Title: My Dog Tray
Author: Unknown
Language: English
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                   AUNT LOUISA'S LONDON TOY BOOKS,


                             MY DOG TRAY



                      _From Coloured Designs by_

                          _H. W. PETHERICK._



                    LONDON: FREDERICK WARNE & CO.

       *       *       *       *       *



MY DOG TRAY.


    Twice every week a poor, thin man,
      Holding his little daughter's hand,
    Walked feebly to a hospital,
      Close by the busy London Strand.

    He hoped the clever doctors there
      In time would make him strong and well,
    That he might go to work again,
      And live to care for little Nell.

    Beside wee Nell, her faithful friend,
      Good old dog Tray was always seen,
    Never a day apart the pair
      Since Nelly's babyhood had been.

    But all the doctors' skill was vain,
      Poor William Bruce soon passed away,
    Leaving his little orphan child
      Without a friend--save poor dog Tray.

    The little money he had saved
      He left to his landlady's care,
    That Nelly, till she older grew,
      The woman's humble home might share.

    He thought her honest--but, alas!
      Most sadly was poor Bruce deceived;
    She kept herself the orphan's gold,
      That as a trust she had received.

    She dressed poor little Nell in rags,
      All her good, decent clothes she sold;
    She scarcely gave her daily bread,
      And kept her shivering in the cold.

    For in an empty loft she slept,
      A ragged blanket all her bed;
    And there till sleep her sorrow hushed,
      Poor Nelly's nightly tears were shed.

    But ever crouching at her side,
      With pitying love lay faithful Tray;
    He nestled up to keep her warm,
      And licked her bitter tears away.

    And Nelly shared with him her crusts,
      And both were hungry and forlorn;
    While many a kick and cruel blow,
      Most patiently by Tray were borne.

[Illustration]

    At last the cruel woman said
      She had no bones to throw away;
    She could not keep a useless cur,
      She really must drive off old Tray.

    And, with a broomstick in her hand,
      She hunted the poor dog about,
    Until, with many a cruel blow,
      From his old home she drove him out.

    Limping and howling forth he went,
      While Nelly, with a breaking heart,
    With agonizing sobs and cries,
      Beheld her only friend depart.

    Within the hospital that day,
      The porter with amazement saw
    A dog appear, who limped along,
      Holding well up an injured paw.

    Straight to the doctors' room he went,
      Jumped on a chair, held up his leg,
    And seemed by a beseeching whine
      Their kindly aid and skill to beg.

    Laughing, the kind house-surgeon said,
      "A stranger patient I ne'er saw;
    Well, let us see what we can do,--
      Old fellow, let me hold you paw."

    He found Tray had a broken leg,
      And set and bound it up so well,
    That Tray, delighted and relieved,
      Sought all his gratitude to tell.

    He wagged his tail and loudly barked,
      And licked the surgeon's kindly hand;
    He tried to make his human friend
      His thanks and joy thus understand.

    "Oh, turn him out!" the doctors cry,
      "The sleeping patients he will wake;
    We cannot have their rest disturbed,
      By letting him this hubbub make."

    The porter then put poor Tray out,
      But gave him, when they reached the street,
    A mutton bone, well covered yet,
      That Tray was very glad to eat.

    Now in the streets the dog must live;
      But far far from Nell he would not stray,
    He howled about her home all night,
      And lingered near it all the day.

    Poor Nelly in her dismal loft,
      That mournful sound in sleep would hear,
    And smiles would play upon her lips,
      Because in dreams her friend was near.

[Illustration]

    The landlady, who could not sleep
      For Tray's loud howling, angry grew;
    Her guilty conscience he awoke,
      And now no peace or rest she knew.

    At length one morning, in her wrath,
      She gave poor Nell a cruel blow,
    And bade her join that yelping cur,
      And with him, begging, henceforth go.

    The child fled screaming to the street,
      Where Tray in ambush always lay;
    He leaped upon her with delight,
      But Nelly pushed her friend away.

    "Oh, Tray!" she said, "you hurt my arm,"
      --The arm she struck--"Oh, how it aches."
    And in her little trembling hand
      The fallen arm she shrinking takes.

    Tray at his little mistress looks,
      With thoughtful eyes and wagging tail;
    Then seems as if he understood
      Why Nelly screamed and looked so pale.

    With a loud bark he seizes then
      The little maiden's ragged gown,
    And pulls her rapidly along,
      Down to the busy crowded town.

    At length the hospital they reach,
      Where Tray before found kindly aid,
    And Nelly is dragged quickly in,
      Though trembling now and much afraid.

    He drew her to the doctors' room,
      And straight up to his former friend;
    With wistful eyes and bark that asks,
      "Will you to this poor child attend?"

    "Why, what is it?" the surgeon cries;
      "Another patient do you bring?
    A child, too--speak, poor little one,
      Can we for you do anything?"

    Then Nelly, sobbing, shows her arm.
      "'Tis broken!" all the doctors say.
    They set it, and then call a nurse--
      For Nelly in the house must stay.

    Soon in a snowy little bed
      The suffering child is snugly laid.
    Ah! what a change from the bare loft,
      Where in the dark and cold she stayed.

    And dainty food is to her brought;
      While gentle words and tender smiles
    Soothe the slow hours of burning pain,
      And pity half her grief beguiles.

[Illustration]

    Yet the nurse sees an anxious look
      In the wide eyes of loveliest blue,
    And asks what troubles Nelly still--
      What more for her they all can do.

    "Oh! please," said Nelly, "do not think
      I am not happy--you're too good;
    I never was in such a room,
      I never tasted such nice food.

    "Only--I do so want to know
      What has become of old dog Tray,
    Who brought me here--my only friend--
      Where is he gone?--oh, tell me, pray."

    "My darling," said the smiling nurse,
      "Your clever dog is safe and well;
    The doctor who lives in the house
      Has found a place where Tray may dwell."

    Then Nelly gently fell asleep,
      And from that moment better grew;
    And soon the nurse--her tender friend--
      The hapless orphan's story knew.

    Indignant at such cruelty,
      The nurse the kindly surgeon seeks,
    And of poor Nellie's hapless lot
      With warm, indignant pity speaks.

    "What's the child's name?" the doctor asked.
      "Eleanor Bruce," the nurse replied;
    "Her father was a patient here
      For many months before he died."

    "Bruce? Yes, I well remember him,
      He told me of a little store
    He had laid by for this poor child,
      'Twas thirty pounds, I think, or more.

    "The dog has saved poor Nelly's life,
      And brought to light a cruel wrong;
    What wondrous instincts, God's great gift,
      To His dumb creatures do belong."

    When Nelly's broken arm was healed,
      The doctor took her to his home;
    He could not let the helpless child
      About the streets of London roam.

    The housekeeper the child attends,
      And Tray with wild joy greets her there;
    Once more he watches at her side--
      They are a glad and happy pair.

    The cruel landlady one day
      Was sitting by her fireside,
    Rejoiced that she had gained the gold,
      Meant for poor Nelly to provide.

[Illustration]

    When open flew the kitchen door,
      And in a tall policeman came,
    And laid his hand upon her arm,
      And gruffly called her by her name.

    Behind him, then, the woman saw
      The child whom she had driven away,
    And near, a stately stranger stood,
      While at her growled the old dog Tray.

    They charged her with her cruel theft,
      Her guilt she angrily denied;
    Till the tall stranger, stern and grave,
      With solemn voice and words replied,

    "Her father told me he had saved,
      And given his gold to you, his friend,
    To keep his little, helpless child,
      And on her wants the sum to spend.

    "But you have kept that hard won sum,
      And driven his orphan out to die;
    Say, what does such a crime deserve?"--
      The guilty soul cannot reply.

    They made her give up all that's left,
      They would have sent her off to jail;
    But Nelly's voice for pardon prayed,
      And Nelly's tears and prayers prevail.

    The wicked woman's heart was touched
      By the sweet pity of the child;
    Repentant tears ran down her cheeks,
      As Nelly's words fell soft and mild.

    They left her to her grief and shame;
      No more will little Nelly stay
    Within her power to harm or kill--
      She goes with her new friends away.

    The surgeon's mother heard the tale--
      A very strange and touching one--
    Of how the dog, with instinct strange,
      Had sought the succour of her son.

    And how poor Nelle he had brought
      To ask for her the same kind aid;
    And how a wicked woman's sin
      Had been by this same act betrayed.

    And, dwelling in her home alone,
      She asked her son the child to send
    To dwell with her and cheer her age,
      By being a merry little friend.

    She wished, too, that the dog should come,
      And in her house with Nelly dwell;
    A trusty guardian for them both,
      Certain to do his duty well.

[Illustration]

    And thus through Tray's strange cleverness
      The pair a country home have found,
    Where all things dogs and children love
      About them everywhere abound.

    Meadows all golden in the sun,
      With buttercups of golden sheen,
    And daisies, with their silver eyes,
      On every side by them are seen.

    Tall trees that give a pleasant shade,
      And birds that in the branches sing;
    Sweet apple blossoms, pink and white,
      The orchard trees around them fling.

    Together o'er the pastures green,
      Nelly and Tray delighted run,
    Chasing the yellow butterflies
      That flutter in the summer sun.

    Or resting by the singing brook,
      Sit side by side amidst the flowers;
    Two quiet happy playfellows
      All through the sunny noontide hours.

    And Nelly thinks, "How good is God,
      Who made this lovely summer day,
    And gave me for my own dear pet,
      As friend and guard, MY OLD DOG TRAY."

[Illustration]

       *       *       *       *       *



WARNE'S NURSERY LITERATURE.

     "Plenty to praise in 'Warne's Nursery Literature.' The
     artistic character of their publications is near
     perfection."

_Daily Telegraph_.


WARNE'S "EXCELSIOR" TOY-BOOKS.

6.  The Book of Trades
7.  The Children in the Wood
8.  The Sunday A B C
9.  Edith's Alphabet
10. The Object Alphabet
11. Jack in the Box
13. Punch and Judy
14. Cinderella
16. Nursery Rhyme Alphabet
17. Cock Robin's Courtship, &c.
18. The Zoological Gardens
20. Nursery Numbers
21. Banquet of Birds
22. Nursery Lullabies
23. The Robins
24. The Silly Little Baa-Lamb
25. The Tiny Tea-Party
26.  The Alexandra Alphabet
27. The Story of Moses
28. The Story of Ruth
28. The Story of Ruth
29. The Story of Daniel
30. The Prodigal Son
31. The Pilgrim's Progress
32. Watts' Hymns
34. Aunt Easy's Alphabet
35. The Home Alphabet
36. The Comic Alphabet
37. Nursery Rhymes
38. Nursery Songs
39. Nursery Jingles
40. Miss Mouser's Tea Party
41. Dash's Holiday
42. The Ten Little Niggers
43. The Ark Alphabet
44. Cock Robin's Death
45. Curley Locks, &c.
46. Old Man in the Wood
47. Daisy's Picnic
48. Jack and the Beanstalk
49. Puss in Boots
58. The Two Friends
59. Little Six-Years-Old
60. Dot and her Doll
61. Blanche and Corn
65. Red Riding Hood
66. Railway A B C
67. A, Apple Pie
68. Alphabet of Animals
69. Mother Goose
70. Mother Hubbard
71. The Pets
72. Dick Whittington
73. Sing a Song of Sixpence
74. Horses* By Herring
75. Horses**   ditto
76. Dogs* By Landseer
77. Dogs**     ditto
78. The House that Jack Built
79. Jack and Jill

[.'.] These TOY BOOKS are produced at a very large outlay, on
thick hard paper, in the best style of Colour Printing, with the
determination of having them better than any yet published.

       *       *       *       *       *

AUNT LOUISA'S LONDON TOY-BOOKS.

With large Original Page Plates by the first Artists, in the very
best style of Colour Printing, with Letterpress Descriptions.

1.   The Railway A B C
2.   A, Apple Pie
4.   Childhood's Happy Hours
8.   John Gilpin (The Story of)
10.  The Seaside
11.  The Robin's Christmas Eve
13.  Alphabet of Fruits
14.  Frisky, the Squirrel
15.  Country Pets
16.  Pussy's London Life
17.  Hector, the Dog
18.  Dick Whittington
19.  The Fairy at the Fountain
      (Diamonds and Toads)
21.  Uncle's Farmyard
22.  London A B C
23.  Country A B C
24.  A B C of Games and Sports
25.  Household Pets
26.  Hare and Tortoise
27.  Hey Diddle-Diddle
28.  World-Wide Fables
29.  The Birthday Party
30.  The King, Queen, and Knave of Hearts
31.  Cock Robin's Courtship
33.  The Nursery Alphabet
35.  Bruin, the Bear
36.  Dame Trot and her Cat
37.  Home for the Holidays
38.  Punch and Judy
39.  My Children
40.  Jack and Jill
41.  The Faithful Friend
42.  Ten Little Niggers
43.  Zoological Gardens
44.        Ditto
45.  Zoological Gardens
46.        Ditto
47.  Puzzle Alphabet
50.  My Favourites
51.  Home Pets
52.  John Bull's Farmyard Alphabet
53.  Tabby's Tea Fight
54.  Rover's Dinner Party
55.  London Characters
56.  Globe Alphabet
57.  Famous Dogs. LANDSEER
58.  Noted Dogs. LANDSEER
59.  Famous Horses. HERRING
60.  Noted Horses. HERRING
61.  Childhood's Playtime
62.  Our Boys and Girls
63.  Alphabet of Animals
66.  Little Dame Crump
67.  Childhood's Delight
68.  Hush-a-bye, Baby
69.  Tottie's Nursery Rhymes
70.  Cinderella
71.  Red Riding Hood
72.  Old Mother Hubbard
73.  Little Bo-Peep
74.  Hop o' my Thumb
75.  Droll Pictures
76.  Humorous Pictures
77.  Funny Pictures
78.  Comic Pictures
79.  Joseph and his Brethren
80.  The Proverbs of Solomon
81.  King David (The Story of)
82.  The Wonders of Providence
83.  Lear's Book of Nonsense*
84.        Ditto            **
85.  Lear's Book of Nonsense***
86.        Ditto            ****
89.        Ditto            *****
90.        Ditto            ******
91.  Old Nursery Songs
92.  Old Nursery Rhymes
93.  The Soldier's Alphabet
94.  The Sailor's Alphabet
95.  The Little Sportsman's Alphabet
96.  The Farmyard Hunt
97.  A Country Holiday
98.  Play Hours
99.  Play Time
100. A B C of Ships and Boats
101. The Trial of the Sparrow who killed Cock Robin
102. The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe
103. Three little Doggies
104. Childhood
105. Old Favourites
106. Playful Puss
107. Six Little Maidens
108. Home Fairies
109. Aunt Louisa's A B C
110. My Dog Tray
111. Miss Rich and Little Hungry
112. The Book of Animals

Also, Uniform with AUNT LOUISA'S LONDON TOY-BOOKS.

1. The Merchant of Venice
2. The Winter's Tale
3. The Tempest
4. The Taming of the Shrew.

       *       *       *       *       *

FREDERICK WARNE & CO., LONDON AND NEW YORK.





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