Bobby Ryan and the Dog.

Otago Witness, Issue 1752, 20 June 1885, Page 27

Bobby Ryan and the Dog.

" Never make an enemy even of a dog," said I to Bobby Ryan, ao I caught at hi 3 hand and tried to prevent him from throwing a stick at our neighbour Howard's (?roat Newfoundland, But my words and efforts wero too late. Over tho fence flew the stick, and whack on Dandy's nose it fell. Now Dandy, a great, powerful folio?/, wai very good natureu", but this proved a little too much for him. He sprang up with an angry growl, and bounding over the fence, fts if be had been aa light as a bird, caught Bobby Ryan by the arm aud hold him tightly enough to let" his toeth be felt. " D.mdy ! Dandy !" I crier], in momentary alarm, "let go. Djn't bite him."

The dog lifted bis dark brown, angry eyes to mine with a look of intelligence, and I understood what they said : " I only want to frighten the young rascal."

And Bobby was frightened!. Dandy hold him for a little while, growling savagely, though there was a good doal of make-believe in. the growl, and th3n tossod tho arm away, leaped back over the fence and laid himself down by his kennel.

" You are a very foolish boy, Bobby Ryan," said I, " to pick a quarrel with sunh a splendid old fellow as that. Suppose you wera to fall into the lake some day, and Dandy happened to be near, and suppose he should remember your bad treatment and rafuso to go in after, you ?"

" Wouldn't care," replied Bobby ; " I can swim."

Now it happened only o wesk afterward that Bobby waa out on tho oreek in cuinpany with au older boy- and tbafc in some way their boat, was upset in deep water no 1 ; far from tho shore ; and it al-io happened that Mr Howard and his dog Dandy were near by and saw the two boys struggling in the water. (Juick as thought Dandy sprang- into the lake and swam rapidly toward Bobby : but strange to say, after getting close to the lad, he turned and weufc toward the larger boy, who was struggling in the wai.er and keeping his head above the surface with difficulty. Seizing him, Dandy brought him safely to the shore. He then turned and looked toward Bobby, his young tormentor; he had a good many old grudges against him, and for some moments seemed hesitating whether to save him or lot him drown.

" Quick, Dandy !" cried his master, pointing 6o poor Bobby, who waa trying his bast to keep afloat. Ho was uofc the brave swimmer ho had thought himself.

At this tho noble dog bounded again into ths water and brought Bobby to land. He did not seem to have much haart in the work, however, for he dropped the boy ac soon as he reached tU9 shore, and walked away with a stately, indifferent air.

But Bobby, grateful for his rescue. and repenting of his former unkindness, made up with Dandy on that very day, aud they were ever afterwards fast friends. He came very near losing his life through unkindness to a dog, and toe lesion it gave him will not soon be forgotten. — Town and Country Journal.