“‘Fairport Daily News’, June 3d.  In the police court this morning, James Jenkins, for cruelly torturing and mutilating a dog, fined ten dollars and costs.”

Then he said, “What do you think of that, Joe?  Five dollars apiece for your ears and your tail thrown in.  That’s all they’re worth in the eyes of the law.  Jenkins has had his fun and you’ll go through life worth about three-quarters of a dog.  I’d lash rascals like that.  Tie them up and flog them till they were scarred and mutilated a little bit themselves.  Just wait till I’m president.  But there’s some more, old fellow.  Listen:  ’Our reporter visited the house of the above-mentioned Jenkins, and found a most deplorable state of affairs.  The house, yard and stable were indescribably filthy.  His horse bears the marks of ill-usage, and is in an emaciated condition.  His cows are plastered up with mud and filth, and are covered with vermin.  Where is our health inspector, that he does not exercise a more watchful supervision over establishments of this kind?  To allow milk from an unclean place like this to be sold in the town, is endangering the health of its inhabitants.  Upon inquiry, it was found that the man Jenkins bears a very bad character.  Steps are being taken to have his wife and children removed from him.’”

Jack threw the paper into my box, and he and the other boys gave three cheers for the ‘Daily News’ and then ran away.  How glad I was!  It did not matter so much for me, for I had escaped him, but now that it had been found out what a cruel man he was, there would be a restraint upon him, and poor Toby and the cows would have a happier time.

I was going to tell about the Morris family.

There were Mr. Morris, who was a clergyman and preached in a church in Fairport; Mrs. Morris, his wife; Miss Laura, who was the eldest of the family; then Jack, Ned, Carl, and Willie.  I think one reason why they were such a good family was because Mrs. Morris was such a good woman.  She loved her husband and children, and did everything she could to make them happy.

Mr. Morris was a very busy man and rarely interfered in household affairs.  Mrs. Morris was the one who said what was to be done and what was not to be done.  Even then, when I was a young dog, I used to think that she was very wise.  There was never any noise or confusion in the house, and though there was a great deal of work to be done, everything went on smoothly and pleasantly, and no one ever got angry and scolded as they did in the Jenkins family.

Mrs. Morris was very particular about money matters.  Whenever the boys came to her for money to get such things as candy and ice cream, expensive toys, and other things that boys often crave, she asked them why they wanted them.  If it was for some selfish reason, she said, firmly:  “No, my children; we are not rich people, and we must save our money for your education.  I cannot buy you foolish things.”