gs
and is frightened at noise. Now if Pixy should howl or bark while you
are out, what would I do?"

Fritz loved his dog and it distressed him that there seemed to be no
place in the world where he was tolerated except his father's house;
therefore there seemed no other course than to return home and take Pixy
with him.

"Oh, dear aunt!" he said tearfully, "let us stay this one night, and
to-morrow I will go back home."

"My dear boy," said his aunt with tears of sympathy in her eyes, "do you
think for a moment that I would allow you to go home, when this is the
very first time you have paid me a visit? No; come with me and bring
Pixy with you. We will go down to the first floor to see Mr. Steerer,
the owner of this house, and ask him if he will let you keep your dog
during your visit."

This was one ray of sunlight on a cloudy day, and Fritz and Pixy
followed down the long steps. Mrs. Steiner rang the bell of the first
floor apartments, and Mr. Steerer opened the door and invited them in.

"Now tell the gentleman why we have come," said Mrs. Steiner.

But Fritz was weeping too bitterly to make explanations, and his aunt
had to speak for him.

"I have no objection to the dog staying," replied Mr. Steerer kindly,
"providing he does not bark and annoy my tenant on the second floor."

"Now, Pixy, thank the gentleman for his kindness," said Aunt Fanny, and
immediately the intelligent animal sat upon his hind feet and waved his
right fore foot back and forth.

"But you must speak," commanded Fritz, who was smiling through his
tears, whereupon Pixy gave a sharp little bark while again waving his
paw.

"Now we will call and ask Mrs. Hagner if your dog can stay," said Aunt
Fanny when they reached the door of the old lady's apartments and gently
tapped.

"Come in! Come in!" laughed a voice within, "and I am pretty sure that I
know why you have come."

Fritz felt so relieved at their pleasant reception that he made the
explanation.

"Certainly, certainly, I will not object," replied Mrs. Hagner. "I do
not like dogs, but I do like my neighbor and I like boys; so taking
these two likings together, you see they are too strong to be mastered
by the one dislike."

"Thank the lady for her kindness, Pixy," said Fritz gleefully and it was
done, not omitting the bark, and aunt and nephew went with light hearts
up the steps to the third floor to tell the anxious Franz and Paul the
result of their visit.

"Now, childre