Tiny Tramp's Story.

Manawatu Herald, 24 December 1898, Page 2

Tiny Tramp's Story.

(Original and true.) I am only a little dog, yet I havc'P feelings, and Jhave had joys an<t sorrows, and a life history, quite as interesting — to myself at leasf«+~4s; their own life stories are to tihoa&v creatures who are sometimes called '♦ Lords of Creation." Ido not kttos| much about the intercourse of theSs| superior beings with one another, but I can truly say that all of them with whom I ' have bad anything to do, . have been most kind and loving to me, and it is from a feeling of gratitude f<w ] the friendship shown to me, especially by one, that this little true history jiJl-.^ my life is given. I do not remember how it was tliat " my master and I first came to belong; to each other. My earliest recollec- \

tions are of trotting beside him on a long white dusty road, and of his taking me up when I was tired, and carrying me a long distance in his arms, I was but a little fellow then (I am not very big yet) and my weight was a trifle to him. He was very very kind to me, and oh how I loved him. Never did he call me ugly names, or give me a blow or a kick. I was his constant companion, and shared his every meal. Yes ! he had a kind heart — my master — though he was only one of those despised undesirable class of men who are called " Tramps." A poor ragged, friendless, homeless wanderer, ever on the move — never long in one place. How he came to be a " tramp " I cannot tell, whether it was hard necessity, or a love for roving that led him to this life. Per- • haps at times, he had a longing for better things, perhaps his thoughts otten turned to the old home in a far distant land, where — may be — there still lived a mother or sister who looked, but looked in vain, for tidings of the long lost son or brother. No doubt he had a history hidden away, that no one knew of but himself. Being only a little doggie I did not trouble my head about such matters. All I knew was that he lavished his affections on me, and that I, his humble little friend returned his love with all my heart, and would have followed him anywhere he chose to go, whatever dangers or difficulties might be in the way. Though we had none of the comforts of a home . life, yet we were far from being unhappy. It is true I was often very tired, and my poor little feet aohed very much; but sometimes I had a pleasant little change. When an extra hand was wanted for a few days on a station or farm, we would stay there for a little while, and then I had a good time, getting a nice rest and plenty to eat. Soon we would be off again, tramping through the country, sometimes reeling very hungry, though this was not often, for we were never refused food when it was asked for at the hospitable houses we passed by the way. Often we slept all night under a flax or toi-buih, with a blanket over us, and When the weather was fine were quite snug and comfortable. Of course it was not pleasant when the rain came down in torrents, and we had hard work to find any shelter ; but we had just to take the good with the bad, and make the best of it. Were Ito describe all I saw in those wanderings, the many towns and villages we passed through, the varied scenery, the lonely bush tracts, etc., it would fill a volume, but then perhaps no one would care to read a doggie's observations on these things, for I suppose he looks at them from quite a different standpoint. !fc . % ',' % ! Thus did the weeks and months pass away in sunshine and shade, and now I must come to the saddest time of my life. One day (can I ever forget it), we were making our way to a small town, on the bank of a large river, where my master thought he could get some work, as there were flaxmills in the neighbourhood. We had never been there before, and the road was strange to us. Just after nightfall we were nearing the end of our journey, tired and footsore, and as we were trudging wearily along on the road running alongside of the railway line, all at ohce the noise of an approaching train was heard. I got frightened and confused, and ran on to the line just in front of the engine. My master saw my danger, and calling loudly to me rushed forward to try and save me. He had just caught hold ot me when there was a .rush and a roar, and we were both knocked over. When I came to my senses I saw my 'poor master lying near by quite motionless. I tried to crawl to him, but felt a terrible pain in my leg, and found I could not move. Soon the train stopped, and some men came along to see what was the matter. They picked us up and carried us to the train, and brought us into the town. Oh ! what a terribly sad time that was ; never did I see my dear master, or hear him speak again 1 All that night he lay quite unconscious, and the next morning he was taken to the nearest hospital — and there among strangers, who did not even know his name he passed away from this life ; unknown and nnmourned, except by the little friend who had so unwittingly caused his death ! My leg was set by a doctor and then a good friend nursed and took care of me till I was quite well again. Then I passed from one home to another till now I am comfortably settled for life, I think, with a master and mistress who are very good to me — (why is every one so kind to poor little Tiny I wonder ?) and I am very happy — yet I often dream of those old days, and though I am growing older and like to be warm an J comfortable, I am sure if my dear old master could come back and take me with him again I would willingly go on the tramp once more. My mistress has written this simple story of my life for me, as she understands all I would like to say— and now just one word more. If all dogs were treated as well as I have been by the " humans " what a lot of gratitude there would be in the world 1