come from, old fellow, and where is your master?"

It was plain that Rover was no stranger to them. He had been there with
his master only the week before, and while Tinker Tom was mending the
kettle, the children and the dog had made friends. The mother had given
him a bone, and though some persons may forget a kindness, a dog never
does. Rover could not answer Sandy's question. All he could do was to
wag his tail faster than ever. The little girl put her arms about his
shaggy neck.

"Poor doggie!" she said. "You shall have some of my supper."



HOW ROVER WAS CARED FOR.


When the children's mother saw Rover she brought him a large bowl of
water, which he quickly lapped up. Then she gave him something to eat
and made a soft bed for him in a corner of the room. She said: "Perhaps
Tinker Tom may come for his dog, and we will keep him till then."

Rover hoped he would never come, but he could not say so. He curled
himself up in his bed and, with a long sigh of happiness, went to sleep.

Rover was very happy in his new home. He had no wish to run away again.
He had good brown bread to eat, which was better for him than white
bread would have been. Sandy learned to make for him a thick cake out of
oatmeal, and sometimes he had a bone. Fortunately for the dog, Sandy's
mother was too poor to be able to give him much meat. There was always a