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diff --git a/44914-0.txt b/44914-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b8f68a --- /dev/null +++ b/44914-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1834 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44914 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and +italic text is surrounded by _underscores_. Obvious punctuation errors +have been repaired however the unusual use of quotation marks in +continuing paragraphs was retained as printed.] + +[Illustration: "The lady came into the room to find out why the dog had +called out. Mew-Mew ... crept out." _Page 19._] + + + + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW + + BY + GEORGIANA M. CRAIK + + + EDITED BY + JOSEPH C. SINDELAR + + + _Author of_ NIXIE BUNNY IN MANNERS-LAND + NIXIE BUNNY IN WORKADAY-LAND + NIXIE BUNNY IN HOLIDAY-LAND + NIXIE BUNNY IN FARAWAY-LANDS + FATHER THRIFT AND HIS ANIMAL FRIENDS + MORNING EXERCISES FOR ALL THE YEAR + BEST MEMORY GEMS + +[Illustration] + + BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY + CHICAGO + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY + JOSEPH C. SINDELAR + + _Made in U. S. A._ + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW 7 + II BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW ARE NOT HAPPY 9 + III MEW-MEW FALLS ASLEEP 11 + IV THE CHICKS, THE PIGS, THE DUCKS 13 + V BOW-WOW IS HURT 16 + VI BOW-WOW IN BED 18 + VII MEW-MEW BY THE FIRE 20 + VIII BOW-WOW IN GREAT PAIN 21 + IX MEW-MEW A NURSE 24 + X BOW-WOW FEELS VERY ILL 27 + XI WILL BOW-WOW DIE? 29 + XII BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW BECOME FRIENDS 31 + XIII MEW-MEW SEEKS SOME FOOD 34 + XIV BOW-WOW DOES NOT DIE 37 + XV BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW ARE VERY GREAT FRIENDS 39 + XVI BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW WILL GO AWAY 41 + XVII SHALL THEY START SO SOON? 44 + XVIII SAYING "GOOD-BY" 46 + XIX BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW SET OFF 48 + XX RUNNING AWAY 51 + XXI IS IT GOOD FUN? 52 + XXII IN THE FIELDS 55 + XXIII PUSS FALLS LAME 57 + XXIV IN THE CORN-FIELD 59 + XXV THE FIRST MEAL 62 + XXVI THE WORK OF EACH RUNAWAY 64 + XXVII THE BIG SHEEP-DOG 66 + XXVIII BOW-WOW IS BADLY HURT 69 + XXIX PUSS TURNS NURSE 71 + XXX CROSS WORDS 73 + XXXI HOW THE RUNAWAYS FARED 76 + XXXII KIND FRIENDS 78 + XXXIII BAD BLOWS 80 + XXXIV THOUGHTS OF HOME 83 + XXXV WHERE WAS HOME? 85 + XXXVI PUSS FALLS ILL 87 + XXXVII THE OLD FARM-HOUSE 88 + XXXVIII HOME 90 + XXXIX TELL US MORE 92 + ABOUT THE BOOK 95 + + +[Illustration] + + + + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew + +[Illustration] + + + + +I + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW + + +"Get out of the way," said a little fat dog, as he came near the fire. + +"I shall not get out of your way," said the white puss, who had got +the best place first. "Do you keep out of my way!" + +"You are as bad a cat as ever I saw," cried the dog, in a rage. + +The dog's name was Bow-Wow. + +"I am not half so bad a cat as you are a dog," said Mew-Mew. + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew were a very young dog and cat. + +They did not know how to be good. No one had told them. + +They did not use kind words the one to the other. + +They led a sad life, and were cross all day long. + +Bow-Wow said that Mew-Mew was idle, vain, and cross, and of no use to +any one. + +And Mew-Mew said of Bow-Wow, that he was only fit to bark, that he was +all for himself and ever in the way. + +Thus they used to go on all day. + +It was quite a treat when they fell asleep. That was the only time that +there was peace with them. + + + + +II + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW ARE NOT HAPPY + + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew did not love each other. But you must know that +they did not find good in any thing. + +All was bad alike to them. + +They did not like the house they lived in; they did not like the lady +they lived with; nor the food they had to eat. + +They said they did not have what was good for them to eat or to drink. + +Bow-Wow wanted other little dogs about the place, so that he could have +a good game of play. + +Mew-Mew sat with her eyes half shut for hours, to think what a shame it +was no other cat ever came to see her. + +"Now if I had a real home," Mew-Mew would say, "I would have a lot of +young cats in it. + +I would have a fire in every room, a cup of warm milk on each floor, +and all the meat in the house should be cut up into little bits. + +And I would kill Bow-Wow and all the dogs that came near my house." + + + + +III + +MEW-MEW FALLS ASLEEP + + +Mew-Mew would think of such a life till she grew quite glad. + +She would begin to purr, and so sing herself off to sleep. + +"Did ever any one see such a cat?" Bow-Wow said, when Mew-Mew acted in +this way. + +"She sings as if she were out of her wits. + +I have seen much in my life" (he was quite young), "but I have never +seen so silly a cat as Mew-Mew is." + +Then he would go to Mew-Mew and give her a blow on the side of her head +to wake her up. + +Mew-Mew would spring up like a shot. + +[Illustration] + +And if Bow-Wow did not take to his heels with all his might, which he +very often did, Mew-Mew would use her paws in such a way as to make him +wish he had left her to have her sleep out. + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew lived in a farm-house. + +You shall hear how this dog and cat were often put out, and how much +they had to bear. + + + + +IV + +THE CHICKS, THE PIGS, THE DUCKS + + +First, there were the chicks. + +"They eat all day long," said Mew-Mew. + +"I cannot bear them; I wish I might eat them." + +Then there were the pigs. + +Bow-Wow did not like the pigs. + +For one day he had gone into their sty to bark at them. But they did +not fear him and did not try to get away. + +[Illustration] + +In fact, they trod on him till he was well-nigh dead. + +He kept away from the pigs after that; at any rate, he did not go into +their sty again. + +Then the ducks. + +If there was one thing Mew-Mew did not like, it was the ducks. + +The ducks made a great deal too much noise, they did not even know how +to walk, and they had a very bad way of going into the water. + +The horse and the cow were much too big. + +It was not safe to go near them. + +They had a way of using their feet, which Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew did not +like at all. + +The dog and cat had not one thing which they did like. + +The lady was not quite so bad as the rest. Still she was to blame that +there were not fires in every room, cups of warm milk on every floor, +and bits of good meat in the dish. + + + + +V + +BOW-WOW IS HURT + + +It came about one day that Bow-Wow was badly hurt. + +He had gone into the barn-yard "for no harm at all," he said, but to +bark at the chicks, and put them in fear of their lives. + +He had great fun with one chick, which ran away from him, and flew up +to its perch. + +Bow-Wow went after it and made leaps into the air to get it, and was +just as glad as he could be. + +But all at once he could jump no more. + +A large log of wood fell on him. He felt great pain. + +This made him cry, so that one could hear him half a mile away. + +[Illustration] + +The lady ran out to see why Bow-Wow cried so loud. She took the wood +off him. + +Then she found that the bone of one leg was hurt. + +A man was sent for to dress the leg, and Bow-Wow was put to bed. + + + + +VI + +BOW-WOW IN BED + + +As soon as Bow-Wow was in bed, Mew-Mew came into the room. + +She was as glad as she could be to see poor Bow-Wow in pain. + +"Well, you are a fine sort of dog, you are," she said; "why could you +not leave the chicks alone? + +It is a pity you did not break all your legs. + +I wish you had done so. + +Anyhow, it will be a long time before you get about again. + +I shall have the nice warm fire all to myself now." + +"Oh--h--h!" cried Bow-Wow, for the poor little dog felt very ill. + +Then the bad Mew-Mew put up her paw and gave Bow-Wow such a blow that +it made him cry loud again with pain. + +The lady came into the room to find out why the dog had called out. + +Then Mew-Mew, who, to tell the truth, knew that she had not done what +was right, crept out by the open door. (See picture on page 2.) + +She took care to keep out of the way for the rest of the day. + +It was only when it was quite dark, and the lady had gone to bed, that +she dared to come into the room again, and take her place before the +fire. + + + + +VII + +MEW-MEW BY THE FIRE + + +Bow-Wow was in his little bed. Great care had been taken of him. + +He had not gone to sleep, for his leg hurt him so much that he could +not get to sleep at all. + +When he saw Mew-Mew come into the room he was in such fear that he did +not know what to do. + +She had been such a bad cat in the day, that Bow-Wow did not feel at +all sure but that now, when the lady was in bed, Mew-Mew might kill him. + +It was a sad case for Bow-Wow. He shut his eyes, all but the least bit. + +He kept them just far enough open, to see what Mew-Mew was doing, and +then he lay quite still. + +Mew-Mew gave one look at Bow-Wow's bed. + +"Bow-Wow is asleep," she said. "I will not be unkind to him again." + +Then she went to the fire, and sat with her back to Bow-Wow, that he +might not see her; and she began to wash her coat. + +This was such a long task that she soon forgot all about Bow-Wow. + +She sat for a long time in the same place, even after the fire had gone +out. + + + + +VIII + +BOW-WOW IN GREAT PAIN + + +Mew-Mew had a nice coat, white as milk. + +She kept it very clean, for she washed it for a good many hours each +day. + +Bow-Wow used to say, "Why, you will wash it all away." + +Mew-Mew did not mind that a bit, for she knew that Bow-Wow only said +this when he felt vexed that he had not a nice white coat. + +Bow-Wow's coat was black as coal. + +Mew-Mew sat by the fire and washed her coat. + +[Illustration] + +Bow-Wow did not dare to go to sleep, for fear of what the cat might do. + +At last he was quite worn out. + +His leg was very painful, too. + +After the cat had washed and washed for an hour and a half, Bow-Wow +could bear it no longer. + +He turned himself in bed and gave a great groan. + +Mew-Mew left off washing at once. + +"I will groan again," said Bow-Wow; "I may as well, as I have done so +once." + +He did groan again, and over and over again. + +If he were to be killed, he could not help it, and the pain did not +seem so bad while he groaned. + +"Oh! you are awake, are you?" said Mew-Mew. + +"Oh--h--h! yes, I am awake," and Bow-Wow gave another great groan. + + + + +IX + +MEW-MEW A NURSE + + +"Do you mean to make that noise all night?" said the cat, in a very +sharp way. + +"I do not know. I hope not. I wish I could lose this bad pain." + +"You _are_ a bad dog," said Mew-Mew. + +"You have a nice warm bed to lie on; great care has been taken of you; +you have had good food to eat; what more can you want? + +"Yet you lie there and groan. + +"As for poor me, all I have to lie on is an old bit of rug. + +I think it is I that ought to groan." + +"I wish you had my leg," said Bow-Wow. + +"Oh, we shall never hear the last of that leg now." Then, as she had no +more to say, she went to her rug to sleep. + +But she had only slept for a little while, and had fallen into a nice +dream about a mouse, when Bow-Wow gave a great cry. + +"Why do you call out in that way?" said Mew-Mew, in a rage. + +"I am so hot," cried Bow-Wow, "that I think I shall die." + +"I wish you were dead," said the cat. + +"Why did you wake me from my first sleep and let that fat mouse get +away from me? + +Am I to be kept awake all night to nurse you?" + +"I only want you to take the rug off me," said Bow-Wow. + +"Oh, dear! dear!" cried Mew-Mew. + +[Illustration] + +But she took off the rug, and put it near the fire. + +It would make her a nice soft bed. The rug she had was not so good and +soft as this. + + + + +X + +BOW-WOW FEELS VERY ILL + + +"Well, will that do?" said Mew-Mew. + +"Oh, I do not know; I am very ill." + +"I dare say you are not a bit worse than I am; you have not a bad cold +as I have." + +"A bad cold! What is a bad cold to a leg as full of pain as mine is?" + +"Oh! there you are! all about the leg again!" + +Mew-Mew went off to her rug, and was soon fast asleep. + +She slept this time for a good long while, and Bow-Wow slept too; but +as break of day came, Bow-Wow made a very loud cry. + +"Dear me! dear me! what is it now?" said Mew-Mew. + +"I cannot bear this great pain any longer. You must come and help me +with my bad leg." + +"Anything for peace," said Mew-Mew, and up she came and bit through +what was on the leg and took it off. + +"Well, are you all right now?" + +"I am better," said Bow-Wow. But he lay back, for he could not hold up +his head. + +[Illustration] + +"You do not look to me as if you would live," said the cat, after she +had had a long look at him. + +"Not look as if I should live?" said Bow-Wow. + +"No, I do not think you will live;" and with that, she sat down before +the dog, with her eyes fixed on his face, as if she meant to wait there +and see the end of him. + + + + +XI + +WILL BOW-WOW DIE? + + +"Is there anything I can do?" asked the dog. + +"Oh! I do not know of anything. You must just wait." + +Then Mew-Mew shut her eyes for a little more sleep. + +"But Mew-Mew! Mew-Mew!" cried poor Bow-Wow, "you must not go to sleep. + +Oh, Mew-Mew! I have no one to speak to but you." + +"It will not help you to speak," said Mew-Mew. + +"You are much too fond of your own voice; I have told you that over and +over again." + +"Yes, Mew-Mew, so you have. But you would not have me die, would you? + +I have so many things I should like to say to you. + +What will you do without me when I am gone?" + +The poor little dog gave such a sad look into Mew-Mew's face, as he +spoke these words, that Mew-Mew did not quite know what to say. + +To tell the truth, though she tried to think that she was very glad at +getting rid of Bow-Wow for good and all, yet she was not quite sure +about it. + +After all, she did not know what she should do without him. + +But she did not wish to show that she was so weak as to care for him; +so when he asked "What will you do when I am gone?" she said: + +"Oh! I shall do much as I do now." + +And she began to wash a speck off one of her white paws. + + + + +XII + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW BECOME FRIENDS + + +But poor little Bow-Wow could not bear this. + +"What!" he said, "you will go on as you do now when I am gone? + +You will go on just the same, when you will never have me to look +at--or to speak to--or to fight with?" + +Bow-Wow's voice quite broke down. "Oh, Mew-Mew! you _are_ not kind to +me." + +"Me not kind! If it comes to that, you are much more unkind than I am. + +You do not care a bit for me; not a bit more than if I was a chick or a +pig. + +You would not sit up with _me_, as I am doing with you now--no, not if +I had hurt ten legs," said Mew-Mew. + +"Oh, Mew-Mew! how can you say such things?" cried Bow-Wow. "Oh, +Mew-Mew! how _can_ you, and with me dying!" + +[Illustration] + +"You would not care if _I_ were dying ten times over," said the cat. +And she put her paw over her face, and began to cry. + +"I--I--I should," said Bow-Wow; "I am sure I should care very much." + +"Well, well," said Mew-Mew, "I do not wish to be cross with you, now +that you are about to die." + +"Let us be friends then," said Bow-Wow. + +"We will," said Mew-Mew. + +Then they were quite still for some time. They did not know what to +make of being friends. + +They did not speak, for they did not know what to say. + + + + +XIII + +MEW-MEW SEEKS SOME FOOD + + +Mew-Mew was the first to speak. + +"How are you now, Bow-Wow?" she said. + +"How do I look?" said the dog. + +"Ah! not very well. There is a look in your eyes I do not like." + +"Oh, if it is only my eyes," said Bow-Wow, "I can change that.... Look +at me now, Mew-Mew." + +"That is not the same look at all," said the cat. "Your eyes are as +bright as mine now, Bow-Wow." + +"No, no--not so bright as yours. No other eyes could be as bright as +yours, Mew-Mew. + +But I do feel a good deal better now, and I think, dear Mew-Mew, that +if I could get a long sleep and some nice food--" + +"Should you like a mouse?" cried Mew-Mew. + +"Ah! I fear a mouse would get away from me. + +I do not know how to deal with a mouse as you do, Mew-Mew, even when I +am well. + +I should like some cold meat." + +"Well, I will see what I can do," said Mew-Mew. + +Away she went; but the only food that she could find was some cold +pork. + +[Illustration] + +She had two or three bites at this, to make sure it was good, and then +went back to Bow-Wow with her prize. + +"What is it, Mew-Mew?" + +"Cold pork: very nice." And she put it before him. + +"Please have some too, Mew-Mew." + +"Well, I do not care if I do," said the cat. + + + + +XIV + +BOW-WOW DOES NOT DIE + + +They both set to work with a good will. In a very short time the cold +pork was all gone. + +"It was very good," said Bow-Wow, with a sigh. + +"It has done me a great deal of good. Is there any more of it?" + +"Not a bit more," said Mew-Mew. + +"Well, it cannot be helped. Shall I try now to go to sleep?" + +"Yes, do, and I will make up your bed for you." + +This she did, and the dog lay down and shut his eyes. + +"I will just give my coat a wash, and then try to go to sleep too," +said Mew-Mew. + +"Be sure you call me if you feel worse, dear Bow-Wow." + +The little boys and girls who read this book will be glad to know that +in spite of all the fright which Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew had, the dog was +in no danger of dying at all. + +He had to stay in bed for a whole week, and for ten days more was very +weak, and had to take care what he ate, and where he went. + +[Illustration] + +Yet by the end of a month he was as strong as ever, and would bark at +the pigs and hunt the chicks just as he had done before. + + + + +XV + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW ARE VERY GREAT FRIENDS + + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew were now great friends. + +Mew-Mew said that she had saved Bow-Wow's life when he was ill. + +She said this so often, that Bow-Wow came to think it was true, and +looked upon her as the best friend he had in the world. + +As for Mew-Mew, she grew very fond of Bow-Wow; she did not like to have +him out of her sight. + +They loved each other so much that if you had told them they were once +cross and unkind they would have said: + +"Oh, no! that must have been some other dog and cat, it could not have +been we." + +But though they were now such good friends, they did not like the rest +of the world a bit more than they had done before. + +One night, after the lady had gone to bed, Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew met to +have a talk before the fire. + +Bow-Wow was very sad. + +"Why are you so sad, Bow-Wow?" said Mew-Mew. + +"It is the pigs!" + +"What have they been doing?" + +"I heard them grunt as I came past the sty!" + +[Illustration] + +"But they did you no harm, did they?" + +"They would have done if they could." + + + + +XVI + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW WILL GO AWAY + + +"Well, pigs are no good anywhere, I own," said Mew-Mew, "but do you +know, when I come to think of it, I am not sure but that chicks are +worse." + +"Chicks are bad, if you like, but not so bad as pigs. + +You may be right, yet I do not know but that out of the whole set, +ducks are the very worst of all," said Bow-Wow. + +And then he began to groan. + +As soon as he gave a groan Mew-Mew gave one too, and they kept on for +some time. + +"I have a good mind not to bear it," said Bow-Wow at last. + +"Dear me! you must bear it, how can you help it?" + +"I can go away." + +"Where to?" + +"Anywhere." + +Mew-Mew was so put out with the thought of Bow-Wow going away, that +for a time she could not speak. + +At last she said, "Oh, Bow-Wow, you would not leave me, would you?" + +"Would you not come with me?" he asked. + +"Yes, that I would, anywhere, to the end of the world." + +"Then we will go," said Bow-Wow. "It must be a good change, that is +clear; in no place can we be as badly off as we are here." + +"Yes, that is quite clear," said the cat. "When shall we set off?" + +"Now, at once," said Bow-Wow. + + + + +XVII + +SHALL THEY START SO SOON? + + +"But we cannot get out yet; the doors are not open." + +To tell the truth, Mew-Mew did not care about getting away, as Bow-Wow +did. + +She liked to stay at home. + +And on this night she felt that she must have a long sleep. + +So she said, "We must not start yet, for I have not given my coat a +good wash." + +"Cannot you live one night without giving your coat a wash?" said +Bow-Wow, in a rage. + +"I should think not. Would you have me to go out into the world with +dust and dirt on my coat? + +And before we set out, I should like to get a thing or two that we may +want to take with us. + +Let us have a sound sleep to-night. We may hope then to start in good +time." + +"Well, well, as you please," said Bow-Wow, who now felt glad, too, that +they had not to leave their warm place by the fire just then. + +[Illustration] + +They lay down side by side on the rug, and went to sleep. + + + + +XVIII + +SAYING "GOOD-BY" + + +Next day Bow-Wow went for a walk round the farm. + +First he had a look at the pigs; he did not go into their sty, but he +barked at them and said: + +"I am sad for you, that you can never get out for a walk, but must be +ever in that sty. Do you not wish you had been born dogs?" + +And the pigs, with a grunt, said: "Go away, you little dog; we do not +wish to talk to you. Our home is a very nice one; we do not want to +make any change." + +He gave a bark at the chicks, not so much to harm them as to bid them +good-by. + +[Illustration] + +He went to the pond to get a drink and to say as his last words to the +ducks: + +"Why do you not be wise and stay on the land? You can come to no harm +here, but I am sure you will take cold by being so much in the water, +and that may be the death of you!" + +But the ducks said: "Quack! quack! run off, you bad dog. You do not at +all know what is good for us." + + + + +XIX + +BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW SET OFF + + +In the night Mew-Mew had made her coat quite white. + +She stole a roast chick out of the house, and hid it in the dust-bin. + +And she took one or two other things which they might want. + +They did not start till the lady had given them two meals that day. + +At the set time they met at the dust-bin. + +[Illustration] + +"But who was to carry the chick?" + +Bow-Wow said he could not, Mew-Mew said the same. + +Then said Bow-Wow: "Had we better not eat it now? It is no use to leave +it here." + +They set to work, and ate the chick to the very last bone. + +Then they did not feel quite so fit to take a long walk as they had +hoped. + +Still they made their way to the gate of the farm and out into the road. + +"Now we have done it," said Bow-Wow. + +"Yes, we have done it," said Mew-Mew who did not feel at all gay. + +"We must step out as fast as we can," said Bow-Wow, "for I dare say +they will be after us in half an hour." + +[Illustration] + +"Oh! as fast as you please," said Mew-Mew; but she wished all the time +that she was back on her rug before the fire. + +So they set off at full speed. + + + + +XX + +RUNNING AWAY + + +They left the farm by the gate and got on the road. + +Bow-Wow wished to run very fast, for "I dare say they will be after us +in half an hour," he said. + +He did not think but that they would soon be missed, though he said, +"No one has ever given us much care." + +"Our loss," he said, "will make the lady sad and she will send out the +men to find us." + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew ran fast, so fast that the cat was soon out of +breath. + +Mew-Mew could run fast for a little way, but she was not used to long +races. + +She had not gone half a mile before she began to feel quite ill. + + + + +XXI + +IS IT GOOD FUN? + + +"It is fine fun, is it not, Mew-Mew?" Bow-Wow called out in great joy. + +He had often run a long race and did not mind this run a bit. + +"Yes, it is fine fun," said Mew-Mew, two or three times. + +But at last, when for about the tenth time Bow-Wow said, "Is it not +fine fun?" Mew-Mew could only gasp out:-- + +"Yes--yes--it is--good fun--but--can we not--just--rest a little?" + +[Illustration] + +"What! rest so soon?" said Bow-Wow. + +"Yes--just--for--a little time." + +"Oh, well, if you wish it," and Bow-Wow stood still. + +"But what is the matter with you? Have you hurt one of your paws?" + +"Oh no--not that," said Mew-Mew. "We have run so fast that I have lost +my breath." + +"That is sad," said Bow-Wow. "I do not know how you will be able to +move about much in the world, if you so soon lose your breath." + +"But we are not to be ever on the run, are we?" said Mew-Mew, with a +wild look in her eyes. + +"Well, no, not ever on the run. + +But there will be a good deal of it. We must do the best we can." + + + + +XXII + +IN THE FIELDS + + +"Have you had a rest now, Mew-Mew?" said Bow-Wow. + +"Oh yes," said the cat, as she got on her legs again. "We will not go +quite so fast now, will we?" + +"As you please. If the men from the farm come after us, and take us +back, it will not be I that am to blame." + +They set off once more. + +They did not keep to the road, for fear of those who might be on the +lookout for them. + +Some fields were much more easy to cross than others. The best of all +were those of nice soft short grass. + +The fields in which the corn had been cut, were very hard to get over. +The short stems of the corn were sharp to their paws. + +[Illustration] + +The field of large green leaves was not so bad to cross. + +Still it was not nice to be out of sight the whole time, and only to +know where the other was by calling out every now and then. + +They could not run so fast as on the road, and though they did stop +many times to rest, it was hard work for Mew-Mew. + +She was short of breath, as you know. But, worse than that, her paws +had become so large that she could only just get along. + +"Oh, dear me!" she said, "what can have made my paws swell in this way, +and what makes them so full of pain?" + + + + +XXIII + +PUSS FALLS LAME + + +Mew-Mew went on but a little way. She then could not even limp along +any more. + +"Well, I did think you could run better than this," said Bow-Wow, not +in a very sweet temper, when he saw her lie down. + +"Oh, I shall be well soon," the cat said, "it is only my paws. Oh, +Bow-Wow, do your paws never hurt?" + +"I should think not," said Bow-Wow. + +"Well, but just look at mine." + +And they did look odd, for they were as big again as they ought to be, +and quite black. + +"Have you some thorns in them?" asked Bow-Wow. "You must put them into +water and wash them." + +"Put my paws in water! I would not do such a thing for the world." + +"What will you do with them, then?" + +"I mean to lick them." + +"It will take you a long time to lick those paws white. But if you mean +to do it you had better begin, for we shall not walk any more to-night. + +Let us creep under this corn in the field. You will not mind if I go +to sleep, will you, Mew-Mew?" + +"Oh dear, no," said the cat. + + + + +XXIV + +IN THE CORN-FIELD + + +"I should like some food before I go to sleep," Bow-Wow said to +himself. "I do not at all know where to get any. + +I must go without my supper for once." + +This he did, and was soon fast asleep. + +As for poor Mew-Mew, she had two hours' good work, before she could +get rid of the pain in her paws, and make them look white, as they did +before she set out. + +Then she made herself into a ball, and slept well till the sun was up. + +I dare say she would have slept half the next day, had not Bow-Wow +called,-- + +"Up! up! wake up, Mew-Mew!" + +Mew-Mew did her best to get up, and to keep her eyes open. + +She had never had such a day as the last. + +"No time to lose!" said Bow-Wow. "We must have some food!" + +"Oh, yes," said Mew-Mew, "we will have some birds. Wait till I have +washed--". + +"Till I have washed my coat," she was going to say, but before she had +got the last words out, she heard such a noise, all at once, in the +trees near, that it quite put them out of her head. + +She looked up to see the cause of it, and then cried:-- + +"Oh! look at the birds! Oh! dear me! Bow-Wow! look at the birds! + +Oh! look at them! look at them!" + +[Illustration] + + + + +XXV + +THE FIRST MEAL + + +She had never seen so many birds, at one time, in her life before. + +"Well, I see them," said Bow-Wow. "Why do you not go and get some, and +not talk so much about them?" + +The truth was that Bow-Wow did not much care to hear about birds. + +Mew-Mew had but to lie in wait for them and she could get nice tid-bits +for herself. + +But Bow-Wow might look and wait, and as soon as he made a jump, the +bird was sure to fly away. + +The sight of Mew-Mew's little feasts had of old been more than Bow-Wow +was able to bear. + +[Illustration] + +"Why do you not get some?" said Bow-Wow. + +"Oh! I will get them," said Mew-Mew, "all alive." + +And she lost no time about it, for she had two poor little birds in no +time. + +Bow-Wow ate one, she ate the other. + +"Will you have one more?" said Mew-Mew. + +"Yes, if you please," said the dog. + +Mew-Mew could get these birds with great ease. + +They had three birds each, and then as they could eat no more, they lay +down again for a time. + +"It is very warm," said Mew-Mew. "I wish I had a little milk." + + + + +XXVI + +THE WORK OF EACH RUNAWAY + + +"Milk! Oh, you will get no milk here," said Bow-Wow. + +"Get no milk!" said the cat. + +"There is no milk," said the dog, "but you can have water." + +"I would not take a drop of water to save my life," said Mew-Mew. + +"Well, well," said Bow-Wow, seeing that all the hair on her back was +on end, "we will hope to find some milk as we go along. + +But I want to speak to you. I think, dear Mew-Mew, that as you can get +birds so well,--you know how they fly away from me,--I cannot do better +than leave you to find our food each day." + +"I am sure, if I can please you," said Mew-Mew, "I shall only be too +glad to do so." + +"Very well," said Bow-Wow. "I will pick out our road and say when we +shall rest, and where we shall sleep; and you can come to me at any +time that you want help." + +"I will," said Mew-Mew. + +"And now let us set off," said Bow-Wow. + +"Yes," said Mew-Mew. "I hope we shall find some milk as we go on." + +They went on for a long way, through the fields and woods, and kept out +of the way of men and boys. + + + + +XXVII + +THE BIG SHEEP-DOG + + +At last, at a time when they had not looked well ahead, they heard a +loud bark, and saw a great sheep-dog racing after them, as if he would +break his neck. + +"Oh!" cried Bow-Wow. + +"Oh--h!" cried Mew-Mew. + +They did not know what to do. + +"We must run up a tree," said the cat. + +"But I cannot run up a tree," said the dog. + +"I am sure I cannot help you," cried Mew-Mew, and she ran with all her +might. + +[Illustration] + +There was a large tree close by; Mew-Mew flew up it, and was quite +safe. + +What would poor Bow-Wow do? + +The great dog came up. He did not give Bow-Wow time to speak, but fell +on him, and began to roll him over and over on the hard ground. + +"Oh, Mew-Mew! Mew-Mew!" cried he, calling upon the only friend he had. + +"What do you mean by 'Mew-Mew'?" said the big dog. + +And he laid hold of Bow-Wow's neck, and gave him such a shake, as if he +would shake his life out of him. + +Mew-Mew, up in the tree, you may be sure, sat as still as a mouse. + +"Oh! let me go! and I will never--never--" cried Bow-Wow, with his +voice getting fainter at each word. + +The big dog had such a hold of Bow-Wow, that he was not able to say +what it was that he would never do. + +"It is all over with me," he said to himself; and he shut his eyes and +gave himself up for lost. + + + + +XXVIII + +BOW-WOW IS BADLY HURT + + +Just then a loud call was heard. + +"Come off, Rex! Do you hear? Come off, lad!" + +The big dog just lifted his head at the sound, and so gave Bow-Wow time +to get his breath, but he kept him fast on the ground. + +"Come off, you bad dog!" said the man again. + +It was not till he had called a good many times, that the big dog gave +poor Bow-Wow a last shake, and then ran off to the man. + +As soon as he was quite gone, Bow-Wow, who had not dared open his lips +before, began to groan with all his might. + +"Oh!" he said. "Oh! oh!" + +They were such sad groans, that they made Mew-Mew's heart, as she sat +in the tree, quite come into her mouth. + +"What shall I do? Shall I come down, Bow-Wow?" she said. + +But Bow-Wow would not hear her, and only groaned more and more. + +"Oh, dear! dear! I do think he is dying," cried Mew-Mew; and she came +down from the tree, though she could but just stand for fear. + +"Bow-Wow! can you speak?" she called out, as soon as she was down. + +"Do not come near me," said the little dog, in a low voice. + + + + +XXIX + +PUSS TURNS NURSE + + +Mew-Mew gave a look all round, and as the sheep-dog was nowhere in +sight, she came to where Bow-Wow lay. + +"Go away! leave me!" said Bow-Wow. + +"Leave you! Never!" cried the cat. "Oh! my poor dear, dear Bow-Wow! +Why, you are badly hurt!" + +"If I am badly hurt you are quite safe, at any rate," said Bow-Wow. + +"You run away, and leave your friend to get badly hurt, do you not?" + +"Ah! but is it not a good thing that I did run away? + +Who would nurse you now if I were hurt too?" + +There was something in that, so Bow-Wow said no more about it. + +Mew-Mew began to run over the things she could do for Bow-Wow: how she +would put him to bed, get him some drink, and kill a bird for him. + +Bow-Wow said he would like some food, and that if he had a very fine +bird, he would try to eat some of it. + +[Illustration] + +Mew-Mew went off to find a fine bird. + +But go where she would, up and down, not a bird could she get. + +The land just there had few trees. There did not seem to be a bird in +the place. + + + + +XXX + +CROSS WORDS + + +She ran up the trees, she hid in the wheat, yet she saw but six birds +in an hour, and these all got away. + +She went back to Bow-Wow with a sad face. + +"You have come back at last," Bow-Wow said as soon as he saw her. +"Come! make haste. Where are the birds?" + +"Oh, Bow-Wow, I cannot find any." + +"You cannot find any birds?" + +"Not one! It is the worst place I ever was in," and she began to sob as +if her heart would break. + +"You ought to have done better," said Bow-Wow. + +"It is your work to find food. I told you so." + +"And it is your part to take care of us on the way, and you have done +that well, have you not?" said Mew-Mew. + +"You have not much to talk about, anyhow," said Bow-Wow. + +"If I have not, I might have had, for all your good lookout," said the +cat. + +Thus they grew very cross. + +I dare say they might even have come to blows, if it had not been that +Bow-Wow was not able to stand. + +After a while they made up their cross words. + +[Illustration] + +As poor Bow-Wow felt ill, they could not go on. + +No food was to be had. + +They lay down just in that place, each rolled into a tight ball, and +soon fell asleep. + + + + +XXXI + +HOW THE RUNAWAYS FARED + + +They slept the rest of that day. + +In the night rain began to fall. This made them wake up. + +Bow-Wow was just able to walk to a tree, the same tree that Mew-Mew had +used to hide in. The rain did not come so hard, close up to the trunk +of the tree. + +It would take too long to tell you of all this little dog and cat had +to bear, for many days. + +Often without food, in the wind and the rain, and on the cold ground at +night, what a change after the good home they had left! + +Day by day they grew more thin and weak. + +Bow-Wow's black coat was all rusty and dusty; his bones looked as if +they must come through his skin. + +As for Mew-Mew's fur, you would not think it ever could have been white +at all, it was in such a sad state. + +[Illustration] + +She used to wash her paws, and her face, two or three times a day; she +would have done more if she could. + +Once they went near a house, in the hope that some food might be given +them, but some bad boys cast stones at them, and drove them away. + +They had to run for their lives. + + + + +XXXII + +KIND FRIENDS + + +One night, after they had had no food all day, they saw a little boy +and girl on the road, and the boy and girl saw them. + +They did not run away at the sight of a dog, as some boys and girls +would have done. + +[Illustration] + +When they saw how thin and poor the dog and cat were, they took out of +their bag some bread, which they had left from dinner, and fed them. + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew were very glad to have the food, and would have +gone home with their young friends. + +But the boy said, "No, you must not come home with us. We do not know +you. + +We have a big dog in the yard at home. Rex would kill you, if you came +to our house." + + + + +XXXIII + +BAD BLOWS + + +The one thing in their minds now was, how to get home once more. + +They could never agree who was most to blame that they had run away. + +Mew-Mew said that all the blame lay with Bow-Wow; and Bow-Wow said that +Mew-Mew was quite as much to blame as he was, and more so. + +Mew-Mew could not bear this. + +Weak as she was, she made a spring at Bow-Wow, and gave him such a box +on the ears, that he, being very weak too, fell right down. + +[Illustration] + +When he got on his legs again, he flew at Mew-Mew. + +One might think they would have killed each other on the spot; but they +were not so strong as they had been, and could not fight long. + +After they could fight no more, they would not speak a word for half an +hour. + +Then Mew-Mew, with her kind heart, said, "I am sure I did not mean to +hurt you, Bow-Wow!" + +And Bow-Wow said, "Let us not think or say any more about it. + +It is very sad that we cannot live without cross words and bad blows. + +But what are we to do? How are we to live?" + +"I wish we were dead," said Mew-Mew. + +"We soon shall be," said Bow-Wow. + +"But why did we ever, ever run away?" asked Mew-Mew. + + + + +XXXIV + +THOUGHTS OF HOME + + +Mew-Mew had asked this a good many times before and Bow-Wow had said, +"We did it for the best." + +To-day he only gave a great groan. + +"We had such a good home!" said Mew-Mew. + +"We had!" said Bow-Wow. + +"There was food for us at all times." + +"There was!" + +"We had a fire all the year round to keep us warm." + +"It got too warm sometimes." + +"It never was too warm for me." + +"There were the chicks in the yard, that we did not like." + +"Yes, and the pigs." + +"And the ducks, and the horse, and the cow. Yet they did us no harm." + +"Well, no! I cannot say they did; that is, if we left them alone." + +Bow-Wow did not forget how the pigs trod on him in the sty. + +Mew-Mew went on: "But we gave up our good home, we left the lady who +was so kind to us, and here we are with no food, cold, and wet, and +nearly dead. Oh! Bow-Wow." + +"Oh! Mew-Mew!" + +They each had as sad a face as you ever saw in your life. + +"We may get home yet," said the dog. + +"Ah, if we could!" said the cat. + + + + +XXXV + +WHERE WAS HOME? + + +In what way did home lie? They had gone now to the right hand, now to +the left hand, now to the north, now to the south. + +How to find the way by which they had come first, they could not tell. + +They could but walk on, and on, and on; and their poor little weak legs +felt many a pain. + +"We can but go on till we die, Bow-Wow," said Mew-Mew. + +They went on, and never knew the least bit in the world where they were +going. + +Sometimes when the sun rose, they had not the heart to get up at all. + +They would lie still, with their eyes shut, and try to sleep as long +as they could, that they might not think of their pains. + +[Illustration] + +When they had gone long with no food, they could not sleep, but would +creep close to each other, or would sit and look at each other in a +kind of fear. + + + + +XXXVI + +PUSS FALLS ILL + + +At last one night came, when poor little Mew-Mew lay quite flat on the +ground, and put out her four paws. + +She said in a very quiet way, "I can walk no more. + +When the day comes, you must say good-by to me and go on alone." + +"Oh! Mew-Mew," cried Bow-Wow, and he went to her side and sat down. + +The tears came into his eyes so fast that he could not see. + +"I will stay here if you must stay, Mew-Mew," said Bow-Wow. "I will +stay here and die too." + +"Oh, no, dear Bow-Wow; you may get home yet." + +"What good would it do me to get home alone?" + +"You could tell the lady how hard we tried to get home. + +I should like to have her know how hard we tried, and how sorry we +were." + +"But she will never know it," said Bow-Wow. "I shall never find her. I +cannot go on alone. I will not leave you." + + + + +XXXVII + +THE OLD FARM-HOUSE + + +They lay down to sleep. It was a dark cold night. They crept close, +that they might not feel the cold so much. + +Bow-Wow could not sleep: he thought every hour would be Mew-Mew's last. + +But the hours passed on, and she still drew her breath in the same +short way. + +She was alive when the sun rose. + +It had been night when they had come to this place--quite dark. + +When the light came, what do you think Bow-Wow saw? + +As soon as his eyes were open, and this was just as the birds began to +sing, he saw, not far off, the farm-house at home. + +[Illustration] + +There it was; and the sun shone on the warm tile roof, and on the old +stone walls. + +There it was, with the barn-yard and the stacks of hay. + +Bow-Wow knew them every one. + +He gave one long look, and then such a bark, that even made poor sick +Mew-Mew wake. + + + + +XXXVIII + +HOME + + +"Oh, Bow-Wow, what is it?" she said. + +But Bow-Wow could not tell. + +Not a word would come from him save one. + +He ran round and round as if he were wild. + +"HOME! HOME! HOME!" he cried. + +Yes, it was home at last. + +Mew-Mew could see it. There it was, the red house lit up by the sun. + +But poor Mew-Mew could not walk to it. + +[Illustration] + +Bow-Wow ran off to the house, and in some way or other, as dogs often +will, made one of the men come to the place where Mew-Mew lay. + +He took Mew-Mew in his arms, to her long-lost home. + + + + +XXXIX + +TELL US MORE + + +But some little boy or girl will say, "Tell us more. + +Tell me,--did Mew-Mew die? + +Did the lady take Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew into the house again? + +What did she do for them, if she took them in? + +Did puss ever get her white coat again? + +And if they both got quite well again, were they good or bad +afterward?" + +I will tell you. + +The lady was very glad to see her pets home once more. + +They were in such a sad way that she did not whip them. + +[Illustration] + +She gave Mew-Mew a cup of warm milk before the fire. + +Bow-Wow had a great lump of meat with no bone. + +Then each of them had a warm bath, and Mew-Mew was put to bed. + +As to Mew-Mew's coat, she washed it so often, and took such care of it, +that in a few weeks it grew long and was quite white again. + +And I am glad to be able to add, that Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew were as good +a little dog and cat ever after, as you and I could wish them to be. + + + + +ABOUT THE BOOK + + +Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew is one of the few books for beginners in reading +that may be classed as literature. Written in words of mostly one +syllable, it has a story to tell, which is related in so attractive a +manner as to immediately win the favor of young children. It teaches +English and English literature to the child in the natural way: through +a love for the reading matter. It is the character of story that will, +in the not distant future, replace the ordinary primer or reader +with detached sentences, and which seldom possesses any relation to +literature. + +The ultimate objects of any story can only be effected through the +_love_ for a story. The prominent point in this story is development +of good character, which may well be regarded as the highest purpose +of education. The transformation from bad to good traits in the dog +and cat cannot but have a desirable effect on every child that reads +the story. Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew become dissatisfied with their home and +their surroundings, and ungrateful toward their benefactress. As the +story tells, "They did not find good in any thing." But after running +away and suffering hunger, neglect, and bad treatment, their characters +begin to change. They naturally come to reflect their mistress's +goodness. They learn the value of companionship and friendship, and +the appreciation of a home. However, the ethical thoughts in the story +are presented without a moral. The child really _lives_ the scenes +described. He has the emotions of the characters and feels their +convictions. And this determines the worth of a story as an agent in +character development. + +The narrative furnishes, further, the proper kind of exercise for +the imagination. It affords abundant opportunity for the play of the +dramatic instinct in the child, and effects a happy union of the "home +world" and the "school world." The illustrations, drawn by Miss Hodge, +have been planned and executed with considerable care. + + J. C. S. + + + + +GOOD BOOKS FOR CHILDREN'S READING + +For children from five to ten years + + +=Nonsense Rhymes and Animal Stories.= By Alhambra G. Deming. + +Charming little rhymes and stories, incidentally teaching habits of +good English to the little folks. 64 pages, with 35 illustrations in +black and color. _Cloth, 65 cents._ + +=The Teenie Weenies.= By William Donahey and Effie E. Baker. + +The adventures of these strange tiny folks are related in a manner that +is delightfully simple and realistic, and which will be found to appeal +to the child's sense of humor. 141 pages, with 72 illustrations in +colors and decorated end sheets. _Cloth, 70 cents._ + +=Two Indian Children of Long Ago.= By Frances Lillian Taylor. + +A collection of beautiful Indian legends, giving an intimate picture of +Indian child life. 160 pages, with 40 illustrations in black and color. +_Cloth, 70 cents._ + +=Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land.=. By Joseph C. Sindelar. + +This is the first of the popular NIXIE BUNNY BOOKS which have been read +wherever there are children. It is a rabbit story of good manners. +144 pages, with 62 illustrations in colors and decorated end sheets. +_Cloth, 70 cents._ + + +The other books in the same series are: + +=Nixie Bunny in Workaday-Land= + +A rabbit story of the occupations and industry. 144 pages, with 90 +illustrations in colors and decorated end sheets. _Cloth, 70 cents._ + +=Nixie Bunny in Holiday-Land= + +A rabbit story of the holidays. 159 pages, with 82 illustrations in +colors and decorated end sheets. _Cloth, 70 cents._ + +=Nixie Bunny in Faraway-Lands= + +A rabbit story of strange little folk. 160 pages, with 94 illustrations +in colors and decorated end sheets. _Cloth, 70 cents._ + + +BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY _Publishers_ CHICAGO + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bow-Wow and Mew-Mew, by Georgiana M. Craik + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44914 *** |