Chapter II: Frank and Tony

AFTER Colonel Jameson had stayed a month or so at the cottage, and told his new friends all about the great battles in which he had fought, he went to the city to find employment. Tony, of course, went with him; and then poor Frankie was so lonesome that he had two or three hearty cries for his pet.

Mrs. Colvin told her husband she would try and find a dog for Frank, he took so much comfort with Tony.

One day they went to the city, when, on calling at a friend's house, there sat Colonel Jameson with his favorite in his lap.

Every one could see that the love was not all on Frankie's side, for Tony seemed almost out of her wits with joy. She jumped up and down, giving short, joyful barks, and then stopping a moment to lick his hands and kiss his face.

Frankie was delighted, and mother had to remind him twice that he had not spoken to the lady of the house, before he noticed that any one else was present.

Colonel Jameson laughed heartily when he saw what a pleasant meeting it was. By and by he asked,—

"How would you like to take Tony home and keep her for me?"

"O sir! I should like it very much, indeed. I would take nice care of her, and let her go to school with me every day."

"I rather think the teacher would object to such a scholar," answered the gentleman, laughing.

He then told Mrs. Colvin that he had found some business, and had a very good boarding-place; but they would not consent to keep Tony. He felt very sad to part from the dog, but as he found there were few boarding-houses, where a dog was not considered a nuisance, he was willing Frankie should take her, if his mother would consent.

It was some time before Tony could be made to understand that she was to be separated from her master. When Frankie called, she ran to him, but would instantly run back, and catch hold of the Colonel's coat for him to come, too.

You may be sure that Mrs. Colvin did not like the officer any the less because she saw a tear in his eye when he was caressing the dog. She knew that he was thinking of all the dangers they had encountered together, and also, how desolate he should feel on going to his room at night, to have no little friend there to welcome him.

At last, the lady where they were visiting proposed that the Colonel should take advantage of the time when Frankie was playing with the dog, and slip into another room, when she would go with the boy more readily.

This he did; but Tony barked and ran to the door, scratching with all her might to get it open. But when she found she could not, she allowed her next loved friend to take her in his arms and carry her away.

When they reached the cottage, she was delighted. She would jump up into a chair by Frankie, or down again, just as he bid her; but whenever the door opened, or she heard a step on the walk, her ears would be cocked up, and she would listen with all her might for her old master.

Frankie was very proud of his power over the dog, and was continually showing his father, mother, and Edward how quickly she understood and obeyed him.

At last it came time for the boy to go to bed.

He brought a shawl to wrap his baby in, and said he should take her to bed with him as Colonel Jameson did. But Eddy objected at once.

"I know just how it will be," he said; "Tony will bark and wake us, and Frankie is such a sleepy head that he will not get up to attend to her, and I shall have all the trouble with her."

"No, no!" exclaimed Frankie; "I'll promise to keep her my side, and take all the care of her."

Mrs. Colvin, however, thought it best to have a bed made for Tony in the corner of the room, where she lay, wrapped in the shawl, very quietly till morning.

The next day, when Frankie was getting ready for school, he told his mother he was going to take Tony into the seat with him.

"I am afraid your teacher will object, my dear," she said, "and the dog will take your mind from your studies."

But the boy pleaded very earnestly that he might take her once. "I want to show Willie Miles and George Holmes how she obeys me," he exclaimed.

He came home at noon, just as his mother expected, very indignant because the boys had tried to stone his pet.

"The teacher wouldn't let her stay in the school-room," he exclaimed, his face growing very red, "though I told her Tony would be perfectly quiet; and so I had to put her in the entry, and when the boys went out at recess they teased her dreadfully."

His mother comforted her boy by reminding him how pleasant it would be for him to come home and have Tony bark out her welcome. So that was the last of Tony's school education.

Every day, though, she learned something new at home. Even Captain Colvin took pains to teach her new and cunning tricks. Whenever she wanted anything to eat, she always stood up on her hind feet and asked for it, and then she would bark out her thank you in the funniest manner imaginable.