Sandy would often talk to Rover, and the dog soon learned to understand what was said to him.  He was delighted when Sandy said, “Would you like to go for a walk?” But Sandy never said this unless he was really going to take Rover out, or the dog soon would have learned that the boy did not always mean what he said.

One of the things that Rover liked best to do was to run after a large ball of wool which Sandy made on purpose for him.

[Illustration:  Caption:  “Speak for it!” Photograph of boy approx. 5 years old holding treat above head of dog sitting expectantly in front of him.]

Sandy often brushed and combed Rover, and this made his coat glossy and clean.  One would hardly have recognized the rough, neglected dog in the pet of the household.

TINKER TOM COMES BACK

One day when Rover was playing with the children on the hill, he suddenly ran away as fast as he could go.

“Oh, Rover, come back, come back!” called little Jessie; but Rover kept on until he was lost to sight in the dark woods.  In the distance he had seen a well-known figure.  Tinker Tom was coming along the road with his pack on his back.

When the tinker came to the house, Sandy’s mother told him about Rover.

“You may keep him and welcome,” said the tinker, “if you will give me something to eat.”

So a good, hot dinner was spread for him, and at last he went away with his pack on his back.  When he had been gone a long time and it was quite dark, Rover appeared.  He came in looking pleased and proud, as if he had done some very wise thing.  He said as plainly as he could, “Am I not a clever dog?”

You may be sure that Sandy and Jessie were glad to see him again and to know that now nobody could take him away.

ROVER LEARNS TO BE USEFUL.

Sandy’s father was a poor man who had charge of a large flock of sheep.  In summer he led them from one feeding-place to another over the high hills.  Often he was away for many days at a time.  In winter the sheep were kept near the cottage and fed with food which had been laid up for them in the autumn.  The sheep did not belong to Sandy’s father, but he took the best possible care of them.

[Illustration:  Caption:  “Rover learns to be useful.”  Group of sheep standing around under a tree.  Several appear to be looking at something off to the right —­ Rover?]

One day when he came home from the hills he said:  “We must not let Rover be idle all his life.  He must learn to do something useful.  I shall take him to the hills in the morning and teach him to look after the sheep.  He will be a great help to me, and I will be a good master to him.”

So the next morning Rover started off with his master, looking very proud and happy.  At first it was hard to make the dog take care of the sheep in the right way.  He thought it was great fun to run after them and bark at their heels, but he did not know when to bark and when to be quiet.  However, he did his best to learn, and when the shepherd went home he said that Rover would make a very useful dog.