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lonely heart。
In the morning the dog was prevailed upon to lap a saucer of warm
milk； and even to nibble at a crust of soaked bread。 Link was ashamed of
his own keen and growing interest in his find。 For the first time he realized
how bleakly lonesome had been his home life； since the death of his father
had left him solitary。
There was a mysteriously comforting companionship in the dog's
presence。 Link found himself talking to him from time to time as to a
fellow human。 And the words did not echo back in eerie hollowness
from the walls； as when he had sometimes sought to ease his desolation
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by talking aloud to himself。
He was embarrassed by his general ignorance of dogs； and by his
ignorance of this particular dog's name。 He sought to learn what the collie
had been called； by trying one familiar dog name after another。 But； to
such stand…by cognomens as Rover； Tige； Fido； Ponto； Shep and the rest；
the patient gave no further sign of recognition than a friendly wagging of
his plumed tail。 And he wagged it no more interestedly for one name than
for another。
So Ferris ceased from the effort； and decided to give his pet a brand…
new name for such brief space as they should be housemates。 After long
deliberation he hit upon the name 〃Chum；〃 as typical of the odd friendship
that was springing to life between the dog and himself。 And he planned to
devote much time to teaching the collie this name。
But； to his surprise； no such tedious period of instruction was
necessary。 In less than a single day Chum knew his name；knew it past all
doubt。
Link was amazed at such cleverness。 For three solid months； at one
time； he had striven to teach his horse and his cows and a few of his sheep
to respond to given names。 And at the end of the course of patient tutelage
he had been morbidly certain that not one of his solemn…eyed pupils had
grasped the lessons。
It was surprisingly pleasant to drop in at the kitchen door nowadays； in
intervals between chores or at the day's end； and be greeted by that glad
glint of the eye and the ecstatic pounding of the wavy tail against the floor。
It was still pleasanter to see the gaze of wistful adoration that
strengthened daily as Chum and his new master grew better and better
acquainted。
Pleasantest of all was it to sit and talk to the collie in the once…tedious
evenings； and to know that his every word was appreciated and listened to
with eager interest； even if the full gist of the talk itself did not penetrate to
the listener's understanding。
Link Ferris； for the first time in his life； had a dog。 Incidentally； for the
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first time in his life； he had an intimate friendsomething of whose love
and loyalty he waxed increasingly sure。 And he was happy。
His brighter spirits manifested themselves in his farm work；
transforming drudgery into contentment。 And the farm began； in small
ways； to show the effects of its owner's new attitude toward labor。
The day after he found Chum； Link had trudged to Hampton； and；
there； had affixed to the clapboards of the general store a bit of paper
whereon he had scrawled：
〃Found…One white and brown bird dog with leg broken。 Owner can
have same by paying a reward。〃
On his next huckster trip to Craigswold he pinned a similar sign to the
bulletin board of that rarefied resort's post…office。 And he waited for
results。
He did more。 He bought two successive copies of the county's daily
paper and scanned it for word of a missing dog。 But in neither copy did he
find what he sought。
True； both editions carried display advertisements which offered a
seventy…five dollar reward for information leading to the return of a 〃dark…
sable…and…white collie lost somewhere between Hohokus and Suffern。〃
The first time he saw this notice Link was vaguely troubled lest it
might refer to Chum。 He told himself he hoped it did。 For seventy…five
dollars just now would be a godsend。 And in self…disgust he choked back a
most annoying twinge of grief at thought of parting with the dog。
Two things in the advertisement puzzled him。 In the first place； as
Chum was longhaired and graceful； Link had mentally classified him as
belonging to the same breed as did the setters which accompanied hunters
on mountain rambles past his farm in the autumns。 Being wholly unversed
in canine lore； he had； therefore； classified Chum as a 〃bird dog〃。 The
word 〃collie〃； if ever he had chanced to hear it before； carried no meaning
to him。
Moreover； he did not know what 〃sable〃 meant。 He asked Dominie
Jansen； whom he met on the way home。 And the dominie told him 〃sable〃
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was another name for 〃black。〃 Jansen went on to amplify the theme；
dictionary…fashion； by quoting a piece of sacred poetry about 〃the sable
wings of night。〃
A great load was off Link's heart。 Chum； most assuredly； was not black
and white。 So the advertisement could not possibly refer to him。 The
reverend gentleman； not being a dog fancier； of course had no means of
knowing that 〃sable〃； in collie jargon； means practically every shade of
color except black or gray or white。
Link was ashamed of his own delight in finding he need not give up
his peteven for seventy…five dollars。 He tried to recall his father's
invectives against dogs； and to remind himself that another mouth to feed
on the farm must mean still sharper poverty and skimping。 But logic could
not strangle joy； and life took on a new zest for the lonely man。
By the time Chum could limp around on the fasthealing foreleg； he
and Link had established a friendship that was a boon to both and a stark
astonishment to Ferris。
Link had always loved animals。 He had an inborn 〃way〃 with them。
Yet his own intelligence had long since taught him that his 〃farm critters〃
responded but dully to his