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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.

    [Please click on the image for a bigger image.]

    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.

    [Please click on the image for a bigger image.]

    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.

    [Please click on the image for a bigger image.]

    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.

    [Please click on the image for a bigger image.]

    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.

    [Please click on the image for a bigger image.]

    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.”

    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

    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.