am your little master's grandma," and 

 then I was very glad, for I knew I was 

 home at last. 



Pretty soon we all four started to walk 

 up a road. The lady led me by a cord 

 around my neck, as she was afraid I 

 would run away, but if she had known 

 how glad I was to find friends she would 

 not have worried about that. 



The house we reached was a large 

 one, with beautiful lawns and gardens, 

 and I soon found out that I was to be 

 known* as "Brother's dog," and to be 

 petted because I belonged to him. 



All through the winter and spring I 

 lived an easy, happy life, with but one 

 break in the quiet days, and that was 

 when my dear little master, mistress 

 and the baby came for a visit. 



I was so glad to see them that I 

 jumped and barked until I was all tired 

 out. 



How I did miss them when they went 

 away again ! 



Along toward spring one night we 

 heard bells ringing and men shouting, 

 and I ran out in the yard to see a great 

 glare of fire along the river just a short 

 distance above our home. 



A large building was all ablaze, and 

 it burned to the ground. 



The next morning a poor little cat 

 came to the place. She had been in the 

 fire and was horribly burned. 



Brother's grandpa brought her into 

 the barn and gave her some milk, and 

 after a while she crept into my house 

 to rest. 



This poor thing was in such a terrible 

 condition that I felt sorry for her and 

 began to talk to her to find out what I 

 could do to help lessen her pain. 



I made her welcome to my bed, and 

 we lived together after awhile, for she 

 said my thick curls made a warm bed for 

 her poor burned sides to rest on, so I 

 tried to help her get well. 



By and by the people began to call 

 her "Bob" and say she was "Dick's 

 cat," and that pleased me so much that 

 I began to be quite fond of her, and 

 many a cosy nap we had together. 



Her Imrns healed nicely, but half her 

 ears and nearly all her tail was gone. 

 She looked very queer, but she was a 

 gentle little cat. 



I licked her ears for her and kept them 

 clean, so they healed nrcely, too. 



When she had lived with us a month 

 or two I came around to my house one 

 afternoon and there were three tiny gray 

 kittens. 



I was surprised, and asked Bob what 

 they were doing there, and she replied 

 that they were her babies. 



Then I was glad and kept them warm 

 for her many times while she was off 

 hunting. 



When they grew large enough they 

 used to play tag over my back while 

 Bob and I lay talking together, and 

 after a while I found they liked to have 

 me play with them, and for some rea- 

 son I enjoyed a good romp as much as 

 they did. 



One day when they were all clim.bing 

 over me one put his paw on my nose 

 so I couldn't breathe, and I took him 

 in my mouth and carried him off on the 

 lawn and gave him a good shaking, but 

 dear me! he knew I wasn't angry and 

 didn't mind it a bit. 



Now the long, sunny summer days are 

 coming, and I am waiting eagerly, for 

 when the warm weather comes my dear 

 little master and his mpther and baby 

 sister are coming for a long visit. Then 

 I'll be the happiest dog in town, for I'll 

 have to go walking with two playmates 

 and my mistress. 



It is strange how few people under- 

 stand dogs, or any other animal for that 

 matter. 



The majority seem to think that all 

 we are good for is to be kicked and 

 abused. 



The people at both my homes are as 

 kind to their animals as to their chil- 

 dren, and love and care for us just as 

 we need. 



I suppose that my history is not a 

 very important one, but it will show 

 how a dog can love and appreciate and 

 tell what a truly happy life I have had 

 so far, because I have been with good- 

 hearted people. 



I am not a very old dog yet, but I 

 hope to live many years with my kind 

 friends in the beautiful home I now 

 have, and wish all animals were as well 

 off as. Yours truly, Dick. 



Katharine Watkins Lawson. 



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