"The yard wasn't very large, and, when the boys played ball, they would
often throw the ball over the fence. Then it was Jack's part of the play
to run after the ball. The boys would call, 'Jack, Jack!' and Jack would
run under the fence, seize the ball in his mouth, and bring it back to
the boys.

[Illustration: Mother, Son, & Daughter]

"But, one day, the ball rolled off the pavement out into the street. A
wagon was passing just then; and Jack was in such a hurry to get the
ball, that he ran right in its way, and the wheel went over his leg.

"The boys all ran out to help Jack; and one of them said, 'O Harry! I'm
afraid that he is badly hurt; for see, he runs on three legs, and lets
the other one hang.' Harry took Jack up in his arms, and said, 'Poor
Jack, poor little Jack.' Then he felt very gently of the dog's leg, and
found that it was broken.

"Oh, how sorry Harry and all the other boys felt! Harry couldn't keep
from crying, and they all said that if little Jack got well they
wouldn't send him out after the ball any more.

"As soon as they were back in the yard, Harry ran into the school-house
with Jack in his arms, and said to the teacher, 'Please, sir, may I go
home now? My poor little dog Jack has broken his leg, and I want to show
him to my mother, and try and make it better.' The teacher said, 'Yes,
Harry, you are a good boy, and Jack is a good little dog, and you may
take him home.' So Harry started at once.

"When Harry's mother saw him coming home, she was afraid he was sick.