Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1911 — Love of Books Starves Cobbler [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Love of Books Starves Cobbler

Detroit, mich.—“Spark” is his name. He is only a little yellow dog. He feels pretty bad, for hifl master has left him forever. “Spark" has been the sole companion of James Pyke, cobbler, since his wife died, four years ago, but James became! so inArm that he was taken to the Arnold home and “Spark” left behind. When Mrs. Pyke was alive the couple lived in a cottage on Myrtle, inear Twelfth street, and with the (money Pyke earned mending old shoes land his pension, they had the home nearly paid for. Then Mrs. Pyke died. It was Pyke’s Jove for books that led jto the loss of his home. Agents knew twhen his pension came, and would come up to the little shop in Twelfth, street to display their goods. James could not resist, sad bought—and bought. Payments lapsed, and at last ) the house was lost For about threw yean Pyke lived in the shop and its one room, four by six feet, crowded with encyclopedias and “Spark," his only companion. Pyke is 76 and grew too occupied' In reading to do much work. AH his pension money went to pay for hooks—a little literary revel^

He ate less and less. A bit of bread apd a little milk sustained him for a d *y- Neighbors brought, him" things occasionally and tried to convince him his health was more Important than bosks, hut James is an Englishman, born in Kent. Pyke became weaker, and finally was obliged to apply to O. M. Pos post, G. A. R.. and the post'decided to place him in the Arnold home and later" to send him to the soldiers' home., James said he wanted to remain where he was. “1 can’t leave ‘Sparks' and my hooks,” he said, patting the dog, his eyes roving over the cherished volumes; but the post officers persuaded fund at last James consented. . . After he had been taken away, the little dog sat mournfully on the door step, refusing to he coaxed away.