Ned And Rover And Jack

: Happy Days
: Boys And Girls Bookshelf

A boy named Ned had a little puppy-dog named Rover. One day, Ned's papa

gave him a nice new toy wagon. Ned was pulling it around the yard when

he saw Rover. "Come, Rover!" he said, "I will give you a fine ride." So

he took Rover and put him in the wagon and gave him a ride.



But just then Ned saw a boy he knew, named Tom. Tom was running down the

street. Ned called to him but he did not hear. Ned wanted to show Tom
>
his new wagon. So he ran after Tom as fast as he could go, calling,

"Tom! Tom!" and never thinking of poor little Rover. He was barking with

all his might, "Bow! wow! Bow-wow! bow-wow-wow-wow!" which means "Oh,

stop! stop! I'm going to fall out!" And the next minute Rover went

"bumpity-bump!" out into the road, and ran off home, crying,

"Ow-wow-wow!" He was not hurt much, but he was badly frightened. But he

soon forgot his ride, and he grew and he grew and he grew, till, by and

by, he was a big dog. And then, Ned's little brother, Jack, had a little

wagon. But now Rover was too big to ride in it. So Jack said he would

make Rover pull it and he would ride.



Ned helped him to harness Rover in it like a horse, and Jack climbed in

and took the reins. "Get up!" said Jack, and away they went out into the

yard and on into a big field. But just then a little rabbit started up

in front of them, and the minute Rover saw it, he began to race after

the rabbit. Poor Jack couldn't hold him at all. Round and round they

went, and they ran, and they ran, and they ran! Jack called out, "Whoa,

Rover! Stop, Rover!" But Rover didn't stop. He wanted to catch the

rabbit and he forgot about Jack.



At last the rabbit ran toward a hole under the wall, where Rover could

not get him. But Rover dashed after him as fast as he could go.

"Bumpity-bump" went the little wagon, and just as Rover missed the

rabbit, the wheel struck a big stone and poor Jack tumbled out on the

ground. But he didn't cry. He was not hurt much, and he wasn't

frightened at all. He ran and caught Rover, and said, "Oho! Who cares

for a little bump like that? You're a funny horse, Rover. But you didn't

catch your rabbit, you old runaway--did you?"





I had a little Kitten,

His name was Pussy Grey--

I lent him to a Lady

While I was far away--

She petted him, she fed him

On things to make him fat--

And now I have him back again

My Kitten is a Cat!



More

;