OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1670, 24 November 1883, Page 27

OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

BRUNO. ( Written for the. Witnest' Little Fo&b.) Bruno was Alicia's dog. Nearly five yeara ago when she was quite a little girl going to school she found Bruno then a little halfstarved puppy in the centre of a small orowd of boys who were amusing themselves by throwing the unfortunate animal from a bridge into the water below. It was not deep, but the dog , only regained the bank to be seized and thrown in again, and this was repeated bo . often that when Alicia came up he had crawled into it, shallow hole under the bank half drowned and wholly exhausted. Two or three boys were trying to. get him out as Alicia came up, and understanding the state of affairs at a glance, her little.breast was filled with indignation. "Let the dog alone, you cruel boys," she cried, " or I shall make you !" The boys looked up, then laughed derisively as they saw what a tiny figure had used such big words. "You'd better be off," said one big fellow, "or we'll put you in to get him out." He advanced threateningly, and Alicia shrank back, turning very pale. She was a timid child, only eight years old, and these were great rough boys of whom she had always Btood in fear. "Would they dare?" she thought, and thon the little dog whined piteously as one of the boys succeeded, with tho help of a stick, in dislodging him a little. Indignation conquerod fear, and Alacia started forward. <% Boys, if you don't let that dog alone I will go straight and tell the master." " Tell your granny;" answered one politely, while another to give effect to tho words threw a h>"n.<lf.u,l of wet s'atfel tin fte'r cleab prakfojre,

Tears of anger -and mortification rushed to the child's eyes as the boys abked her " how she liked it." " I shall tell the master." "Tell what you like, only make .yourself scarce, or we'll dip you. Come, be off." - "Let the poor dog alone and I will," she pleaded, " and I won't tell." " Who cares whether you'd tell or not ?" was the rude response, " and if the master was here I'd give him just the same," said another small specimen of humanity, feeling very big just then. They had managed to got the dog out and were holding him towards Alicia by the tail in the most tantalising way, keeping just beyond her reach. The little girl stood with clasped hands crying bitterly, her wet pinafore forgotten as she witnessed the dog's struggles and felt how unable she was to help him. " Oh, I would like to see him bite you every one," she cried in her wrath, " oh, you bad, bad boys," and their taunts and mocking laughter were all that answered her. So eugrossed were they all — the little girl in her trouble, the boys in their mischief — 'that they saw not the approach of a bright, handsome boy of about fifteen, who came along at a swinging pace as he discried the group on the bank of the creek. He did not look very bright as he came on and saw and heard enough to give him an inkling of what was going on. "Halloa! what's up?" The boys started guiltily, and Alicia sprang forward with a glad cry. " Do.make them let the dog go, Tom," and an a voice broken by sobs the tale was told, ■and Tom, whose looks betokened stormy weather, said breifly, " Drop that, and clear off to school." " Who did this, Alicia?" he asked, pointing to the child's mud- bespattered clothes. " I did," said one of the lads impudently. " Then you'd best not do so again," said Tom, 'quickly lifting him by the collar and quietly dropping him into the stream, where he howled for a moment dismally. " Now, you fellow?, drop that dog or I shall put the rest of you where I put that sneak. Come, Mark Krull, let go that dog." Now Mark was a big strong boy and very sulky withal, and had no- desire to yield the dog, therefore he stood his ground trying to look as if he were not afraid. 41 'Taint yours, and I won't." " Right you are, old man, in you go," and Tom advanced coolly, but Mark J&uU did not wait— dropping the dog, he flod ingloriously, and Tom stood looking after him, a greater hero than ever in Alicia's eyas. "Oh Tom, what a good boy you are," she cried, "they would have killed him only for you," and she stooped down and comforted the dog that crept to her feet, wagging his dirty little tail as though begging her to protect him, which she was very much inclined to do. "What are you going to do with him, Alacia?" asked Tom, " I don't suppose anyone wants the poor little beggar." "I don't know, Tom," was the puzzled reply. " I'll be late for school if I go back home with him now. "You'll be late as it is," answered Tom. I'll take him on to school and fix him somewhere until the afternoon, then you can take him home." "Thank yon, Tom," said Alicia, with a grateful little look; "that'll do just nice. Poor little doggie— isn't he pretty, Tom ?" and the little girl looked very tenderly on the dirty, draggled little animal at her 'feet. "Pretty?" Plainly Tom WharnclifFe did »ot think so, but he would not hurt his little ■companion by saying 30. Instead he remarked, with a comprehensive glance, " He's sure to be a beauty when he gets rid of that mire. But come, Alicia, we'll be dreadfully late." " Will you be punished, Tom ? " she asked, her little face full of concern. " Don't hurt if I am." Alicia, said no more, but turned to go ; and the dog, seeing his friends about to depart, made an effort to follow them. They had not far to go, and Tom secured him in an outhouse until school was over. Alice took him home, eince which he had become' her almost inseparable companion. (To be continued,.)