@ fLaithful Mog.

gy ITTLE MAY lived with her parents in a small cottage just outside

3 the village. The railroad track was but a short distance from
her home, and May had often been told not to go near there.
While May was a good little girl in many ways she had one
naughty habit ofrunning off from her home. Her mamma had
tried to break her of this, but with no success.

In all her wanderings her constant companion was her good
dog, Carlo, a large Newfoundland, which had been given to
her by her father when she was three years old.

Carlo seemed to know that May ought not to go away from home, and
when she started he always tried his best to bring her back. He would grasp
her dress in his mouth and pull, as much as to say: ‘Don’t go, May, but stay
and play with me.” Sometimes he succeeded, and then his joyful bark rang
out. At such times May's mamma knew that her little girl was playing safely

   

in the yard.

One bright, sunny morning May went out to play with Carlo and her
dollies, but becoming weary, and noticing that the gate was open, she passed
through and went down the road. Old Carlo was in great trouble. He placed
himself in her way and barked, but to no purpose; little May was bound to have
her way. May wandered on, picking flowers by the road-side, singing gayly
to herself, until she reached the railroad track. Here she sat down and began
to play with the pebbles which she found there. Tired with her walk, she soon
fell asleep, and lay down upon the track, unconscious of any danger. Carlo lay
by her side, watching her carefully, when the roar of a coming train was heard.
Carlo sprang to his feet; the train came dashing around the curve at full speed.
Little May slept on. Carlo barked as loud as he could and did his. utmost to
stop the train. The engineer saw the little girl, reversed the engine, put on the
brakes and closed his eyes, for he could not bear to see the little thing crushed
to pieces. Suddenly Carlo turned, grasped little May in his mouth and threw
her off the track. Little May was unhurt, but alas! poor Carlo was caught by
the passing train and crushed todeath. Poorlittle May went home crying with
terror, and at last succeeded in telling her mamma that poor Carlo was dead.
May’s papa went to the track, brought back the remains of poor Carlo and
buried him beneath the apple-tree in the yard. Long and lovingly little May
attended his grave; flowers were planted upon it and watered daily. But you
may be sure that little May was cured of her habit of running away.