186 Zom Seven Years Old.

“We must find out,” said Tom. “He had
better go in with us, and have some dinner at
once. If he’s not hungry, you know, hell
refuse it. Come along, strange dog !”

The strange dog followed gladly. Tom

ran and asked the cook for some dinner for
him. She let him have a nice plate of scraps
and two bones, on condition that he gave it
him outside the gate. ‘“ Because,” she said,
“your papa wouldn't like a lot of strange
dogs always running about the place, Master
Tom.”
“Oh!” answered Tom; “but that’s just
what I mean todo. Archie and I are going
to walk all over the country, and find all the
poor hungry dogs and cats and creatures in
distress, and bring them home with us.”

The strange dog looked very happy indeed,
and jumped for joy when he saw the plate of
scraps. He did not seem to mind being made
to eat outside the gate at all. Tom and
Archie were quite pleased with what they:
had done that day, and talked over what they
meant to do the next. But the only creature