1. I now felt that this landlord was not a truly good and kind man, or
he would have taken pity on the outcast dog. As I passed through the
gate, the poor creature huddled close against the wall.
2. He had been taught to expect a kick or a blow from each person who
passed. I stopped for a moment to look at him, and said, "Poor fellow!"
in a gentle tone.
3. In an instant all the love and grief in his doggish heart welled
over, and with a sharp cry of pain, which was like a prayer to me, he
drew himself along the ground to my feet, yelping and wagging his tail
at the same time.
4. He began to lick and fondle my feet, and made the shining polish on
them quite dim with his muddy paws.
"Poor old fellow!" I said again. "Come, you shall have one good meal if
money can buy it."
5. I walked out into the street, and called him to follow. He thought
it was too good news to be true, and only came for a few steps, then
stopped to look with a timid gaze into my face as if to question me.
6. "Come along, doggie," I replied, "do not be afraid. I shall not hurt
you. I mean to be good to you, though you can hardly believe it. Come
and get some dinner."
7. Made bold by my tone and manner, the dog stuck close to me, and we
went along the High Street. All the shops were gay and smart, but at
first I could not see one which the dog would have thought a good shop.
8. At last I found one where food of all kinds was sold, and I walked
in, my humble friend at my heels giving a joyful sniff at the pleasant
smells.
[Illustration: TRUSTY'S MEAL.]
9. Whole crowds of men and women were eating at the little tables of
which the shop was full. I pushed my way up to a counter, and said to
the master of the shop,
10. "Just look at this poor dog. I want him to have a good meal of
meat. Give him plenty of scraps, and I will pay you for them."
11. The man looked at me as if he doubted what I meant, and he seemed
to think that I must be crazy to wish to buy a dinner for a dog.
12. But when he saw that I was in earnest, he quickly fetched a great
heap of scraps and bones, which he put down outside the door.
13. Upon these my dog friend fell, as if he had been a starving wolf,
but he did not forget to glance up at me before he began with such a
grateful look, and to give his tail one quick wag of thanks.
14. I could not wait to see him eat as much as he liked. "I must be
off," said I to the man.
15. "Here Johnny," called the master of the shop, when I was going
away, "just come here, and keep your eye on this stray dog; see that he
is not driven away till he has eaten all he wants, and fetch him a drop
of water."
16. I thanked the man for his kindness and paid for the meat, and I did
not forget to leave a penny for the little boy who was keeping guard
over the poor dog.
* * * * *
_Write:_ The poor dog was taken to a shop and well fed. The kind man
who bought him a meal took care that he was not driven away till he had
eaten it.
Questions: 1. How did the landlord show that he was not a
truly kind and good man? 2. What did the poor dog do when
the traveller passed out at the gate? 3. Where did the kind
man take the dog? 4. What did he give the dog in the shop?
5. Why could not he wait to see the dog eat? 6. Who watched
while the dog ate his meal?