Life — April 14, 1892 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tn 234 They all looked up as he came by, and asked what was the matter. “I'm a-goin’ to join Grips,” said Hunky. “Ts he in the river?” they all asked. “No; he's in hell.” “I don't believe it,” said one of the fairies, who was a Universalist ; “There is no hell. It’s your ante, Pinklegs.” “Yes there is,” said Hunky, “ and Grips is in it.” “He must have been a pretty tough character from your being so sure. Was he a murderer, or just a burglar?” O' course he wasn’t,” said Hunky. “Was he married ?” asked a very young fairy who had recently become engaged. “O ya-a-s,” said Hunky, in a sarcastic tone; “dogs is given ter gittin’ married.” “O, he was a dog, was he?” they all exclaimed, and there- upon laughed hilariously, but all the time keeping on with the game. One of them, Beesbelly by name, lost his equilibrium in a fit of mirth and tumbled over backward. Being a fairy of great presence of mind, he turned quickly into a rubber ball when he felt himself going and bounced harmlessly up again on striking the wharf. Resuming hi / /} his usual shape as he neared the top of the 1 iv 7} barrel on the return bound, he slid back / into his old seat, took up his cards and / went on with the game as if no interruption had occurred. , “Dogs have no souls,” one of them ex- =\ plained to Hunky. “When they are dead \ that's the end of ‘em. They don’t go any- \ * where. Ten better, Bulby.”” “Grips was a special kind 0° dog,” said Hunky. “He must ‘er gone somewhere.” “No. Dead dogs are dead, and that’s the end } of them.” Hunky was so unhappy upon hearing this that the fairy felt a great pity for him, and as Hunky turned and walked dejectedly away, he cried out to him, “ The first wish you utter shall be granted, so be careful!" But Hunky was absorbed by his grief at the thought of never seeing his old pal again, and the world seemed such a desolate blank without him, that he did not hear what the fairy promised. In his loneliness and despair he curled up in a doorway, and pulling his dirty cap over his eyes, mut- tered, “* Wisht ‘er was dead.” A few minutes later a little crowd gathered about the doorsteps as a policeman lifted in his arms the lifeless body of a ragged. red-headed urchin and bore it tenderly away. There were echoes of distant music in the air when Hunky opened his eyes upon the golden glories about him. He stood among a group who, like himself, seemed just ar- rived, but all the others had happy faces as they gazed in wonder upon the splendors that encompassed them. Standing near him was an imposing personage clad in white and gold. As he seemed to be one of the officers of LIFE the vast palace, Hunky went over to him and said, “Soy, . Mister, what place is dis?” = en “ These are the realms of eternal joy.” “’Taint where I wanted ter go.” The imposing personage looked down at him in sur- ; prise. “T wanted ter be with Grips.” “Grips?” said the man in- —% white, and then, as if trying to 4 recall something: “ Gripe Is that a dog?” ‘es, my dog, * said Hak. “ [think he came this morn- ing,” said the man in white, and pointing down the hall he said: “ You see the fifth arch on the right with the ruby col- umns and silver doors? Well, | saw him turn in there not ten minutes ago.” Hunky started off on a run. When he reached the fifth arch he looked through upon a beauti- ful garden, all gay with flowers and a splashing fountains, and there, in a pensive attitude, was Grips, gazing list- lessly upon the beauties before him. Hunky whistled ; Grips started, turned his head, gave a cry of “$-—~ joy, then bounded over the : grass as if shot from a cannon. He flew into Hunky’s arms with such force as to knock him over backward, and they rolled over and over among the flowers. Grips seemed crazy with joy, and Hunky was “* not sorry. They never parted again and are still living happily together. J. A. Mitchell. G a M ISS S.: Some one told me the other day that you had received seven proposals this winter. Miss P. (complacently): Yes, 1 have. Miss S: Who is the man ? NTERVIEWER: Do you think Senator Hill will be nominated for President ? EMINENT STATESMAN: I have nothing to say on that subject. INTERVIEWER: May I ask why? EMINENT STATESMAN: Because it’s a long time from now till ‘96. comicbooks.com