Page:Master Frisky (1902).djvu/43

 He put one paw into the water; it was so cold that it made him shiver and whine. If Frisky only would come along. Then he put both paws into the water, and waded in up to his knees. It was so icy that he trembled, and stopped to consider. Here was the cold pond, and there was Thomas with his sharp claws, the gobbler, and his cruel young master. A tear rolled down each cheek and splashed into the pond. The water was indeed cold; but this great hard world that cared so little for a small dog was colder, and he took a few more steps.

"Good-by, Frisky," he said; "you are the only one that was ever good to me, and I love you so much." Then there was a plunge and a splash, a few bubbles, and a very small dog had gone where the cat, the gobbler, and his thoughtless young master could no longer torment him.

The next morning when Robbie awoke and went to look for Tony in his basket, he was not there; and a few minutes later he found his limp little doggie in the horse-pond back of the barn.

He was very much astonished, and his heart was nearly broken; for, like most of us, he had been thoughtless rather than cruel; and he had not imagined how much he hurt little Tony.

"O mamma!" he sobbed, "he is dead, and I can't ever have him any more. Yesterday I was awful naughty to him, and pulled his tail