be
touched
She looked at me a second with her
worried eyes wide open, and then
smile came over her wan, thin face.
Il guess you be MT so terrible as you
sound" she said. but | won't touch
it. Anything else I'm not to touchY'
yes" l answered. THE ashes in
those two fireplaces. The ashes there
are never to be taken out, no matter if
they are piled a foot thick, and spill
all over the floor. A noble pile of
ashes is rooms best recommendation
Those are the only two orders 1 have,
In all else, I'm at your mercy. But
on those two points you are at mine
and l have monet!
We'll. reckon I'll wash the kitchen
WINDOWS, said Mrs. P1l1g.
was saving up a few sticks from
the orchard when the express man
drove up with the beds, the crockery,
and so on. l called son Peter, who re-
spOnded with Buster at his heels
Peter" said l, you and I'll now set
up the beds. You ought to be in school,
though. by the way. Why aren't your"
He'd ter bring nav over here" SAID
Peter
That's too bad Aren't you sorryP"
Peter grinned at me and slowly
winked. was very stern. "Neverthe-
less, you'll have lesson" said You
shall tell me the capitals of all the
states while we set up your bed"
Peter and I carried the beds, springs
and mattresses upstairs and suddenly
Buster appeared upon the scene. He
began to leave mud tracks all over the
freshly painted floor, so that we had to
grab him up and wipe his paws with a
rag. Peter held him while l wiped.
and we fell to laughing, and forgot
Montana.
You'll have to get rubbers for him."
said /.
The idea amused Peter tremendous
". Gee, rubbers on a dogr he cried.
"Buster'd eat 'em off in two seconds.
Say, where's Buster goin' to sIeepT"
We had to turn aside on our way
downstairs for more furniture to make
Buster bed in a box full Of excelsior