dish of fresh water ready for him, and a bit of cabbage with his food
kept him well and strong.

Sandy would often talk to Rover, and the dog soon learned to understand
what was said to him. He was delighted when Sandy said, "Would you like
to go for a walk?" But Sandy never said this unless he was really going
to take Rover out, or the dog soon would have learned that the boy did
not always mean what he said.

One of the things that Rover liked best to do was to run after a large
ball of wool which Sandy made on purpose for him.

[Illustration: Caption: "Speak for it!" Photograph of boy approx. 5
years old holding treat above head of dog sitting expectantly in front
of him.]

Sandy often brushed and combed Rover, and this made his coat glossy and
clean. One would hardly have recognized the rough, neglected dog in the
pet of the household.



TINKER TOM COMES BACK


One day when Rover was playing with the children on the hill, he
suddenly ran away as fast as he could go.

"Oh, Rover, come back, come back!" called little Jessie; but Rover kept
on until he was lost to sight in the dark woods. In the distance he had