GROWLER

New Zealand Tablet, 1 November 1906, Page 37

GROWLER

It was a brave thing for Tommy to do ; but, then, Tommy was a brave little fellow, though he didn't look it, with his yellow hair all about his dear baby face. Tommy was a stranger in the town. H.e had come with his mamma to board in a pretty cottage near the great one where the Chambers family spent their summers, Tommy had always wanted a dog— a regular-built, . big-jawed bulldog. And when he was awakened that first morning in the cottage by a tremendous roar he jumped out of bed a"hd ran to the window. .Sure enough, there, in the very next yard, was' a big white bulldog, with a broad, ugly mouth and a jaw that looked as if it had been smashed. . . Tommy was delighted ; but it must be confessed that through his delight went little shivers of fear. While he was getting dressed he talked about his dog neighbor, and all through breakfast he . could think of nothing else. His mamma did not permit him to "eat doughnuts; but he asked her, in a very, low voice, if he could have one to take over to the bulldog. - She smiled and laid one upon his plate. There was a wire fence between the two gardens. Tommy and his mother went at once to the gate. ' May we come in and call upon your fine white " bulldog ? ' Tommy's mother asked of the gardener. - • 1 ' Sure, ma'am, ye may come in. But th' further ye keep from that creatuie th' better off yell be— ye an' the boy. No one goes near Growler. Th' cook pushes his bones an' water up with a rake. He's bin on his chain for a month, now ; but he's gettin' worse an worse.' -. /- .<. The old gardener shook his .head toward the -big x dog, who stood pulling at his chain. The dog knew that something unkind .had been said about . himself This made him angry. He gave a terrific growl andtried to get at the gardener. Tommy stood very close to his mother and reached up for her hand. ' Poor crea.ture ! ' said Tommy's mother. 'It will ruin any dog's temper to' fceep him chained.' :• - 'Sure, Growler's temper was ruined entirely long before, he was born,' said the gardener. "Keep th' little fellow back, mum ; Growler's cross to boys ' ' Perhaps bad* boys have teased him ?■' : - • 'That they have, ma'am/ Durin' th' winter th' caretaker of th' cottage didn't mind his business -well, an' t one day some of th' village boys managed t' thrown a coat over Growler's head an' tie a tin can to his stump of a tail. Since then he's been pertickeler-hard-on boys But. he -won't be long. We're just keepin' • £ ir ?,i young Mr. Graham comes here from college - He 11 put an end t' such ugliness. He's a- good shot —is young Mr. Graham.' . ,

1 Has any one tried being kind "to him ? ' asked Tommy's mother. : The/ gardener didn't answer this question. 'You'd better look sharp, after the /boy,' he said, and turned again to weeding 'tiis flower-beds." The dog grew quiet. Tommy's mother did hot know whether to go or stay. Tommy pulled her hand and held up the doughnut. ' I think he'-d like it,' he said. ,' lt smells so good- ' s'^ ' Well,' wait a. minute and you- may toss- it to him.\ They went- a little -, nearer. .* Poor dog !" good -old fellow ! ' said Tommy's mother. Growler could' hardly believe his ears; Some one speaking kindly to him'! ' ' ' Poor doggie ! ! came Tommy's sweet little voipe. ' Dear old fellow !;' Over and over they- said the words as they stepped a little and a little, nearer.-- Tommy held out the doughnut. Growler saw \ that it was something good. Maybe he smelled it. Then, when Tommy tossed it over to him, he. jumped on his hinder fegs and caught it in his -mouth, and' swallowed it, with' a gulp.' -~ 'I don't believe he tasted how, good.it was,' said Tommy. - -. His mamma laughed. „ They called him 'good dog '. and .' dear old fellow ' a good . many - times: * They then went away, and Growler stood looking after them, wishing they had stayed or takeji him., with, them. • -He wasn't cross that morning. He kept thinking of those two - dear people and hoping they would come back. But they didn't come. "He, was tired -of being chained: He- wanted' to run and stretch his legs. In the "afternoon he became cross again, and the gardener shook his fist at' him as the poor fellow pulled and- .snapped at his chain. But the very next morning, "' Hello, Growler, old -fellow ! ' was called out to him, 'and ' there' they; - were again*! Growler trembled with joy. "He really, wagged his stump of a tail, and when Tommy threw the doughnut to -him he swallowed it quicker than before. ' See him smile ! ' . cried Tommy. ' He's surely smiling.' ' Sure, •ye won't smile if the chain breaks ! ! cried the old gardener, and Tommy came* close to his . mother and reached up after her dear hand.- Strange how a mother's hand helps to make a little boy brave sometimes ! ' \ But the third morning Growler was so glad to see them that Tommy actually wenit up near enough to let him take the doughnut out of his hand. My ! how he ran back to his mother the next minute^ though ! -. - After that the three became firm friends. Young Mr.' Graham came home from college. He was told all about the matter by the gardener, who begged that Growler be shot before he should do harm-to the little boy. - '. -_-,-" - '* But young Mr. Graham wanted to know more about the matter. He talked with Tommy's mother, • and they all- went .together the next morning :to make a call at the kennel. - - '" - . Growler^ was not very glad to see his 1 new caller • but after a little they became friends. ""/The'; young man unlocked the chain and led the poor creature Vut upon t-hVlawn. patted his head kindly and told him to run about. Growler could hardly believe his eyes or' his ears He was wild with delight. He -ran^and jumped and barked and- rolled over like a wild 1 dog. And every minute or two he came up to thank his friends by smiling with his big mouth and wagging his stump of a tail with all his might. Young Mr. Graham gave him a good scrub with his own strong hands. He rubbed and brushed and combedc him from nose to tail, and— what do you think ? Why, when college opened in the fall Growler was taken to college,^ where lie became the" pet of the football eleven, of which Mr. Graham was one. And he had a beautiful blanket with a big letter on it and was made the • mascot of the team. — - - . ' Wasn't it fine ? And it all came about because Tommy was brave and his mamma was kind. - "".