One summer Mary went to make Grandma Hall a visit.
Grandma's little girls were all grown up now, and Grandma and Grandpa
lived alone on the farm.
Mary liked to go there to visit because Grandma could tell such
splendid stories, and there were always so many things to do.
It was Saturday and Mary had been busy all the morning helping Grandma
make cookies, and pies, and cakes.
After dinner Grandma and little Mary took their sewing and sat out
under the old apple-tree in the garden.
Grandma was making a cap, and Mary was making a white apron for her
mother.
They had been sitting there only a little while when Mary saw a ragged
boy coming down the road towards the house.
Running along close behind him was a ragged little dog.
The boy had a violin in his hand.
When he saw the little girl and her grandmother he stood still and
began to play.
As he played, the little dog stood up on his hind legs and tried to
sing.
"Bow--wow, wow!" he barked, and oh he did look so funny!
"Please ask the boy to bring that funny dog over here, Grandma," said
Mary.
"Come here, little boy," said Grandma. "What is your name?"
"My name is Tommy," said the boy, "and this is my dog Rags."
"Run and get Tommy and the dog some cookies, Mary," said Grandma, "I
guess they are both hungry."
Tommy looked so tired that Mrs. Hall asked him to sit down and rest.
"Where do you live?" she asked.
"I don't live anywhere," replied Tommy, "I just have my dog Rags, and
he and I sleep wherever we can."
"Well," said Grandma, "you must both stay here to-night. We can find a
place for a boy and a dog somewhere in this big house."