186 



GOING TO THE GOLDEN WEDDING. 



Encouraged by the shouts of the boys the Newfoundland 

 sprang upon the small dog. 



" Oh, call him off! He'll kill him ! Stop him ! " cried Paul. 



" Shake him! Shake him! " was their reply. 



Paul's temper rose. " I'll part them myself !" he said. Spring- 

 ing into the street, he seized the Newfoundland and held him 

 firmly until his frightened victim had time to slink away. 



" Bravo!" called a policeman; and the muttering boys fled. 



" Why, why, what is this?" — " Om' Paul!" — cried papa and 

 mamma. Here Paul's strength gave way; he let go the New- 

 foundland, and began to cry. But the ofiicer told the story, and 

 praised him so highly for his courageous act that Paul felt like a 

 man. 



Following papa and mamma to the cars, he was quickly for- 

 getting his adventure, when a noise under his seat caused him to 

 look down. What do you think was there? The Newfoundland! 

 He looked at Paul pleadingly, as if to say, " Oh, be my master! 

 Speak kindly to me ; I've had blows and kicks all my life. I knew 

 no better than to fight! " 



" O papa, may I keep him? " 



" If no one claims him. But you must never get angry and 

 strike him; treat your dog as you like to be treated yourself, 

 my boy." 



Paul promised ; and, could Rover speak, he would say that he 

 had kept his word. Paul was quite a hero to grandma and his 

 cousins, and grandpa was so pleased with his namesake that he 

 bought Rover the handsomest collar he could find. And both 

 Paul and Rover had great fun at the golden wedding. 



