All the other boys have got 'em. 'Ain't never had nothing but an old
cat. Sha'n't never have a chance to get such a dog as this again. Wish
something would happen to that old cat; shouldn't care a mite." He
stubbed more fiercely into the dust, and it flew higher; a squirrel ran
across the road, and he looked at it with an indifferent scowl.
When he reached Sammy Tucker's house he saw Sammy out in the great north
yard raking hay with his father. Sammy looked up and saw Benjamin
coming.
"Holloa!" he sang out, eagerly. Then he dropped his rake and raced into
the road. His black eyes winked fast with excitement. "Say, won't he let
you keep him, Ben?" he cried.
"No; he won't let me keep nothing."
"Going to let me have him, then?"
"S'pose so."
Sammy reached forth his eager hands, and took the kicking puppy from
Benjamin's reluctant arms. "Nice fellar--nice little fellar," said he,
tenderly.
"I've named him Caesar," said Benjamin.
"That's a good name," assented Sammy. "Hi, Caesar! Hi, sir!"
Sammy's father came smilingly forward to the fence; he was fond of dogs.
He also took the puppy, and talked to it. Benjamin thought to himself
that he wished his grandfather was more like Sammy's father. He looked
on gloomily.
"Hate to give it up, don't you, Ben?" said Mr. Tucker, kindly.
"Sha'n't never have such a chance again."
"Oh yes, you will; your grandfather'll let you have a dog some time.
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