Rover was a rough, shaggy dog, and his tail curled down under him in a way that showed he had been ill-treated.  But he had good, faithful, brown eyes, and the drooping tail was always ready to wag at a kind word.

The tinker’s breakfast was on the table.  How good it smelt!  Rover looked at it with longing eyes.

“Please give me a bit, master,” said Rover.  “I am so hungry!”

The tinker did not seem to hear.  At last he said roughly:  “Be still, Rover!”

Rover waited patiently for a few minutes, but his master had no thought of feeding him.  At last Rover put out his long, red tongue and swept the meat and bread into his mouth.

[Illustration:  Caption:  “Can’t you talk?” Small child kneeling in front of dog, while kitten looks on.]

Then the angry tinker struck the poor dog and spoke sharply to him.  An hour later Rover had run away.

ROVER’S NEW HOME

It was a hot day in summer, and Rover stopped to drink some water out of a mud-puddle.  How hungry and thirsty he was!  He ran on for miles and miles.  At last he saw a cottage with smoke coming out of the chimney.  High hills were all around it, and a thick, dark wood was not far away.  On the doorstep were two little children.  When they saw the dog they shouted with delight.

“It is Rover!” cried Sandy.  “It is Tommy Tinker’s dog.  Where have you come from, old fellow, and where is your master?”

It was plain that Rover was no stranger to them.  He had been there with his master only the week before, and while Tinker Tom was mending the kettle, the children and the dog had made friends.  The mother had given him a bone, and though some persons may forget a kindness, a dog never does.  Rover could not answer Sandy’s question.  All he could do was to wag his tail faster than ever.  The little girl put her arms about his shaggy neck.

“Poor doggie!” she said.  “You shall have some of my supper.”

HOW ROVER WAS CARED FOR.

When the children’s mother saw Rover she brought him a large bowl of water, which he quickly lapped up.  Then she gave him something to eat and made a soft bed for him in a corner of the room.  She said:  “Perhaps Tinker Tom may come for his dog, and we will keep him till then.”

Rover hoped he would never come, but he could not say so.  He curled himself up in his bed and, with a long sigh of happiness, went to sleep.

Rover was very happy in his new home.  He had no wish to run away again.  He had good brown bread to eat, which was better for him than white bread would have been.  Sandy learned to make for him a thick cake out of oatmeal, and sometimes he had a bone.  Fortunately for the dog, Sandy’s mother was too poor to be able to give him much meat.  There was always a dish of fresh water ready for him, and a bit of cabbage with his food kept him well and strong.