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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-06 20:50:19 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-06 20:50:19 -0800 |
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diff --git a/77634-h/77634-h.htm b/77634-h/77634-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ae94ef --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/77634-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4541 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Peter makes good and stories of other dogs | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} +h3.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xlarge {font-size: 140%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77634 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<h1>PETER MAKES GOOD<br> +<small>AND STORIES OF OTHER DOGS</small></h1> + +<p><i>by</i><br> +<span class="large">GERTRUDE THOMAS</span></p> + +<p><i>With<br> +Twenty Full-Page Illustrations<br> +by</i><br> +DOROTHY SAUNDERS</p> + +<p><span class="xlarge">BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY, <span class="smcap">Publishers</span></span><br> +<span class="large">CHICAGO</span></p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1929,</span><br> +<span class="smcap">by</span><br> +<span class="smcap">Beckley-Cardy Company</span><br> +<i>All Rights Reserved</i><br> +<br> +<br> +Printed in the United States of America</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> + +<table> +<tr><th colspan="2">PETER MAKES GOOD</th></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">A Dog Family</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_5"> 5</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Peter’s New Home</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_10"> 10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Getting Acquainted</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_18"> 18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Peter on the Farm</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_31"> 31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">New Scenes</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_38"> 38</a></td></tr> + + +<tr><th colspan="2">THE TATTLERS</th></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Pixie and Bob</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_47"> 47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Judge Airedale</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61"> 61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Petite and Bob Tell Their Stories</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76"> 76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Police Dog Stories</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_83"> 83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Fritz, Who Knew Only German</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_90"> 90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Gyp, the Garbage Man’s Dog</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99"> 99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Laundress’s Dog</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_107"> 107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Devotion of Whitey</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_115"> 115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Russian Princess</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_118"> 118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Milkman’s Dog Dan</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121"> 121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Whippets</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125"> 125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Fire-Fighting Dogs</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133"> 133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Judge’s Story</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_144"> 144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Jack the Traveler</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151"> 151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Tom and Daniel</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173"> 173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">The Blind Man’s Dog</span></td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177"> 177</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">LIST OF FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peter Learns a Lesson</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_7"> 7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peter Sees Fluff for the First Time</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15"> 15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Fluff and the Three Aristocrats</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_24"> 24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peter Tries to Put Out a Fire</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29"> 29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peter Helps Bring the Cattle from the Pasture</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33"> 33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Pixie and Bob</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_46"> 46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>“Judge Was Always Being Called Upon to Decide”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59"> 59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Petite and Princess</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_65"> 65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Gyp and the Dachshunds</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_68"> 68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Comical Young Airedale Terrier</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79"> 79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Fritz Supplied the Wood for the Fire</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_92"> 92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ted Performed Many Stunts to Entertain the Sailors</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95"> 95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Simon Peter and Buff</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_111"> 111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Whitey and Her Mistress</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_114"> 114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>“They Would Chase Rabbits or Any Game They Could Scare Up”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129"> 129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bill Saves His Master</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_135"> 135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Duke Wins Honors</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_141"> 141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>“The Fight Was On”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_161"> 161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A Battle Between the Two Warriors</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175"> 175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Job Was “Eyes for the Blind”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_180"> 180</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> + +<h2 class="nobreak">PETER MAKES GOOD</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak">A DOG FAMILY</h3> +</div> + + +<p>The Coleman family were in possession of a +roly-poly, fuzzy, brown-and-white pup named +Peter, called Pete for short. Peter was a combination +of several breeds of dogs. He had good +and bad relations on both sides of the house, +but his nearest kin, which were, of course, his +father, Shep, and his Scotch collie mother, Susie, +were very worthy dogs. They were not quarrelsome +nor dishonest, lived peaceably with the +house cat, and never tortured a rabbit before +they killed it. Indeed, in all dogdom Susie +and Shep were considered honorable citizens.</p> + +<p>It was on account of this excellent record of +the parent dogs that these good people were +wanting ones of their likely offspring. They felt +sure that a member of a family so worthy +would grow up to be a useful dog.</p> + +<p>Susie had tried to train Pete to be polite, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span>and to observe the Golden Rule in his conduct +toward cats and other animals less fortunate +than himself. His father had given him a cuff +on the side of the head when he found him running +off with Betty’s shoe, and told him that +“dogs who wished to grow up into leading +citizens in dogdom didn’t steal young ladies’ +shoes and chew the toes off them.” Then he +made Pete take the shoe to his mistress, lay it +at her feet, and wag his tail in apology.</p> + +<p>In this way, these parents tried to instill +into their son all the good principles they could +before he should go out into the wide, wide +world. In Pete’s case, this meant being taken +in a basket to his new home at Coleman’s.</p> + +<p>Pete’s parting with his home folks was pathetic. +All that week he was favored above his +brothers and sisters. The day before his departure, +his father, Shep, took him slyly aside +and whispered in his ear, “Follow me, but do +not let even your mother know about it.”</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_007.jpg" width="450" height="610" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Peter Learns a Lesson</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>So Pete watched his chance and, when Susie +was taking her afternoon nap and others +were playing tag, he sniffed about until he took +up the trail to the garden. There he saw his +dad digging in the ground. Finally Shep unearthed +a well seasoned bone. What a treat +Pete was to have, in being allowed to dine with +his father off one end of that juicy, earth-flavored +bone! There was no criticism of his table manners. +What if he did fill his mouth too full +and make a noise when he ate? Nothing was +said about it, which was unusual, for his dad +was a stickler for correct eating. Another +time Pete would have been sent away from the +feast, had he been greedy and asked for a +third helping, but to-day, how different! For +once he was allowed to put both paws on that +sweet bone and to gnaw and gnaw, while his +dad stood off smiling approval.</p> + +<p>Peter wished there was no wide world to go +out into. Why, he was just beginning to get +along well at home. His brothers and sisters +envied him, and what satisfaction he got out +of having them all jealous of him—so nearly +human was this little piece of dog flesh. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span>other pups’ eyes fairly bulged and turned green +when they saw Susie tucking him tenderly in, +the night before he was to leave his home.</p> + +<p>How fondly she licked him, paying particular +attention to his ears, to make sure they +were clean. Now these very ears were always +a source of dispute at other times. Many a +cuffing Pete had received when they would not +bear inspection. But to-night how gentle was +her touch, what pathos in her whine, as she +bade him good night! Susie was going through +a crisis, such as comes to every mother when +her family circle is broken, and one of her beloved +ones goes out from the home nest. She +wanted him to be an honor to her and his father. +Would he?</p> + +<p>We shall see.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">PETER’S NEW HOME</h3> +</div> + +<p>The next day Peter was transported to his +new home. So great was the excitement over +making the change, that many things Susie +had intended to say to him in the way of +good advice were forgotten. With a great +lump in her throat, which mothers are apt +to have on such occasions, she bade him good-by +forever.</p> + +<p>After the thrill of his first ride in an automobile, +Pete arrived at his new home, where +he was greeted by his new master and mistress. +They were a pair of chubby youngsters +of four and five years, who looked enough alike +to be twins. There being only one year’s difference +in their ages accounted for this.</p> + +<p>Their names were Mabel and Ralph. Both +had brown eyes, and their hair was almost the +color of Peter’s coat. They were delighted to +see Peter, with his brown eyes and his coat of +brown and tan, so soft and fuzzy. They +laughed at his funny little tail. And his silken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span>ears—as the little girl rubbed one of them +against her cheek, Peter gave a sigh of relief +because they were clean.</p> + +<p>This episode of the ears reminded him of +home and his mother, just as other sons who +have left home for the first time have had their +memories of their mothers jogged. Peter gulped +down the lump that came into his little throat; +he must be brave. That was one of the things +Shep had emphasized in his advice. He had +said, “Bravery is the greatest asset for a dog.”</p> + +<p>After each of the children had had a good +“snuggle” at him, he was given his dinner on +a beautiful blue plate, all his own. This was +nice, but in all his life he had never before eaten +alone. How <i>could</i> he eat, with no one to push +and crowd him, and no dad to tell him when +he had had enough? When he took a mouthful +of really good bread and gravy, it almost +choked him. Then, those wide-eyed youngsters +were watching every bite he ate, making him +feel so self-conscious that he simply could not +remember his table manners. He put his paws +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span>on his plate, and made a noise chewing his food. +At home, every scrap was eaten, and the plate +cleaned in a tidy way, ready for the next meal. +His orderly mother would have been ashamed +of him, if she could have seen the mess he was +making of this, his first meal in his new home.</p> + +<p>A survey of the premises was next in order. +He was shown his bedroom, which was a box on +the back porch. It was large enough for him +to stretch out in and be very comfortable. It +looked about right, but it lacked the “homey” +odor of his former bed. It was too fresh and +clean.</p> + +<p>Then Pete had his first touch of homesickness. +These youngsters were all right, as youngsters +go, but they were not to be compared +for company to a family of rollicking puppies. +What did they know about a game of tug-of-war +with an old sock, or of ball with a lump of +coal, and other delightful dog games? With +a contemptuous shrug of his shoulders, he went +on with his investigations.</p> + +<p>Out on the window sill, where the sun shone +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span>warmly, was something that attracted his attention. +Going closer to see more clearly, he +observed a creature which was something new +to him. It seemed to be a bundle of fuzzy fur, +with a head at one end, and something at the +other end that looked a little like the feather +duster the puppies used to play with at home.</p> + +<p>The head was loose, too, for now it was +turning. It opened two eyes, and then a mouth, +and yawned. All at once, something happened. +Down the creature pounced, right on Pete’s +back. He was still uncertain what it was, until +it began to spit and snarl. As all cats snarl +and spit about alike, Pete knew it must be +some kind of a cat, but how different from the +cats which he had known. All his former cat +acquaintances had worn sleek coats with spots +or striped, and they had had long, slim tails, +or no tails at all. A Manx cat he had known +had no tail.</p> + +<p>Fluff, for that was the cat’s name, was as +much astonished as Peter was, at what she was +encountering. This was something unlike anything +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span>she had ever seen before. Something told +her it was akin to her old enemy, the dog, but +how harmless this one seemed! Nothing but +the wag of his ridiculous little tail was at all +doglike.</p> + +<p>They surveyed each other for a while. Then +Peter remembered his mother’s advice about +following the Golden Rule with cats, especially +when the cat had the advantage, as was the +situation now. Turning, he ran back to his +bedroom for a nap, as so much excitement had +wearied him.</p> + +<p>Hopping into his box, he turned around twice +before he lay down. Soon he was asleep. When +he awoke, it was dark. Where was he? Nosing +around, he could find no bedfellow, nothing +that was familiar, and then he realized how +homesick he was. He wanted his mother +and he began to cry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_015.jpg" width="450" height="610" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Peter Sees Fluff for the First Time</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>Upstairs somewhere, awake in a snug, warm +bed, lay a little boy. He heard that pitiful cry, +and felt his own little heart ache with pity for +the baby dog. He listened for a while. Then, +unable to stand it any longer, he slipped out of +bed. Tiptoeing his way, so that no one would +hear him, the boy went out on the cold back +porch to the puppy. Taking Pete under his +warm bathrobe, he slipped as quietly back to +bed. The puppy was “snuggled” in Ralph’s +arms, and soon dog and boy were fast asleep. +Thus a bond of affection was established between +these two that proved lasting and true, +as we shall see.</p> + +<p>The better acquainted Peter got with his +new friends, the better he liked them, especially +the boy and the girl. With the latter, however, +he felt as if he were not in full favor. She seemed +to prefer petting that presumptuous, fluffy cat, +rather than him. He was not quite sure, but he +thought he overheard some such conversation +as this between them:</p> + +<p>“Fluffy, you must be nice to our new puppy. +You know he is <i>only</i> a little doggie.”</p> + +<p>There was considerable emphasis laid on the +“only.” For some reason which Pete did not +stop to analyze, he determined he would show +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>this pair, the girl and the cat, a few things, when +he ceased to be “only a <i>little</i> doggie,” and became +a real dog.</p> + +<p>Life at this new home was very pleasant for +Pete. The little boy and he had so much fun, +that he soon forget the home he had left. He +never knew how his mother missed him, for, +although more puppies came to bless and cheer +her heart, still she could never forget Pete.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">GETTING ACQUAINTED</h3> +</div> + +<p>The Coleman children went to school every +day. The maid went with them across the street, +and called for them when they were to return. +This left Pete and the cat at home together. +They were not getting on very well. Fluff +was haughty and disdainful, and she was entirely +too free with her claws, which Pete soon learned +she hid from sight in those soft, insinuating +paws of hers.</p> + +<p>After a while Peter became more and more +venturesome. Peering through the back fence to +see what was going on across the way, he saw the +home of the aristocratic Boston bull that Fluff +feared. Pete would stand with his nose through +the fence, watching and learning just how a +grown-up dog did act, and he wondered if he +would ever grow up to do those wonderful things.</p> + +<p>One day he saw that majestic creature catching +flies. Sitting in front of his kennel, the +Boston bull would wait until a fly would light +on his nose. Then, after giving his head a shake +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>to shoo it off, he would snap it up. This was +interesting to Pete. He decided to try it.</p> + +<p>He went off and lay down. He waited a +while, pretending to be asleep, but keeping one +eye open. At last he heard a buzzing sound. +Some kind of flying creature was near. It was +aiming for a seat on his nose. Now, a shake, +a snap—he had it! How thrilling! He would +try it again, but it would not be necessary to +keep even one eye open. He closed both. +Buzz-z-z-z! Another fly was coming. Still as +a mouse Pete lay waiting. Then all at once +Pete let out a piercing yelp. The fly had proven +to be a bee. Pete was stung! After the first +shock was over, he thought of something else +his father had told him. He had said always +to keep one eye on every venture. Pete resolved +not to get stung again.</p> + +<p>The days sometimes seemed very long to Pete. +The cat couldn’t or wouldn’t play. She liked +sunning herself in a lazy fashion on the window +sill. He must find some other means of diversion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>When the laundress was hanging up the +clothes to dry, he would help by taking the +clothespins in his mouth and handing them +to her. Sometimes some hidden trait in his +make-up prompted him to take toll of the +clothespins when the laundress was not looking. +No doubt this was an echo from some +of those inferior relations on one or the other +side of his ancestral house. Still, it was a +natural tendency, as all dogs like to chew clothespins. +It sharpens their teeth.</p> + +<p>Pete was getting braver and braver every day, +and was learning more and more about his +new home. By keeping his eyes open and watching +the behavior of other dogs, he was developing +into an intelligent pup. He and Ralph +were real pals, and what the dog was not able +to find out for himself, the boy would teach +him, and Pete’s devotion to his teacher was +marvelous.</p> + +<p>When the children started for school, Pete +would follow at their heels until the curb was +reached. In the afternoon he would watch until +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>the maid returned with them. Then one +morning they had to go alone. When they hesitated +at the street crossing, Pete ran out in the +middle of the street and barked in front of all the +oncoming cars, thus holding up the traffic until +Ralph and Mabel were safely across. In +the afternoon he watched for them and repeated +the performance.</p> + +<p>One morning, when he had seen the children +safely across, he discovered that Mabel had +lost her book. Dodging in front of a big truck, +he seized the book in his mouth and ducked +just in time to keep from getting struck. Then +he raced after the children to deliver the book +to its little owner.</p> + +<p>The pup grew in grace and charm, as well as +wisdom. His fuzzy covering was gone, and with +it had vanished many of his puppy ways. He +had grown into a fine looking dog. One could +scarcely recognize the little woolly pup in this +beautiful brown, shading into tan, animal. He +had a natty white vest and one white forefoot. +His tail curled over his back like a plume; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>his greatest charm was his eyes. They were +brown and amber now, and they almost +twinkled with intelligence when he was spoken +to.</p> + +<p>Ralph was very proud of him, and entered +him in all the dog shows, although Pete never +won any medals, because of his lack of pedigree. +Had a prize been given for real worth and +good character, he would have carried off the +blue ribbon, for Pete was well raised and had +good training.</p> + +<p>Some pedigreed animals, and some pedigreed +people are snobbish and rude. Such was the +case with the Boston bull on the other side of +the fence, and with some others in this exclusive +neighborhood. This was brought forcibly +to Pete’s attention one morning. After +he had piloted the children across the street, +on returning to his own curb, he heard loud +barking around the corner. Curious to know +what was the cause of it all, he ran in the direction +of the noise.</p> + +<p>Imagine his surprise and indignation at what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>he saw! Up a tree, just beyond the reach of +their upturned noses, was Fluff, Mabel’s cat, +driven there by three of the aristocrats, and +held at bay by their, to her, bloodcurdling +yelps. The Boston bull seemed to be in charge. +His confederates were a prize-winning Airedale, +with a pedigree reaching back through countless +generations, and a German police dog, whose +ancestors had been trained to torment French +prisoners, away back during the Franco-Prussian +war. With murderous motives these three +had Fluff surrounded when Pete appeared on +the scene.</p> + +<p>Without stopping to consider that he was +apparently outmatched, Pete sprang at their +heels, snapping and biting first one and then +another, until he had their attention drawn +from the cat. Then he started to run, with the +three in pursuit. This was what he wanted. +By keeping several jumps ahead of them, he got +to his own door just as someone was coming out, +and he bounded inside. Meantime Fluff had not +let any grass grow under her feet; she had +arrived at the back door first. Once inside, +she did a very unusual thing. Approaching +Pete, she rubbed her sides against his legs, +purring her thanks; and she never forget this +act of gallantry which he had performed for her. +There may have been no blue blood in this +dog, but this episode proved that there were +no yellow streaks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_024.jpg" width="450" height="615" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Fluff and the Three Aristocrats</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span>Ralph was growing into a big boy, and was +engaged in the activities and sports that the +average boy of his age enjoys. He was a member +of the Boy Scouts, and of the “Sand Lot Ball +Team”; but his love for Peter was as great as +ever. He always wanted his dog with him in +his sports, and Pete, appreciating this, proved +himself a boon companion.</p> + +<p>Any game that Pete did not sanction by a +smile and a wag of his tail was not entered into +with much zest. When a game with a competing +team was scheduled to come off, it was talked +over with Pete somewhat in this fashion:</p> + +<p>“Well, old pal, what do you think about it? +Are we going to win? You know Bud Sanders, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span>Pete—he’s one of their best pitchers; but of +course our team can show something just as +good. If you say so, we will beat them.”</p> + +<p>Then Pete would stretch out, yawn, and +make a noise that Ralph always knew meant +either yes or no; it all depended on the +expression of the dog’s countenance when he +made it. If the prediction were favorable for +their team, boy and dog would start for the +diamond, full of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Pete would enter into the spirit of the game +along with the boys, and would watch the ball +with quivering excitement, when Ralph sent it +flying and made a home run. Before Jack could +bring it back, Pete seemed to know just where +that ball dropped to earth, and would beat +the boys to it, bringing it to the pitcher and +dropping it at his feet.</p> + +<p>Sometimes an argument would start on the +field of combat, and Ralph would be surrounded +by a loud-mouthed, fist-shaking +squad. Pete would edge his way through and +take a position near his master, wag his tail +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span>slowly, and listen intently, as if asking what it +was all about, and weighing the pros and cons. +Ralph would reach down, pat him on the head +and ask, “Which way was it, old pal?”</p> + +<p>Not always were the other boys willing to +take Pete’s decision, and the matter might be +left to the referee; but always Pete stood valiantly +by his master in every matter.</p> + +<p>By this time the bull dog next door had +learned to have more respect for Peter. A boy +about Ralph’s age had come to live with his +master and mistress. He was a nice boy, and +he and Ralph were very good friends. Both +were good scouts and, as they were together a +great deal, the dogs, after a few encounters, +learned to endure, if not to like, one another.</p> + +<p>They accompanied the boys on hikes and, +one day, when the boys and their two dogs were +going gaily through the woods, kicking up the +dry leaves, Pete, the younger and more active +dog, ran on ahead and out of sight of the boys. +Soon they heard a great barking. Hurrying +along, they found Pete pawing and stamping +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>in an attempt to put out a fire that was just +starting from a cigarette, which had been carelessly +thrown among the dry leaves.</p> + +<p>The boys finished extinguishing the fire, and +then turned their attention to Pete, whose feet +were burned. They knew the burns must be +extremely painful. Feeling very sorry for the +dog, and full of enthusiastic admiration for his +splendid courage, they made a litter for him, +such as they would have made for one of +their own scout comrades. The boys carried +Pete home, and the bull dog kept close to his +master’s heels, so as not to be left entirely out.</p> + +<p>Peter’s mother, Susie, would have been very +proud if she had known her son was the means +of saving the countryside from a destructive +fire.</p> + +<p>Shep, no doubt, would have said, “I knew +Pete would amount to something.”</p> + +<p>Reaching home, the boys treated Pete’s sore +feet with a healing salve and made him comfortable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_029.jpg" width="450" height="612" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Peter Tries to Put Out a Fire</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>It is uncertain whether or not dogs can communicate +with each other, but, by some means, +the news got abroad that Pete was laid up, and +every dog in the neighborhood came to call. +It was suspected that the bull had something +to do with it, as he seemed to be master of +ceremonies. His admiration for Pete seemed +suddenly to have increased. After each dog +had sniffed at Pete’s sore paws, they raced off.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">PETER ON THE FARM</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was now vacation time and Pete and his +master were anticipating a good time. Ralph +and Mabel usually spent a part of the time on +their grandfather’s farm, and Pete was going +along. At Grandfather’s there were two small +dogs, but that would be all right with Pete, +who acted in a big-brotherly way toward them, +sharing with them whatever he had to eat.</p> + +<p>There was just one quarter from which Peter +would allow no interference. That was from a +goat that roamed at will over the place. Until +this visit to the farm, he had never seen a goat. +His first encounter with this one had been quite +disastrous to Pete’s pride; so, having no wish to +repeat the set-to, he left the goat with the butting +disposition severely alone.</p> + +<p>Although Pete, in accordance with his good +mother’s teachings, was generous with the small +dogs, there was one thing he would not permit. +That was their following him to the bone cemetery. +This was forbidden ground. Out in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>orchard, under the apple trees, where the earth +was mellow, was his favorite, exclusive spot.</p> + +<p>If Pete observed the others following him to +the orchard, he would chase them back and tell +them to stay there. Then he would feast and +enjoy to his heart’s content the gnawing of +those delicious, earth-seasoned morsels. This +always carried him back to the time when his +father and he had gnawed the bone in the garden +at home. Thus Shep had revealed to his son +the social side of his nature. The small dogs +learned to respect Pete’s privacy and stayed +away.</p> + +<p>Peter was trained to help Ralph bring up the +cattle from the pasture. On several occasions, +when it was raining, he brought them in alone. +In the lot was Duke, the king of the herd. +Usually he was a safe and docile animal, but one +evening something seemed to be wrong. Duke +was in an ugly mood, pawing and bellowing at +a great rate, and refusing to be lined up with +the cows.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_033.jpg" width="450" height="614" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Peter Helps Bring the Cattle from the Pasture</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>Ralph struck Duke with a gad, which was a +great mistake on the boy’s part. The animal +charged. Ralph ducked and ran for a near-by +tree, climbing up before the bull reached him.</p> + +<p>Pete did his best to help his master. He +barked and snapped at the enemy, but to no +avail. He then looked up at Ralph, as much +as to say, “What more can I do?”</p> + +<p>“Get Grandpa,” the boy called to him.</p> + +<p>Off Pete ran, over the fence, and on to the +house. In a little while, back he bounded with +Grandfather and the hired man following, with +weapons of defense to liberate the prisoner. And +so Peter proved to be the hero of the day.</p> + +<p>The summer was one of profit and pleasure +both to the dogs and the children. Grandmother +knew how to make the most delicious +cookies, which Pete shared along with the children. +He helped hunt the eggs. Finding a +nest, he would stand and wag his tail until +they got the eggs. He also assisted in rounding +up the young poultry to be shut in for the +night.</p> + +<p>When the work was all done, the children +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>and the dogs would go through the woods to +the old swimming hole. While the boy and +his sister were enjoying the water, the dogs +found many things to attract their attention. +One of them would stir up a chipmunk or a +rabbit. Then all would give chase. If the little +creature went into a hole in the ground, it fell +to Pete, as the largest and strongest, to dig it +out, while the others would stand off, barking +their encouragement. When at last he would +find it, Pete would permit no torturing of their +prey; it must be killed skillfully and at once.</p> + +<p>The time passed all too quickly. School soon +would open. Mabel and Ralph were entering +high school. Pete was now a dignified, full-grown +dog, looking like his father, Shep, but +having the gentle disposition of his mother, +Susie.</p> + +<p>Although he was not a quarrelsome dog, and +never attacked a dog smaller than himself, still +Peter was all dog. In reading these records of +this grown-up puppy’s doings, we must remember +that he was without royal ancestry. He +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>was not registered as to pedigree, but was just +an ordinary, middle-class dog, with a high sense +of honor, inherited from honest parent dogs.</p> + +<p>The bull dog, whose name was Joe, was growing +old and slow of gait. He and Pete had become +fast friends. Time had taken some of +the arrogance out of his manner. He had been +condescending in his attitude toward Pete, but +now he showed more interest and some affection. +It was pathetic to note Pete’s deference +for the old chap. Perhaps that had something +to do with his change of heart. Were they out +for a walk, Pete would run on ahead, and then +wait for the old dog to catch up, or run back +to him and walk slowly beside him.</p> + +<p>The time came when old Joe was unable to +go out. He would sit outside his kennel dozing, +having not even strength enough to snap at +the flies that bothered him. Pete spent a great +deal of time with him. He would lie nearby +sleeping, or would drink in a social way from +Joe’s drinking pan. He did many other little +comforting things to show good comradeship.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>One very warm day the dogs were panting +with the heat. Their tongues were lolling out +of their mouths, and they drank a great deal +of water, Pete taking the last drop. Soon poor +old Joe, bending down to get a drink, found the +pan dry. Pete jumped up and, taking the edge +of the pan in his mouth, ran to the screen door, +where he scratched until the cook came. Then +he lifted the empty pan to her to be filled.</p> + +<p>One morning, a short while after this hot +spell, Pete came to see his old friend, whom he +had learned really to love. The bull dog was +missing from his customary place, so Pete looked +into the kennel. There lay poor old Joe, dead. +This was Pete’s first experience with that mysterious +condition. His reaction was only normal +and doglike, for he proceeded to eat up the +remnants of the bull dog’s supper, drank all +the water, and then ran off to find a live dog to +play with. Dogs seldom show grief for their +own kind.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">NEW SCENES</h3> +</div> + +<p>The years rolled on. At last the children were +grown and ready for college, and in the fall +Ralph was to go to a university. Mabel was +to attend another school.</p> + +<p>Pete was conscious that something was +about to happen. His master would pat him +lovingly on the head, and then slip an arm +around his neck. Then he would begin talking +about going away, saying, “Well, old pal, how +are we going to stand this? Do you think you +will miss me?”</p> + +<p>Pete would kiss his young master, dog-fashion; +then he would lie down at his feet in +the most devoted way.</p> + +<p>The university to which Ralph was going +was not a great distance, sixty miles or a little +further, from his home. A trip was taken to +make arrangements about entering. Peter, +much to his delight, was allowed to go with +his master in the automobile.</p> + +<p>He took an inventory of the place where they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>went. Nothing escaped him. There seemed to +be some dogs at this school. At least, he saw +several following the young men students, and +it certainly was an ideal place for a dog to be. +Storing all these things in his mind, Pete returned +to his home, somewhat more reconciled +to have Ralph go from him, as he concluded +that all was for the best.</p> + +<p>Soon preparations were completed, and +Ralph was ready to leave, this time by train. +Peter went to the depot with the rest of the +family to see his master off. Ralph was very +brave, for he wanted to show that he was now a +man, and he thought any show of emotion was +womanish. He bade everyone farewell. Last +of all, he patted his dog affectionately, saying, +“Well, good-by, old pal.”</p> + +<p>All went well for a month or so. Pete would +wander around as if looking for something, but +he seemed to be taking his loss in a sensible way. +Then, one morning, he was missing. Nowhere +could he be found. Search and the offer of rewards +failed to bring him back. He was given +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>up as lost. The family came to the conclusion +that Pete had either been stolen or struck by an +automobile. Then a letter came from Ralph, +in which he wrote: “Whom should I see on the +campus one day, when I was returning from +class, but good old Pete?”</p> + +<p>Maybe you think that was not a joyous meeting! +Ralph did not tell all in his letter, but his +mother read between the lines, and knew there +were some tears shed. Ralph was feeling some +of the pangs of homesickness that a certain +little puppy once had felt, and the dog understood +and sympathized.</p> + +<p>Ralph by this time was comfortably established +in a fraternity house, where there were +other boys with their dogs, and Peter was at +once made a member of the group. Almost any +day Ralph could be seen crossing the campus, +his arms full of books, with Pete trotting along +at his heels. These were happy days for the +dog. The boy, too, seemed to be perfectly contented, +now that his faithful friend was with +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>Pete seemed to understand that his remaining +at college all depended upon his good behavior, +so he carried himself with dignity. He +never chased squirrels and never frightened the +children who came on the campus to play. He +was polite, and moved off the sidewalk to let +the ladies pass, showing in many ways that he +had come from a good home, where the training +had been of the right kind.</p> + +<p>Ralph was elected to play on the ball team. +Pete had not forgotten the times back home on +the sand lot, when he had helped his master +win many a game, so he was on hand to do his +bit on these occasions. However, he was not +so young as he used to be and he was not so +agile in bringing back the ball. As the other +members of the team who had dogs thought +they could get along without his help, Pete had +to be tied up when a game was on, much to his +chagrin.</p> + +<p>Ralph, who had been one of the best players +on the high school squad, was given a place on +the team when the football season commenced. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span>All went well until one day, when there was +a close game with another university, Ralph +was injured. The track was wet and slippery, +and Ralph’s ankle turned, throwing him and +wrenching his back.</p> + +<p>This unfortunate accident kept Ralph confined +to his room, and on his back for some +time. But for Peter, he would have spent many +lonely hours before he could again go to classes. +The dog would lie on the rug in front of the gas +stove, where he could keep one eye on his beloved +master.</p> + +<p>On the night of the oratorical contest all of +the boys were gone, and Ralph and Pete were +alone in the house. Having read until he was +tired, Ralph closed his eyes, and soon he was +sound asleep. Pete was lying in his customary +place before the stove. The door leading out +into the corridor was open; also one leading +onto the fire escape. Suddenly Peter began +barking and pulling at the covering on Ralph, +who awakened to find himself nearly suffocated +by smoke that filled the house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span>Ralph realized that the house was on fire, +and felt his helplessness, as he was not yet able +to walk since his accident; but something must +be done, and quickly. Dragging himself off +the couch, he managed to get his arm around +the dog’s neck, and in this way the two of them +made their way through the smoke to the fire +escape. From there, Ralph gave the alarm +and was rescued, just as the walls crumbled. +The fire had made such headway that nothing +could save the house. Had it not been for +this prince among dogs, Ralph’s life would have +gone out while he slept. Susie and Shep had +sown good seed when they taught Peter that +bravery was a good trait for a dog to have.</p> + +<p>Peter was growing old. There was no doubt +about it; he was getting stiff in his joints, and +his hearing was not so good. When he was +alone, he found it difficult to keep from being +struck by the automobiles, whose careless drivers +had no regard for life of either dog or child, +but would come tearing along at reckless speed.</p> + +<p>One day Pete was crossing to the campus, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span>when a car came in sight. It was one of those +that college boys seem to enjoy driving more +than any other kind, a rickety old bus, without +top and not much else but wheels and an engine. +In this semblance of a car were as many +boys as it would hold. They were having a +hilarious time, returning from a game.</p> + +<p>There was so much noise, as they went zig-zagging +through the street, that poor Pete became +confused and was caught under the wheels +of this death trap. Thus a precious life went +out. This was the closing of a career of one of +the most faithful of God’s creatures in the animal +kingdom. He was one who laid no claim to +anything but ordinary ability, natural instincts, +and a reaction to kind treatment that paid a +hundredfold.</p> + +<p>Ralph felt his loss so keenly that, after laying +Peter’s broken body away, he conceived the idea +of writing a book about dogs. He would depict +only the good qualities or instincts, which, +if developed, would make even yellow mongrels +into decent dogs. To the memory of his beloved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span>Peter he would dedicate a collection of +really good and true stories, with the hope that +other boys would derive, from the companionship +and knowledge of dogs, such inspiration +as had helped to develop his own character, +making him an ardent defender of all faithful +creatures.</p> + +<p>So this is how <i>The Tattlers</i> came to be written.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_046.jpg" width="450" height="609" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Pixie and Bob</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> +</div> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak">THE TATTLERS</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak">PIXIE AND BOB</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was a beautiful street where the dogs all +lived, lined on one side by stately palms. The +lawns were smooth as velvet, and always green, +in spite of the fact that it seldom rained in this +country. Flowers and clinging vines helped to +enhance the beauty. The owners of the homes +on this well kept street were rich and could afford +every luxury for themselves, as well as everything +appropriate to their respective positions.</p> + +<p>That anyone or anything could be unhappy +in such environment seemed unbelievable. However, +one little heart was aching there. It was +that of a poor little rich Pomeranian, so tiny +that the amount which had been paid for her +would cover her nicely, were it in bills.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the fact that Pixie, for that +was her name, was fondled and petted, wore +beautiful clothes, slept on a silk pillow at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>foot of her mistress’s bed, and won all the prizes +at the fancy dog shows, indeed, had every wish +gratified, she was very unhappy to-day.</p> + +<p>Pixie’s owners, who had bought her in London, +were proud of her long pedigree, which +they never failed to mention, and also that +she was registered along with dogs belonging +to the King and Queen. This was exceedingly +gratifying to everyone concerned, and the awe +with which people expressed their admiration +for a mite like her that had hobnobbed with +royalty, was astonishing.</p> + +<p>She was in this lovely home, and had nothing +to do but go through a few silly tricks, such as +sneezing when she was told to, whether she felt +like it or not. To be sure she would be rewarded +with some little bit of sweet for performing. But +the worst was to have to sit up on her haunches, +close her eyes, and say her prayers, in order that +her admirers might have a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>Pixie never felt like laughing herself, as something +in her made her feel cross at such times. +Besides, where did her mistress get that idea of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>saying prayers in that way? Pixie never saw her +mistress say prayers in that or any other way. +If she had, would she have liked to be laughed +at?</p> + +<p>These were only a few of the things this mite +of a dog, who was worth her weight in gold, had +to trouble her, for she was possessed as we have +seen of a small organ necessary to her existence, +called a heart. This, we like to think, was +susceptible to emotions similar to those of +others of God’s creatures.</p> + +<p>That this “angel dog,” as her mistress sometimes +called her, could have a heartache never +occurred to that lady, yet just now Pixie truly was +troubled. Every morning Celeste, the French +maid, whose ancestors came from the same country +that was the home of Pixie’s, would take her +out for exercise and fresh air. Pixie loved going +to the park nearby. At the entrance, the maid +would take the leash from her collar and allow +her her liberty.</p> + +<p>Celeste would stop to visit with other maids +who had brought either children or dogs with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>them. The one with whom she was holding +conversation to-day was the Judge’s maid, who +had a young Airedale pup in tow. This young +dog was also allowed to run at large. He was +so homely and awkward that Pixie was ashamed +to be seen with him, although he, like herself, +was supposed to be of blue blood. Yet since he +belonged to their set, she felt that she must be +polite to him.</p> + +<p>He became familiar and this put Pixie on her +dignity. They started out together, but the +Pom was haughty and disdainful.</p> + +<p>“He is so common and ugly,” she thought.</p> + +<p>Pixie was not wise in her reasoning, or she +would have wanted just such a background to +show off her own beauty. How her lovely, +golden-brown coat glistened in the sun, and how +stiff, bristly and fuzzy the Airedale’s coat looked +in comparison. And such ears! And was there +anything more ridiculous than that stub of a +tail? Why, that must be why he was called +Bob. Such were the observations that Pixie +was making to herself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>Still Pixie was trying to be polite, as one in +her position in dogdom should be, but she +resented the Airedale’s friendly advances, and +when Bob challenged her to a race, she became +very cool indeed. She felt that sometimes one’s +standing required the toleration of “impossible” +dogs, but one did not have to lower her dignity +in doing so.</p> + +<p>Bob must have sensed something of what +was in this haughty lady dog’s mind, for he +began bragging. “She wasn’t so much after +all.” His master lived in a larger, finer house +than hers. Besides, his master was a Judge, +who knew about everything and owned two +dogs, real dogs—himself and his father—both +with pedigrees and family trees planted in the +north of England. They were grafted onto an +Irish terrier branch, and noted for a lot of +things. He failed to say that one of the traits +for which they were noted was their quick tempers +when they were young and undisciplined.</p> + +<p>Bob had some things of which to be proud, +too, so he began strutting before Pixie, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>only made matters worse, as far as their ever +being friends was concerned.</p> + +<p>Then Bob, who, you must remember, was +young and thoughtless, began making insulting +growls, which meant that he knew a few +things. “Hadn’t Celeste told their maid that +Pixie’s great-great-grandmother was a wolf-dog, +and that she had one of the largest families? +She was known to have had twenty puppies, +and she had to leave them to look after themselves +while she helped Pixie’s great-great-grandfather +shoo off the wolves.” He wound up by +saying, “And my master says it is true. He +looked it up in the book.”</p> + +<p>Now Pixie was a “perfect lady,” yet there +remained in her blood a taint of the fighting +propensity that had enabled her great-great-grandparents +to shoo off those hungry wolves, +and she was not going to stand for any such +unkind remarks from a mere Irish Airedale +terrier pup.</p> + +<p>She flew at him, snapping and biting his +awkward legs, and barking her loudest, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>only made Bob smile, though it is hard to +believe that Airedales do smile, so solemn are +their countenances. He decided to show her +what real barking was like, and the big bass +bow-bow that he let out so frightened Pixie that +she scampered off to the French maid.</p> + +<p>In this way the morning was spoiled for the +little Pom, who shed tears when she thought +of her poor great-great-grandmother having to +leave those dear little puppies to help shoo off +those terrible wolves. Looking around at her +surroundings, she thought how different was her +condition. She had everything to make her +happy. She could sit in her mistress’s lap and +eat off her plate if she wanted to. She would +never have a large family of puppies to bother +with; and of course there would never be any +wolves to disturb her.</p> + +<p>As this brought her thoughts back to the +happenings of the morning and that dreadful +Airedale pup, a shudder went through her small +body. “Will I always have to encounter that +dog when I go to the park?” she wondered.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>There were many dogs at the park, but with +most of them Pixie must not play. She could +associate with only the dogs in her particular +circle, and give these others only a haughty stare +when she met them.</p> + +<p>The Airedale pup, not used to being snubbed, +was taking this slight seriously. After Pixie +left him, he felt he was in need of sympathy. +That Pixie was a lady and had very sharp teeth +prevented him from demanding an apology. +Had she been one of his own kind, and of his +own size, Bob would have fought it out. He +would have had the apology, too; but as it was +he must have advice.</p> + +<p>Looking across the park, he saw the gleam +of a brass-studded collar which looked like the +regulation collar for dogs in their neighborhood. +Going over there, he found three dogs, all belonging +in his set. They were taking the air +while their attendants sat on the benches and +read the morning papers.</p> + +<p>Bob, who was still smarting from Pixie’s +snub, told them his tale of woe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>“I have been mistreated by a pert little +flapper of a Pom, with a ribbon around her +neck—and such superior airs she was assuming, +when she is only the great-great-granddaughter +of a wolf-dog, who, away back there in the old +country, raised dozens of puppies and shooed +wolves!”</p> + +<p>His hearers sat around on their haunches, +with their tongues lolling out, and listened intently. +Being unable to get an expression from +them collectively, Bob questioned them one by +one as to what they thought of Pixie, and what +he should do about her behavior to him.</p> + +<p>All except one expressed opinions. The exception +was a young police dog, whose family +tree was flourishing over there. If he was not +mistaken, there were traditions in his family +which bore some relation to the story about +the little Pomeranian dogs being able to frighten +his own ancestors, when they were hungry and +weak, and wanted only a good meal from the +poultry pens. Yet he hoped there was some +mistake about the story. It did not seem possible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>that a mere Pom could frighten a noble +wolf. Yet he admired Pixie.</p> + +<p>The next dog consulted was a little pug, +named Ruby. She was quite well acquainted +with Pixie, had met her abroad, and had come +home on the same ship with her. Both of them +had been prize-winners at a dog show in +England. Their respective mistresses had +bought them from the same kennels. There +had been considerable discussion as to the merits +of the two dogs. Both had wanted the Pom, +and quite a bit of feeling arose between the two +ladies on the subject. In fact, the pug’s mistress, +in a polite way, claimed the other lady had used +questionable methods to procure the coveted +dog. However, nothing could be done about it +now, as Pixie’s mistress was better able to pay +the purchase price.</p> + +<p>So the pug was taken; but Ruby always +felt there was a lack of sincerity in her owner’s +voice when she declared to Pixie’s owner, “No +amount of money would induce me to part +with my dear little pug. She is the smartest, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>brightest dog I ever knew.” Then too, Ruby +had overheard Pixie’s mistress telling some one +that pugs were stupid dogs who did nothing +but eat and snore.</p> + +<p>Considering these facts, it was not difficult +for Bob to enlist Ruby’s sympathy. Aside from +this, Ruby was envious of Pixie’s beautiful fur +coat. It was so soft and warm. Pixie had no +need to wear an overcoat that made her look +like a stuffed sausage when she went riding. +And she didn’t snore when she slept. The pug +at once became Bob’s ally.</p> + +<p>The other one in the group was a little French +poodle who was fond of Pixie, because, notwithstanding +that one was of German descent +and the other of French, they got along nicely +together. Though unlike in color, they had +many traits in common. Both had ancestors +who were valiant and courageous. Having this +beautiful French poodle, whose name was Petite, +to champion her cause was favorable for +Pixie, had she known about it; but Pixie was +blissfully unaware of the controversy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span>Petite’s and Pixie’s mistresses were old friends, +and both dogs had heard complimentary remarks +about each other, so Bob could not count +on the French poodle’s sympathy. She was +decidedly for Pixie. Nothing could be settled +with the weight of opinion so unequally balanced.</p> + +<p>Bob’s pride had had a jolt, and the matter +must be adjusted. He would take the case to +his father to decide. The elder Airedale was +one of those large boned, solemn looking dogs +that always look as if they were thinking deeply +on some subject of importance. At the same +time, there is a comical twist to their countenances +that harks back to some trait in their +Irish ancestry. Because of these characteristics, +and the fact that his owner was on the bench, +this old Airedale was called Judge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_059.jpg" width="450" height="614" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Judge Was Always Being Called Upon to Decide</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span>Besides being Bob’s father, Judge was also a +sort of father confessor to all the dogs in the +neighborhood. He was always being called upon +to decide the rights of the case in the squabbles +of the dogs. Was there a scrap over a bone, +or had some of the dogs mistreated a cat that +was unable to defend itself, Judge would administer +a cuffing to the offenders. Even his +own son was granted no mercy when he was +brought into court for some disturbance he had +caused, but was given a good cuffing if Judge +found him guilty.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">JUDGE AIREDALE</h3> +</div> + +<p>With some misgivings, therefore, Bob approached +his father on this subject. He decided +he would wait until he was sure his dad was +in a happy mood. After the noonday meal, +when they were both comfortably full, and Judge +had had his nap, was the most likely time. +Then, cautiously, Bob broached the matter of +his wounded pride. Having no mother to +smooth the way for him, Bob was at the mercy +of his father’s candor. Judge, realizing this +fact, became interested in learning about the +case.</p> + +<p>He inquired as to how many families were +acquainted with the story, and how much had +really been said about the personal appearance +of his offspring. This was a delicate subject, +as there was a strong resemblance between father +and son. Just how far into the family records +had Pixie delved? Of course, no one in this +neighborhood knew of the family skeleton. +That was safe. Bob was very brief about his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>part in the encounter. He mentioned nothing +about his terrible bow-wows, which had so +frightened the pert Pom that she had turned +pale under her heavy coat.</p> + +<p>Judge, rubbing his chin with his ponderous +paw, said, “I will take up the case, but I will +defer a decision until more evidence can be procured. +Meantime I will investigate.”</p> + +<p>In the interval each of the dogs that knew +about the affair related it to every other dog +they met. It was discussed not only in the +best families, but the garbage man’s dog heard +of it, and he told it to the laundress’s yellow +mongrel, who met the milkman’s shepherd +collie. As the latter traveled around town, +and was an excellent reporter, the news spread +and the story grew and grew, until the owners +of the dogs were also involved. When at last +it came to their ears, they were puzzled to know +what it was all about.</p> + +<p>Judge, hearing about how the news of this +little affair had grown until it was called a +scandal, decided he must act quickly to settle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>the wagging of those busybodies’ tongues. He +would hold a session and call the whole neighborhood +of dogs into court. The police dog +was to summon them. Each one that had a +share in this matter, regardless of what was his +standing in society, must appear before him to +be punished.</p> + +<p>It was an outrage that a dog of Judge’s high +standing should be so maligned, for at last the +story had grown until it was unsavory, and a +great injustice had been done to the father of +such a promising son. Summoning the German +police dog, Judge made a list of those who +were responsible for the wide spread of the story. +Among these were Ruby, the pug, Petite, the +white French poodle, and those to whom they +had told the interesting bit of news.</p> + +<p>In their set was an English bulldog named +Bill, who was a distant relative on the terrier +side of the Airedale family. Bill felt that it +would be disloyal not to support the Airedales +in their contention, especially as the matter had +been laid before him by Ruby, who gave her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>own version of it, adding as much local color as +she could.</p> + +<p>Bill, in turn, told a friend, a Boston bull, and +so it went. Among their select set, everyone +who repeated the tale added something to it. +It was left to dear little Petite, the fluffy French +poodle, who always wore white, to defend the +little Pom. With tears in her eyes, Petite told +all her friends how that “impossible Airedale +pup had insulted her dear friend, Pixie.” She +wept on the shoulder of a stately Russian wolfhound, +named Princess, who had been “over” +only a short time, and who was bewildered by +Petite’s show of emotion. For some time indeed +Princess was unable to understand what it all +meant.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_065.jpg" width="450" height="617" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Petite and Princess</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span>Expressing her indignation in a dignified and +charming way at the effrontery of the Airedale, +the Princess promised to call on the little Pom +and extend her sympathy. She passed the sad +news on to a water spaniel, who just then +emerged from the drinking fountain basin, where +he had been taking a bath. Although he shook +the water from his wet coat all over her, which +at another time would have been good cause for +a show of temper, even from a lady dog of noble +birth, she passed it by unnoticed, so eager was +she to enlist all her friends in Pixie’s cause.</p> + +<p>On up the street these two went to where +lived two squatty little dachshunds, whose +ancestors, like Pixie’s, were real warriors. It +was said of them that they attacked badgers, +an action requiring great courage. They too +had a friendly feeling for Pixie; and then the +Princess was so sweet in her manner and so eager +to clear her little friend’s name of any suspicion, +they could not resist her, even though +they saw that the chances of the Airedale were +growing slim, and that it was scarcely fair for +all of his friends to turn against him.</p> + +<p>It was through these little, sociable dachshunds +that the story spread to the other element +of society in dogdom. The garbage man’s dog, +Gyp, who always accompanied his master on +his collection trips, was a good watchdog. He +was watching the empty cans while his master +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>stopped to chat with the laundress. He had +his hands full with the dogs who pestered him +for a chance at the tidbits left in the cans. +Finally, Gyp, being of a practical turn of mind, +began bartering with the dogs for an exchange, +just as boys do. The dachshunds had something +desirable in this story they had heard, +and promised they would give the details as an +after-dinner speech, if they could come to terms, +which they did.</p> + +<p>While they were delivering the purchase price +of their lunch, the laundress’s yellow mongrel +listened in. Gyp was emphatically against the +Airedale. Once Gyp had fallen into the hands of +the law, and had almost been taken to the dog +pound, so he was bitter against law, and everyone +connected with it. This, of course, included +the Judge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_068.jpg" width="450" height="620" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Gyp and the Dachshunds</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>Such was not the feeling of the little yellow +mongrel, who was of no particular breed. He +was just plain dog, and did not mind it one bit +if he was. His mistress gave the Judge two +days of her time every week, and he knew the +Airedale quite well. The Judge’s folks had +been kind to him, giving him many meaty bones +after dinner. Sometimes the boys played with +him, too, in the back yard, where it was nice +and private. The fence was so high no one could +see them. For all of this, he was most grateful, +and intended to stand by the Judge. He +was not going to say anything about it to anyone, +except the milkman’s dog, and he must +promise not to repeat the story. Anyway, he +lived away on the other side of town, where +they would probably not be interested.</p> + +<p>This is how this contention, which, in its +beginning was just a misunderstanding between +two inoffensive dogs, grew until friendly relations +were strained to the breaking point.</p> + +<p>Having arranged for a hearing on a certain +evening, when all the dogs were again in the +park, Judge impaneled a jury. Then, upon +examining the jury, he found that not one of +the members was fit to serve, as all had gossiped +about the case. There were not “twelve good +dogs and true” to be found in the town.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>Because of this state of affairs, some other +plan must be followed. Judge decided that he +would punish all of the worst offenders. The +principals, which meant Pixie and Bob, he would +talk to privately. Pixie no doubt by this time +was very sorry and ready to apologize to Bob.</p> + +<p>The gossips he would attend to first. Since +they were so eager to tell stories about other +dogs, he would require each of them to come, +one at a time, and tell him a true story of some +brave or clever happening of which they had +heard. Perhaps there were family traditions +that were worth repeating, as in the case of Pixie +and the dachshunds. It would be a good way +to train their minds, and to teach them to look +for the good and to ignore the bad in all dogs. +Besides, it would keep them busy. As their +outings were limited to about two hours each +day, it would be possible for them to hear no +more than one long, or, possibly, several short +stories each time.</p> + +<p>The police dog, being next in importance to +the Judge, was required to begin this series of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>punishment. The Judge, after the class in +story-telling had paid the penalty and the law +was satisfied, was to tell a very interesting story +himself—one containing much human interest +and moral advice.</p> + +<p>Although he was somewhat vain and pompous, +the Judge was at heart a good dog. He +desired to raise the standard of morals in dogdom, +and knew that the only way to do that +was to fill the empty heads of the dogs with +something besides gossip. A research story-telling +campaign he hoped would prove the first +step toward reform.</p> + +<p>A program was arranged. Each one was, in +his or her turn, to tell whatever story he or she +knew on a given subject; or they could relate +anything of interest that had occurred in their +own families. Detective stories would be in +the German police dog’s line. Also stories of +German country dogs. One very interesting +story he knew about a large Dane that could +understand nothing but German.</p> + +<p>All the dogs were so interested, and so eager +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>to begin, that they ran around in circles. The +court session having adjourned, the police dog +escorted them out of the park, and requested +that all of them be on time promptly the next +evening. A happier group of dogs passed out +of the park entrance to go their different ways. +No haughty airs were assumed by the blue-bloods. +All were interested in one theme, a +common interest—the paying of a court fine, +which makes all kin.</p> + +<p>So used were the dogs in the beautiful homes +on that exclusive street to having everything +done for them that they had become mere +puppets, and it required considerable effort for +them to do any real thinking. Most of them +were foreign born and several had peculiar +habits, different from those of their American +cousins. Although their ancestors originally +came from Europe, the latter had become true +Americans in every sense of the word, and were +losing their love of ease and indolence.</p> + +<p>Although the owners of these blue-blooded +dogs had them registered and pedigreed, and all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>that, what did they really know of their families? +It was by mere accident that Pixie heard that +bit of history about her great-great-grandmother. +Her mistress never spoke of the little +Pom’s past, except to mention about the dog +show in London and Pixie’s having associated +with the nobility. Now that Pixie knew about +her people, she was proud that she had such +plucky forbears.</p> + +<p>The rest of the dogs, after hearing how Pixie +felt about it, were anxious to know something +about their own family histories. This story-telling +campaign was going to afford them just +the excuse they wanted to get the desired information. +Surely some members of their +breed had won honors for themselves somewhere +or somehow. Just how or where were +they to hear of these things? Now the chance +was to be given, for every dog was to help every +other dog with his story. If the shepherd dog +knew of a good story about a bull dog, he was +to tell it; but it must be such a story as the bull +would be pleased to know. Then, if the bull +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>dog knew anything that would add to the +happiness of the shepherd, he in turn would +make it known.</p> + +<p>Satisfied with this arrangement, the dogs +went diligently to work unearthing stories.</p> + +<p>It was early, and the Judge was on his bench +under a tree at the far corner of the park. It +was a quiet place where the children, who were +playing in the sand piles or swinging, would +not disturb them. The Judge, not needing an +attendant, was allowed to roam at will. The +others would have to wait to be brought, except, +of course, the middle-class dogs, who would +presently come romping in.</p> + +<p>Had the respective owners of the dogs on the +beautiful street been aware of what was taking +place, in all probability they would have tried +to buy the Judge off; but this one was not that +kind of a judge. His belonging to their set +would not have influenced him in the least. +Back in his own family history were some +sterling qualities, chief of which was honesty, +that had descended to this offspring, and these, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>as well as other admirable traits, were manifest +in all of his dealings.</p> + +<p>The dogs were assembled at last, even Pixie, +who was seen trotting along beside the Airedale +pup. The police dog was keeping order and +seating the class. When the gavel, which was +his left paw, fell, everything was ready.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> + + +<h3 class="nobreak">PETITE AND BOB TELL THEIR STORIES</h3> +</div> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Petite’s Story</span></h4> + +<p>The white poodle told her story in a winsome +way. One of her sisters had attended the +wedding of one of the nobility in France. The +bride was so fond of her little pet that she +wanted the poodle with her on this, the happiest +day of her life.</p> + +<p>The tiny poodle was bathed and combed until +she looked like a fluff of cotton. Around her +neck a pink ribbon was tied and arranged in +a smart bow between her ears. She behaved +beautifully, never stepping on the bride’s train, +nor did she blush as the groom did. She made +only one little break.</p> + +<p>After the ceremony, when the groom kissed +the bride, she let out one little growl, which +she could never refrain from doing when this +occurred. For her nice behavior, she was given +a piece of the bride’s cake to put under her +pillow to sleep on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>As she was a very smart poodle in many +ways, she seemed to understand everything that +was said to her, and she answered one and all +with the tail language. This is the accepted +lingo of such favored dogs, especially as they +have such fine, feathery tails, that show to advantage +when waved in a wig-wag message.</p> + +<p>When the poodle was asked if she wanted to +go walking, she would hop onto a chair, and +look toward the place where her leash was kept +and wait for her mistress to put it on her neck. +As soon as it was put on, she would jump +down from the chair, run to the door and wag +her tail, as if to say she was ready.</p> + +<p>On the street, she would walk along beside +her mistress in a nice way, never running on +ahead nor pulling on the leash, as do some +rude dogs.</p> + +<p>Petite was exceedingly proud because she belonged +to such a fine breed of dogs; she waved +her beautiful tail in acknowledgment of the +applause which was given her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span></p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Bob’s Story</span></h4> + +<p>Judge required even his own son to relate a +story, in punishment for his rudeness in barking +that terrible bass solo at Pixie, which a well +mannered dog should not have done. The +father had had Bob rehearse just what he would +say, to make certain that nothing in regard to +the family skeleton would be disclosed, although +almost every family has some such secret to +guard. However, Judge thought it best to be +on the safe side in regard to theirs.</p> + +<p>Right now I will tell you what this great +secret was, but it must go no further. Some +ancestor of Judge’s was killed for slaughtering +sheep. That was about the most disgraceful +thing of which a dog could be guilty—to be +called a kill-sheep dog! Of course younger +generations had done honor to the Airedale +name, and nobody would hold them responsible +for what had occurred in their family so long +ago. Still, they seldom mentioned it among +themselves, and never, never, to outsiders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_079.jpg" width="450" height="614" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">The Comical Young Airedale Terrier</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span>Bob was inclined to be boastful, and was +more than anxious to square himself with the +little Pom. After asking his father many +questions in regard to their family history, he +finally succeeded in ferreting out some very interesting +facts.</p> + +<p>The Airedale family are noted for their +ability to look after their own welfare, and as +guards for children and for property liable to +be invaded by burglars. They are not beautiful, +but what is of far more value, they are +useful. As they are partly Irish, they have a +sense of humor and do many comical things.</p> + +<p>As an instance of the cleverness and humor +of the Airedale terrier, one that was young liked +to dig holes in his master’s front lawn. He had +been repeatedly punished for this naughtiness. +Yet whenever he saw the tracks of a ground +mole, he would forget everything and start +digging until he had made another large hole. +Then he would stop and look at what he had +done. Feeling guilty, he would run to the +porch, where there was a large door mat. This +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span>he would drag to the place and cover the hole. +Satisfied that his guilt was hidden, he would +run off to play.</p> + +<p>Another of Bob’s stories was about a clever +dog named King who took care of a baby.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">King</span></h4> + +<p>King and Junior, a baby boy, were devoted +pals. When Junior was in his pen on the lawn, +King would take his place as guard and master +of ceremonies. While the baby was good, +King would lie quietly by, with one eye always +on the child. If the baby got tired and fretted, +King would jump up, run around the pen and +bark to attract Junior’s attention, and would +keep it up until the baby would smile.</p> + +<p>One day when Junior’s teeth were hurting, +he was unusually fretful. King did his stunts +in vain. Seeing that he must try some other +way to comfort his pal, he stood in thought +for a moment. Then he bounded off down +the street to a place where another family with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>children lived. Presently he came dashing back +with a woolly dog in his mouth, which he +dropped into Junior’s pen, much to the delight +of the crying youngster.</p> + +<p>Bob also told another story about a dog +who was fond of scrambled eggs.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Scrambled Eggs</span></h4> + +<p>Snappy was a small Irish terrier who was +fond of scrambled eggs. As his owners were +obliged to buy their eggs at a good price, +he did not get one as often as he would have +liked. So he would go to the back of the lot +and lie there until he heard a neighbor’s hen +cackle. Immediately he would crawl through +a hole in the fence, and presently return with +an egg in his mouth. He would carry the egg +to the kitchen, lay it very carefully on the floor, +and wait patiently by it until some one had +time to cook it for him. No objections were +made, as the neighbor thought this was so +clever of him.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">POLICE DOG STORIES</h3> +</div> + +<p>All were eager to hear what the German police +dog would have to tell, as they knew he must +have been able to gather from his grandparents +some thrilling tales, because they went through +the war and were at the very center of activities. +However, he was unable to get many of the +facts from them, as their experiences had been +so painful that they had come to America to +recover and to forget about them.</p> + +<p>One member of the family, however, had been +cited for bravery, and they loved to sing the +praises of poor old “Marne,” of whom they +told the story. All of the dogs wept upon +hearing about this war hero. After their eyes +were dry, they asked for another story from +the police dog. This time it was a detective +story, with old Tip as the hero.</p> + +<p>The police dog was a born story-teller, and +his contact with so many different kinds of dogs +and men had given him a store of knowledge +far beyond his years. So he was applauded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>until he responded with a narrative about one +of his own country’s species, Fritz, who was +German through and through.</p> + +<p>After this story, the police dog, who had +consumed all of the time at this session, was +excused and relieved of any more punishment. +The Judge was pleased with his conduct through +it all.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Marne, the War Hero</span></h4> + +<p>It is a long reach from the battlefields of +France to the fashionable dog show at a notable +hotel in southern California, but one of the +veterans of the World War made it. With sad +and solemn eyes, he viewed the scene around +him, reminding one of those old men who turn +up from retirement to march or to be driven in +the parades at the reunions of the Grand Army +of the Republic, aged and worn, so far as looks +go, but with dear old souls washed white with +deeds of bravery.</p> + +<p>Thus it was with our war hero, who, surrounded +by yelping, barking blue-bloods, was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>“sitting in” at the dog exhibit, not “listening +in,” for he was almost deaf from his injuries +received on the battlefield.</p> + +<p>Marne was an ambulance dog who served +with gallantry throughout the recent war. He +came through, and was accepted and decorated +by the French government for bravery, but for +his glory he paid a dear price. He had been +gassed. This, as many who served in the war +can testify, takes something out of the very soul +of a man. It had the same effect on Marne, +who at ten years of age was an old dog.</p> + +<p>He was lying silent and dignified among the +other entries, but with an accumulation of wisdom +impossible to any of the pedigreed dogs +about him.</p> + +<p>When he was only three months old, this +heroic dog was given to the French government. +After six months’ training, he was sent to the +battlefields to find the dead and wounded. +From these trips into “No Man’s Land,” he +would come back with either a button or a +stone on his stretcher. A button meant a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>wounded man, and a stone bore mute testimony +of one having “gone west.”</p> + +<p>Both the British and the French are under +obligations to faithful dogs for service on the +fields of battle. If these dear, brave dogs could +talk, what stories they would tell!</p> + +<p>Thanks to the gentle heart of a dear lady +who appreciates real worth and brave deeds +above mere good breeding in a dog, Marne has +been given a pleasant home, and his wounds +that have never healed are given proper care. +Though there is a far-away look in his eyes, +and he has the appearance of one who has known +sorrow which he cannot forget, this dear old +comrade seems contented.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Old Tip</span></h4> + +<p>Tip was not much of a dog, so far as looks +go—never had been, even in his young doghood +days. There was too much of just ordinary +dog in his ancestry. He was part hound, which +gave him those floppy, big ears and that long, +lean body. His tail, which was not long +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>enough for a real, honest-to-goodness hound to +have, was somewhat like that of his grandmother, +who was a mongrel with some shepherd +blood. From this tail Tip acquired his +name, for on the end of it was a white tip. The +rest of his body was brown, shading into yellow, +which, had he been of more aristocratic lineage, +would have been <i>golden brown</i>.</p> + +<p>Fate often picks just ordinary men in the +lowly walks of life for the laurels. Such was +the case with Tip, who was no longer young, +and moreover was afflicted with rheumatism, +caused by his having no suitable place to sleep +on cold, dark nights. He was chosen in his +old days to perform the crowning act of his life +and to become a hero.</p> + +<p>The old corncrib with the leaky roof was +Tip’s bedroom. He had only one old grain +sack to lie upon. On one of those cold, rainy +nights in November, it happened. It was just +the time of year when every farmer’s wife is +counting on returns for her summer’s work, +through the marketing of her nice, fat poultry; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span>and it was also the season when poultry thieves +thrive and are busy plying their unlawful business.</p> + +<p>Tip had only that evening helped his mistress +round up every stray fowl on the place, and she +had shut them securely in the chicken house, +to be ready for the buyer who was due in the +morning to purchase the fat hens and turkeys. +Tip had inspected the premises for the last +time. Then, considering it safe to do so, he +had turned around twice, as is the habit of all +dogs, and laid down to sleep.</p> + +<p>After his first nap, he awoke. Did he hear +or scent something? Not yet really wide +awake, he sat up, flapping back his big ears in +order to hear more clearly. Surely that sound +was something worth giving attention to. He +would investigate. Stretching his long body +to awaken it fully, he looked out, and what he +saw was a small light on the end of something +that looked, to him, like a stick. It was up +against the poultry house door.</p> + +<p>Now, as I told you, Tip was old and had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span>gained wisdom with years. A younger dog +would have been more rash; but not Tip. He +was cautious. Slipping around the corner, he +waited to see what would happen. Soon he +saw the door open and two men enter the +poultry house. Now was his chance for action. +Bounding behind the door, he slammed it shut. +As he did so, the bolt slipped into place and, +as the key, which had been left in the keyhole, +fell out at the same time, he had his prisoners +secure. Then he did some lusty barking. Such +whoops of “bow-wow!” such howls did he set +up, that in a short time he had the family +aroused.</p> + +<p>This action of his was the means of breaking +up an organized band of poultry thieves in that +neighborhood; and this feat also earned poor +old Tip his laurels.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">FRITZ, WHO KNEW ONLY GERMAN</h3> +<p class="center">(<i>As Told in the Presence of the Police Dog by a Lady</i>)</p> +</div> + +<p>Once when I was motoring through the middle +states with my husband, who had dealings +with the farmers of that part of the country, we +drew up to the door of a German-American +farmer, who, on seeing us, came out to ask what +was our business. As he did so, out bounded +the biggest piece of dog flesh I had ever seen. +At first I thought it was a calf, but when a huge +mouth opened and let out a “bow-wow,” I saw +it was an immense Dane. On the dog came, +ready, it seemed, to tear us to pieces; but the +farmer caught him by the collar and, talking +to him in German, led him back into the house.</p> + +<p>As it was a cold, wintry day, the farmer +asked me to go inside where it was warm. Wishing +to do so, but still remembering that dog, I +hesitated. The man insisted, saying his wife +would take care of me. I went.</p> + +<p>These people, like many of their kind, live most +of their cold weather days in the kitchen, where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>they can cook and keep warm at the same time. +Their cookstove was an old fashioned wood one. +The oven, when not used for baking pies and +bread, or thawing out the men’s feet, was piled +full of wood to dry for fuel; I learned that it +was Fritz who supplied the wood for the drying +process.</p> + +<p>I entered and was invited by the wife to take +a seat near the stove. I did so, looking around +to see where the Dane might be. I spied him +behind the stove, pretending to sleep. Soon +the stove needed more wood. The wife took +some from the oven and replenished the fire. +Fritz got up, came around and looked inside +the oven to see how much was left. As he was +quite near me at the time, I spoke to him and +attempted to pet him. The look he gave me +was discouraging, but he turned to his mistress, +as though inquiring what was wanted of him. +She spoke to him in German. Turning around, +he wagged his tail, and gave me a genuine dog +smile, before returning to his place behind the +stove to finish his nap.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_092.jpg" width="450" height="612" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Fritz Supplied the Wood for the Fire</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>Presently the two men came in. The farmer +took more wood from the oven. Fritz was +watching the oven with evident concern; at +last, when only a few sticks were left, he ran to +the door, and with his paw unlatched and +opened it. Soon he returned with a stick of +wood in his jaws. He laid it down by the +stove, and repeated the process until the little +old oven was full again. This done, he went +across to the cupboard, sat down, and barked +until he was served with a lunch. His owners +explained that they talked to him only in +German, although they spoke very good +English; and they added that no amount of +money would induce them to part with him.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Ted the Water Spaniel</span></h4> + +<p>Next on the docket was Ted, the water +spaniel. When Ted was called to jury duty, +he gave his occupation as “mascot.” He had +sailed the seas, having gone on a cruise around +the world on a big battleship. When not on +mascot duty, he was engaged in catching rats +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>that infested the ship’s hold. He was an excellent +sailor and loved the water. The crew, all +of whom were fond of him, enjoyed teaching +him many clever tricks.</p> + +<p>He was a good sport and would allow the +men to throw him into the water, which they +did just for the fun of seeing him swim back to +them. Also, he was a most comical looking +animal when he was wet. He would dive for +an egg in ten or twelve feet of water; and would +pick a piece of money from a pail of water.</p> + +<p>There was not a lazy bone in his body. He +was always up to something. It was a laughable +sight to see him, with his long ears and +topknot, sitting up on his haunches to beg for +what he wanted. When he was asked what +he would do for his country, he would salute the +flag and play dead. Many other interesting +stunts he did to entertain the sailors and the +officers of the big ship.</p> + +<p>When the great guns boomed, he would hide +and stay hidden until all the smoke had cleared +away, when he would come cautiously out from +his place of concealment, looking as if he were +asking, “Is it all over?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_095.jpg" width="450" height="618" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Ted Performed Many Stunts to Entertain the Sailors</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>Of his ancestral history, he knew nothing +whatever, as he was picked up from the street +in Liverpool by a sailor. Ever since he had +followed the sea; but now he was retired and +living a quiet life. Though he missed the companionship +of the sailors and the wide ocean, +he was happy when he could be taken to the +beaches. At other times, he bathed in the +fountains, which he was doing on the day when +Princess met him.</p> + +<p>The next story, which he related, was one +he had heard some one telling his mistress.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Blood Will Tell</span></h4> + +<p>My friends lived on a farm, which was situated +in that part of the country where storms +and floods were frequent. A stream, quite a +small river, in fact, divided their land, the house +being on one side of the stream and the pasture +lands on the other. The connecting link was a +bridge over the stream.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span>On one occasion, after a heavy storm, this +stream was swollen beyond its banks. It became +a seething, rushing torrent, carrying the +bridge away, leaving no way, except to make +a detour of five miles, by which the cows could +come from the pasture to the barn. A council +was held, and ways and means were discussed. +The question was, how were they to get those +milkers across to the other side? Everyone +had some suggestion. Their little mongrel dog, +within whose veins flowed a strain of water +spaniel, sat blinking his eyes, and holding his +own council.</p> + +<p>When the family had given up in despair +and returned to the house, the dog swam across +to the pasture. He rounded up the herd and, +driving them before him, swam the stream again, +keeping the cows ahead of him until they were +safe on the other side. Every day he repeated +this performance until the bridge was built.</p> + +<p>The water spaniel recollected another story +about a dog named Prince. This one he had +heard a gentleman telling his owner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span></p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Prince Helps His Master to Get a Job</span></h4> + +<p>The actions of this smart little dog show that +dogs often display a degree of reason.</p> + +<p>A young man was searching for a position. +He was unsuccessful in finding the one suited +to his qualifications. He returned home, tired +and discouraged, and threw himself on a couch +to rest. His small dog Prince saw with an +understanding eye that something was worrying +his master. He went off to his own corner +in the lower part of the house, where the telephone +was located, but he did not go to sleep +as did his master. He had to think things +over as to the cause of his master’s troubles.</p> + +<p>Presently the telephone rang. Prince bounded +upstairs, two steps at a time, barking lustily +all the way. He pulled at the young man’s +coat to awaken him, and told him as best he +could to answer the phone. His master did so, +with the result that he learned that a good +position was open to him—a place of trust with +a good firm—which he readily accepted.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">GYP, THE GARBAGE MAN’S DOG</h3> +</div> + +<p>Gyp, the garbage man’s dog, was next. He +was somewhat sullen, having seen life on its +seamy side, and he was as full of experiences as +an egg is of meat.</p> + +<p>As has been previously related, he disliked +all phases of the law, and wasn’t enjoying this +court scene very much. However, a few more +experiences would make little difference in his +checkered life.</p> + +<p>When he gave his name and address, he was +asked if he had ever been in court before, to which +he made the humiliating reply that he had, +though he was not to blame for it. As Judges +in general do not care to listen to excuses about +the past, there was no chance for an explanation. +Because this was not his first offense, and because +he came from the lower ranks of life, +although he had good blood; for he was a shepherd +dog, and shepherd dogs are related to the +great collie family, aristocrats in dogdom. But +poor Gyp, being seen daily under the garbage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>wagon, was looked upon as a suspicious character.</p> + +<p>Now Gyp was not deserving of this opinion +from any one. He was as honest and faithful +as any of them. More temptation had been +thrown in his way, and he had been able to +withstand it better than some weaker ones. He +would not lie, would not steal nor cheat. But +he would fight. And it was due to this failing +that he had a story to tell. We will leave it +to you, dear reader, to decide if he was not +justified at least in this one case.</p> + +<p>Gyp said he hoped that all dogs were now +taking this course in “higher standards of living.” +If they did, there might be no further +occasion for his having to use his implements +of warfare. Nevertheless, he would keep his +teeth in good condition, and his claws well +whetted. In fact, he thought preparedness was +the best policy for all dogs. They need not +actually fight, but just threaten to scrap if other +dogs disregarded their rights.</p> + +<p>His story was a thrilling one about mistaken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>identity, and the innocent having to suffer for +the sins of others. His master was his idol. +For him, Gyp would die if necessary. Neither +he nor his master had always been just what +they were now, for both had seen better times.</p> + +<p>One dark night a crime was committed. Gyp’s +master, though not guilty, was caught in the +meshes of the police dragnet instead of the real +culprit, and he was taken to jail to await trial +for the crime some one else had committed.</p> + +<p>When he failed to return in the morning, +Gyp started out to find him. Taking up the +trail, he found it led to the jail. Of course he +was not allowed in the building, but he hung +around, leaving only at night and when he was +hungry. At night he had to return home to +keep watch over the little boy and his mother. +It was his job to take care of them, now that +his master was gone.</p> + +<p>Gyp had a double responsibility. The wife +and little boy must be protected, and he must +be on hand at the jail should a need come for +him there. With all of this worry, he was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>growing very thin. Also he did not have +enough to eat, for not many luxuries in the way +of meat were brought into the little home now, +and he was too busy just watching, to hunt for +stray bones and things like that.</p> + +<p>At last the day of the trial came, and his +master was taken from the jail across the courtyard +to the room where the hearing was to be +held. That was Gyp’s opportunity. Following the +crowd into the court room, he slipped in before +any one knew he was there. Waiting his chance, +he edged his way to where his master was and +lay down at his feet. He was hoping he would +be allowed to stay right through to the end; +but he was disappointed, for hardly had he +settled himself when some one took hold of his +collar and roughly dragged him out, giving him +a kick. Just who was the <i>dumb brute</i> in this +case? That was the last he saw of his beloved +master for some time. Do you wonder Gyp +did not like courts and trials?</p> + +<p>He returned home, for now he must devote +his whole time to the family. The little boy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>must be protected when he went to the corner +grocery. Gyp would not permit another dog +to come near the child. It was at this time that +the dog’s fighting blood rose. He would go +ahead of the boy when he was crossing the +street, and the kindly traffic officer, being their +friend, would hold back the crowd until they +were over.</p> + +<p>One day, after having piloted his little charge +safely home, Gyp took a walk down the street +past some fine houses where a small dog was +lying on a nice lawn. He saw a big hound dog +come from another direction and go up to the +small dog, sniffing and mumbling a war-growl. +Gyp stopped to see what would happen. +Presently something that gave offense to the +small dog passed between the two, and he set +his teeth in the left hind leg of the big dog. +Then the trouble started. Seeing the small dog +was getting the worst of it, Gyp entered the +fray, letting the little fellow out of it, and he +and the hound rolled over and over on those +fine flower beds.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>The ladies who lived in the house were screaming +over the phone to police headquarters. But +in their nervousness they succeeded only in making +the chief believe some one was being killed. +At once that official dispatched the police wagon. +It came, bringing along with the police a newspaper +reporter who wanted to get <i>first</i> news +for his paper. All were disappointed. As the +hound had sneaked off, Gyp was left to bear +the entire blame. The police summoned the +dog catcher.</p> + +<p>The only protector of the little family around +the corner was about to be taken away, when +who should appear but the friendly traffic officer, +who knew Gyp and came to his rescue. He +testified to the dog’s good character and vouched +for his keeping the peace. After being patted +on the head and admonished by his friend “to +be a good dog,” Gyp was allowed to go back to +his post of duty—watching the little family.</p> + +<p>Time dragged around to Christmas. Then +the governor learned that a mistake had been +made in the case of Gyp’s master. The master +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>was released from prison and permitted to go +home.</p> + +<p>It was a joyous holiday for them all. The +judge who had tried the case, desiring to make +amends for the error, offered to help the good +master to get work in the city’s garbage disposal +division. But the poor fellow was so +humiliated, and his health so broken, that he +decided to go to a warmer climate, where he +could be out in the sunshine and regain his +strength.</p> + +<p>The judge, feeling that an injustice had been +done the man, wrote to the mayor of this +southern town where Gyp and his master had +gone. This recommendation caused the master +to be put on the pay roll, so the faithful dog +and his beloved owner were now partners in +this business of gathering the waste of the city.</p> + +<p>It was through those friendly little dachshunds +that Gyp had become involved in this +mess. Now, however, there seemed to be a +better feeling established among all of them, +and the story which Gyp told them had the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>effect of enlisting their sympathy and admiration, +so that things looked brighter for him.</p> + +<p>Presently Gyp was not “only the garbage +man’s dog.” He was counted a real hero by the +better class of dogs, and if they were free to +follow their own natural inclinations, they would +be real friendly with him; but there were their +owners to contend with, and for their amusement, +they would, they supposed, have to go +on suppressing their good impulses. At any +rate, all of them promised themselves that they +would speak to Gyp when no one was watching +them. Yes, they would even go out to the +garbage wagon when they could, and they would +not feel “uppish” toward him any more.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE LAUNDRESS’S DOG</h3> +</div> + +<p>The laundress’s dog was, as everyone said, +just a yellow dog. But he was one of those +creatures whose “yellow” was all on the outside—there +were no yellow streaks under his skin. +Being just plain dog has a significance all its +own, as, in order to be any kind of a dog, one +must have forefathers. It is highly probable +that some of those ancestors were worth while +in the case of this dog, and had handed down to +their offspring some good traits.</p> + +<p>Mandy, the colored laundress, had found him +one morning, when she was on her way to work. +He was a little fellow then, and he was cold and +hungry. They lived in the state of Texas where +the cotton grows. No doubt, the pup had +started to follow some worker to the fields and +became lost. When Mandy coaxed him to +follow her, he did not hesitate, especially as her +clothing was scented with breakfast bacon.</p> + +<p>Together they had lived ever since, with Sam, +Mandy’s husband. Now, Sam had ambitions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>above being always a cotton field hand. He +had heard there were better chances for colored +people in the north. Tales of wealth accumulated +by chauffeurs and waiters with nice, fat +tips, had filtered through to the cotton field +workers, and they were leaving as fast as the +price of a Ford car could be saved. Mandy +helped by going out as many days as she could +spare from her home and church duties, as she +was a very devoted church worker.</p> + +<p>Buff, as Mandy called him, on account of his +pale yellow color, had fallen into a good home. +With Sam’s ambitions and Mandy’s piety, +things ran smoothly in this home.</p> + +<p>Having purchased a car, they loaded into it +everything it would hold, and started north. +Buff’s quarters were close, but he managed to +be comfortable. It was better any way than +riding on the running board. The chickens +were riding there, while, on the other side, the +family goat was enthroned. Sam was a good +provider and his family were never in want of +something to eat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>Having at last become fairly settled in their +new home, Mandy and Buff would go out to +work several days each week. One of the houses +where they worked was the Judge’s, so Buff +was quite well known to the Airedales.</p> + +<p>Buff’s story, while not dealing with his ancestors, +was interesting. He knew many stories +about clever dogs, with whom he was acquainted, +and he had done some fine things himself; but, +being a modest dog, and having always been +looked down upon in the south, where he came +from, he was known only as Sam’s and Mandy’s +“yaller cur.” All of this was depressing and +made him self-conscious and bashful.</p> + +<p>The Judge, understanding how poor Buff felt, +drew him out to talk about himself. Buff, +too, had his ambitions, it appeared. Always +he had desired to be a hunter. How he had +longed to accompany Sam and his neighbors +on their coon hunting trips! But Sam would +not permit it. Buff was too small. It took +husky dogs, like the hounds, with their big, +floppy ears. Buff must remain at home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>Lying in front of the fire, he would stretch +out, fall asleep and dream. His body would +tremble; the muscles of his legs would twitch; +he would prick up his ears, and go through all +kinds of contortions. Then, jumping up, he +would run out of the house, and bark in answer +to the baying of the hounds, miles away. Back +he would come and lie down, with a satisfied +look at Mandy, as much as to say, “We got +him!” This was as near as he ever came to +having his ambition gratified.</p> + +<p>The Judge requested Buff to tell about the +time little Simon Peter, who lived next door to +Sam and Mandy, fell in the water. So embarrassed +was Buff at having to face all these +eager eyes and lolling tongues, that he stood +first on one foot, then on another. In his +modesty, he made as little as possible of the +part he had taken in the affair.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_111.jpg" width="450" height="615" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Simon Peter and Buff</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>Simon Peter was a little pickaninny, who +would lay his woolly head on the sleeping dog +and take his afternoon nap. One day, Simon +Peter’s mammy was washing, as she too was a +laundress, but of the home-loving variety. The +pickaninny loved wash day. He and Buff were +left in the kitchen, where the laundry work was +done, while his mammy hung out the clothes. +It gave him an opportunity to get into lots of +things which otherwise would be forbidden.</p> + +<p>On this particular day, his mother had +stopped to hold a bit of conversation with Sister +White, who lived at the back of their lot. There +were some matters concerning a church festival +of which she must know the particulars.</p> + +<p>In the house the little brown baby and the +yellow dog were having a happy time. With +a dilapidated looking Teddy bear in his arms, +Simon Peter was investigating everything. +Among other things which the laundress had +been using, was a candy pail. In it was some +water. It was clean water, for, when Simon +Peter looked into it, he saw a baby and a Teddy +bear. Reaching for the bear, he lost his balance.</p> + +<p>Just then Buff, who was busy gnawing a +bone, looked up and saw a pair of chubby +brown legs sticking up out of the pail. Sensing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>what had happened, he climbed up on the side +of the pail, and, adding his weight to that of +the baby, managed to tip the bucket over, and +the pickaninny crawled out.</p> + +<p>Buff then ran to where the two “sisters” were +in the depth of a discussion about church +matters, and commenced jumping up and down, +and running back and forth to attract their +attention. Sister White took notice and inquired, +“What’s the matter with that fool dog?” +Simon Peter’s mammy took the hint. Running +to the house, she found her little brown +baby sitting in a puddle of water, and she saw +that he was dripping wet.</p> + +<p>This was such a good story the dogs wanted +another from Buff, and he promised that at the +next session he would tell them about Whitey, +another mongrel of his acquaintance. So when +the time came he told his second story.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_114.jpg" width="450" height="615" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Whitey and Her Mistress</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE DEVOTION OF WHITEY</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Whitey was only a mongrel, a cross between +a spitz dog and an English bull.</p> + +<p>We can imagine that Whitey had inherited +from her gentle, affectionate spitz mother, the +devotion which this occasion brought into play. +This trait, coupled with the persistence and +tenacity of her English bull father, enabled her +to enact the part she did.</p> + +<p>Whitey’s mistress, who was getting along in +years, was alone in the world, having only her +faithful dog for company. So the two became +devoted to each other. When the little old +lady went out on errands, Whitey guarded her +most carefully.</p> + +<p>One day the sun was very hot and the old +lady seemed more unsteady than usual. Whitey, +looking at her mistress, noticed that she was +very pale. Then she saw her mistress sway +and fall. The dog was frightened and barked +furiously. Seeing a policeman down the street, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span>she ran barking to him, and then back to her +fainting mistress.</p> + +<p>Understanding what had occurred, the officer +called an ambulance and started with the little +old lady to the hospital. Whitey, who was no +longer young herself, gathered herself together. +She was not invited to ride in the ambulance +with her mistress. As a matter of fact, no one +noticed the anxious, woe-begone little mongrel. +So there was nothing for her to do but follow +the ambulance.</p> + +<p>As it threaded its way in and out, shrieking +and making ear-splitting, frightful noises, +Whitey followed. Dodging the traffic as best +she could, and dreadfully tired, she followed her +mistress to she knew not where.</p> + +<p>Arriving shortly after her mistress was carried +into the hospital, Whitey stood at the door, +sniffing and barking. Finally she heard some +one coming out of that door. This was her +chance. In she sprang, nearly tripping up the +big policeman, but getting in where her beloved +mistress was. Yelping joyously, she wagged +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>her tail with satisfaction. Her happiness was +short-lived, however, for, in an instant a rough +hand had her by the back of the neck and +yanked her out to the street.</p> + +<p>Then the English bull portion of Whitey +manifested itself. Such scratching and clawing +as she did at that door! She begged, she +entreated to be admitted, until, finally, she was +allowed to go in. All afternoon, she lay on the +foot of her mistress’s cot, looking her sympathy +and love, and hoping she would soon help to +take the dear mistress back to their home, +where they would again be happy. And indeed +it was not long before this hope was fulfilled.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE RUSSIAN PRINCESS</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Princess, having been “over” only a short +time, and being unaccustomed to American +ways, could tell only of her far-away Russia.</p> + +<p>Her story was so sad that all were glad it +was not a long one. They hoped that after +she had been longer in our beautiful America, +she would be able to forget those dark days of +her own country. They hoped too that Russia, +where these graceful hounds live, would see +better times, and that no more cruel wars would +wreck her government.</p> + +<p>Princess was made acquainted with all the +dogs in the park. Each in turn gave her a +welcoming sniff, and assured her they would +try to make it pleasant for her, so she would +forget the tragedies of her native land.</p> + +<p>She became a noted figure when led along the +paths in the park. No one could look at her +without their minds reverting to that terrible +war and those helpless princesses of Russia, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span>and the brave women who took up arms against +their enemies during the reign of terror.</p> + +<p>The story Princess told was one she had heard +in England. When she was a puppy, she was +taken by an English sailor, who was returning +home from the far East. At the kennel where +she was finally left, she looked more like a young +sheep than a dog. With her long legs, long +tail, long head, small ears, and soft, silky coat, +she was entirely unlike such dogs as Pixie or +Ruby.</p> + +<p>At the English kennels, which belonged to +some of the nobility, she was well cared for. +They were reluctant to part with her, but being +in straitened circumstances since the war, they +needed all the money they could get. So, when +her present owners were traveling in that country +and offered a good price for her, she was +allowed to come to America. That was how it +came about that she now was telling her story +to a group of American dogs.</p> + +<p>In discussing the merits of the wolfhounds to +prospective buyers, the keeper of the kennels +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>would tell that Princess was related to the +beautiful Russian hounds belonging to the Czar. +Often, he would say, before the war, the lovely +princesses were seen leading these graceful white +creatures through the park around the royal +palace at Petrograd. When the royal family +was destroyed, these dogs were scattered to the +four corners of the earth, as they were sold or +carried off by marauding armies. The Princess +was fortunate in falling into the hands of +the English, who are great lovers of dogs. She +could never think of her ancestors, and of how +fond they must have been of those sweet princesses, +without deep emotion; but, as there were +no princesses in this country, she would try to +forget.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE MILKMAN’S DOG DAN</h3> +</div> + +<p>The milkman’s dog Dan was half and half, +shepherd and collie, his father being a full-blood +shepherd, and his beautiful mother, whom he +did not remember, being Scotch collie. Shep, +his father, lived all his life—and he attained a +ripe old age—on the place where he was born +and raised.</p> + +<p>Dan loved the dairy farm. The fresh, foaming +milk that remained in the straining pails +was always his, and the cats had all they could +drink of it. Also there were lots of rats and +rabbits to chase. In fact, it was an ideal place +for a dog of his tastes to live. He knew all the +cows by name. It was necessary only to tell +him to bring up the cows—“all but Bess and +Jane,” and he would do it. Starting the herd +ahead, he would get in front of those two young +heifers, and, separating them from the rest, +chase them back to the woods pasture again.</p> + +<p>The trip into town to deliver the milk—how +much fun he got out of that! It was no hardship +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>to be aroused from his comfortable, warm +bed in the straw, and to have the driver say, +“Come on, old boy, we are ready to start.”</p> + +<p>Dan would stretch himself, yawn, and indicate +by this that he, too, was ready. He +would sit beside the driver, and off they would +go through the early dawn and the frosty air.</p> + +<p>Dan was always pleased when they delivered +milk to houses where there were little children, +and at the hospitals where the patients were +waiting to have it for their breakfasts. At one +house the driver would leave a double portion, +because there were twin boys there. Dan hoped +that some day he would get to see these little +boys. Then one day something happened that +they were delayed. It was later than usual +when they were returning home, and, as they +were passing by the house where the twins lived, +Dan had his wish, for there they were, sitting +on the lawn. Each had a bottle of milk, and +they were drinking away as contentedly as could +be.</p> + +<p>How happy Dan was to think he had helped +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>in this way to furnish food for those adorable +twins!</p> + +<p>They drove on down the street and passed +the children’s hospital. There, out in the sun, +he caught a glimpse of wheeled chairs with +children in them. On stands beside many of +them were glasses of milk, perhaps from Dan’s +dairy. (At least he felt a proprietary interest +in it.) Also at the school-lunch counters, he +saw the children drinking milk. Then he got +to thinking, what if he did have to work rather +hard bringing up the cows and helping around +the barn, wasn’t it worth while? What would +become of all these children if he didn’t work?</p> + +<p>The other dogs hoped he would keep on at +his present occupation, as most of them liked +milk themselves. Especially were Pixie and +Petite anxious that there should always be milk +for making the good things of which they were +fond.</p> + +<p>Few of them had ever seen the milkman’s dog +before, as he made his trips before it was their +hour for rising. They were eager for him to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>tell more about himself and his family, so he +promised to tell the story of his grandfather, +Sandy, who had been a useful and faithful member +of dogdom.</p> + +<p>In the days of horse-drawn vehicles, some +dogs had a foolish habit of running in front of +every horse they saw coming, and barking at +their heels. Of course, none of the dogs in this +group knew anything about this bad habit. +It was before their day. Now, Sandy despised +this ill-mannered action, and would stop it every +time he had a chance. The young dogs on the +place where he lived wouldn’t have dared to do +it. He had them trained. But some other +dogs were not so well raised. Sitting at the +corner where two roads crossed, he would watch, +and, whenever a dog would start barking at a +horse, he would go after the dog and give him +what he deserved.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE WHIPPETS</h3> +</div> + +<p>One evening, while the story-telling class was +in session, there came into the park two men +and two dogs. All looked tired and dusty, as +if they had come a long way afoot.</p> + +<p>The men threw themselves down on the grass +to rest. The dogs, who were different from the +usual park types, were lean and graceful, clean-cut +racers. They were whippets, or, as some +call them, “snap dogs.”</p> + +<p>They were indeed tired and had come a long +distance to rest. After taking a drink from the +fountain, they too stretched out beside the men +to take a nap. But, being unable to sleep +after the thrilling experiences of the day, they +started up and began investigating the park +and the people in it. First they visited the +different groups and watched the children at +play. Then they wandered over to the corner +where the dog’s court was in session.</p> + +<p>The whippets had just come from a country +fair, which was being held in an adjoining +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>county. There, besides the horse races and +automobile races, one of the attractions was a +whippet race, in which they had taken part.</p> + +<p>They approached the court corner, and stood +at a respectful distance until Ruby was through +with a story she was telling about two little +Skyes. During the applause, the whippets drew +nearer. In making observations as to the size +of the dogs assembled there, they noticed that +the Judge was a much larger dog than they +were. Also there were others there that would +be more than a match for them should any +unpleasantness arise. They, however, could get +away from the others, with no danger of being +overtaken, so swiftly could they run.</p> + +<p>As the Judge exhibited only the friendliest +feelings toward them in his welcome, they joined +the circle. This, thought the Judge, is to be +a test of the sincerity of the desire of the dogs +in the class “to live and let live,” and he was +much pleased with their behavior. The good +seed he was trying to sow was taking root, and +they were losing some of their selfishness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>The story which Ruby had just finished was +about two little Skyes, one of whom was vain +and jealous; so, if Ruby could realize how +wrong it was to permit such feelings to exist +in one’s nature, it was a good indication that +the Judge’s plan was a good one, and they +would all be better dogs for it.</p> + +<p>The dogs all agreed to have the whippets +with them during their stay in the park. The +Princess recognized in them distant cousins. She +too could do some sprinting when occasion +called for it.</p> + +<p>The whippets, looking the crowd over, and +scenting nothing to eat at this picnic, concluded, +if these other dogs could have such a gathering +in a park without eating, there must be something +else very absorbing about it to hold them; +so they decided to remain.</p> + +<p>When they were asked how they came to be +racing dogs, one of them, who was less bashful +than the other, told of their being trained when +they were puppies for this very thing. They +were encouraged to play tug-of-war—which all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span>little pups love to do—and they were given a +strong piece of cloth, or a rubber shoe, and they +would pull and pull. This strengthened their +muscles. Then a ball was thrown for them to +run for, and the one who returned with it was +given something to eat. Then two balls would +be thrown and they would race after them. The +one who had to go the farthest was rewarded. +As they grew larger, they were taken on long +hikes over the fields and country roads, where +they would chase rabbits or any game they +could scare up.</p> + +<p>Later, they began racing with horses and +bicycles, farther and farther each time, until +they could run two hundred yards, the handicap +distance.</p> + +<p>One sorry thing about being a whippet is that +these dogs never get to eat all they would like, +as their weight must be kept down to fourteen +pounds, or they become too heavy to run.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_129.jpg" width="450" height="617" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">“They Would Chase Rabbits or Any Game They Could Scare Up”</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>At the Fair it was advertised that the Whippet +Brothers, famous racers, were to run and had +challenged two other equally swift dogs for the +race. A large purse was made up and the +betting became lively. The other two whippets +were not brothers, and were unused to team +work, but, in every other respect, they were a +match for the brothers, being of the same weight +and age, and having had the same training +and all.</p> + +<p>The bout was set for the morning, before +the horse racing started. The crowd gathered +around the grand stand, from where the dogs +were to start. Each dog had been groomed +and sleeked and their feathery tails were combed. +All were clean-cut, snappy little dogs, ready for +the start. The crowd was roped off on each side +of the track. Then, one, two, three, the gong +sounded, and they were off. Neck and neck +they went until halfway to the goal, when one +of the odd dogs crossed to the center of the track +to get a better footing. This distracted his +running mate for one fatal second. His partner +leaving him alone on the off side of the road +made this dog lose his grip on himself. He, +too, tried to change his position, but in doing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>so, he tripped and fell head on. Gathering +himself up, he came limping after the racing +dogs. Of course he lost out, but he was game +to the end. The other three kept pace, on and +on, until within a foot of the goal, when the odd +dog shot across the line, amid the cheers and +shouts of the onlookers. The Whippet Brothers +lost the race, but it made no difference to them +that their backers had lost money on them; +they had done their best and had played a clean +game.</p> + +<p>Running back to where the lame dog was, +they both licked his sore leg and showed their +sympathy. They were much better sports than +their masters, who grudgingly lost to the other +men, and took their ill will out on the dogs, +kicking and abusing them, and, tired as they +were, bringing them the whole distance to this +town.</p> + +<p>During the description of this race, the group +of dogs became so excited that it was all the +police dog could do to prevent a small riot. +The dogs who had any racing instinct in them, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>like the Princess and Gyp, could scarcely make +their legs behave during the narration. All +were whining and yelping, and jumping up and +down. It was useless to think of their quieting +down again, so they were dismissed.</p> + +<p>All clamored for more from the whippets, +who, traveling as they did, knew some very +interesting stories; and they agreed, if their +masters remained in this place long enough, +and if the kind-hearted dogs really desired them +to do so, they would tell the story of two setters +and a mastiff they knew about.</p> + +<p>The whippets did remain over for another +day, and they were on hand for the next session +of the story-telling class. They were called on +to tell their story first. They said it was a sad +one, and they thought it was too bad that all +dogs could not have the advantages of the good +training these dogs were getting. Also, if they +could do anything toward making the world +better, they meant to try, always keeping their +motto in mind.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">FIRE-FIGHTING DOGS</h3> +</div> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Jess the Fire Company’s Dog</span></h4> + +<p>Jess, who was the fire company’s dog, was +anxious to get as many of the dogs as he +possibly could interested in joining the “Fire +Brigade.” Membership in this organization +was open only to dogs who were brave enough +to risk their lives to protect life and property +when these were endangered by fire.</p> + +<p>Jess had been the first dog to join, having +become a member by adoption of the city “Protective +League,” and a life member of the city +Fire Department. Jess had a good record in +his home town for courage, and this helped to +establish him in this place, and at once he began +working for the interests of the Brigade.</p> + +<p>He read to the dogs a report of some of the +cases he had found among their fellow dogs, +saying he felt encouraged that there would be +no difficulty in enrolling a large percentage of +the dogs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>Only that day he had heard of another case. +A big retriever was often left in charge of a large +home when the family was absent. He was +never confined. He always had the range of +the house. On this occasion the folks left early, +to be gone all day. Not long after their departure, +the neighbors heard the dog barking. +Looking toward the house, they saw smoke issuing +from the roof. The alarm was turned in, +and soon everything was out of the house.</p> + +<p>But the dog refused to leave. Returning to +the gutted house, he stationed himself on guard +until his master came home. The smoke and +the excitement, however, were too much for him. +He survived the fire, the falling timbers and the +heat, but his lungs had become so inflamed +from the smoke that he died.</p> + +<p>“Such heroism,” said the Fire Brigade’s chief, +“gets into our blood and makes all of us want +to do something great.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_135.jpg" width="450" height="607" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Bill Saves His Master</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>The only requirement, in order to become a +member of this noble order, was to report some +act performed in prevention of fire or loss of +life. All of the dogs agreed to keep their eyes +open for opportunities to do something in this +line.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Bill Becomes a Member</span></h4> + +<p>The very next day the Boston bull had his +chance. He belonged to a young bachelor who +lived alone, with only his faithful dog, Bill, for +company. Now Bill was a privileged character +who had the run of the place, and, during the +day, had to receive all comers. His owner was +the best of masters, but he had one fault. He +would smoke in bed, lighting his pipe and reading +until he fell asleep. Bill never approved of +this. He was always expecting something to +happen, and himself slept with one eye open as +long as he could. Then, one night something +did happen. The lighted pipe fell out of the +sleeping man’s mouth. Bill smelled smoke, +and jumped up just in time to pull the burning +pillow off the bed, thus saving his master’s life +and home.</p> + +<p>Bill became a member of the Fire Brigade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span></p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Fire Brigade</span></h4> + +<p>We hear many stories of dogs being the means +of saving property and lives in times of fire. +They seem never to lose their heads, as it were, +but generally do the most sensible thing under +the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Here are some instances of heroic efforts on +the part of these little benefactors, in recognition +of which they are being enrolled in the Fire +Brigade.</p> + +<p>Lady, a German police dog, who will be the +only member of our company of her sex, is +entitled to first place on the list. She put out +a fire all by herself in a most heroic manner. +Left alone in the house, she discovered a burning +paper under a gasoline stove. Drawing the +fire to her, she tore the paper to bits, pawing it +until the fire was out. In so doing she burned +her nose and paws severely. When her mistress +returned and sat down, the dog laid her head +in the lap of her mistress and whined most +pitifully with pain. Needless to say, her injuries +were carefully anointed and bandaged.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>Another member of the fire brigade won his +honors by alarming the family when something +from a shelf above fell down on the stove, catching +fire from the lighted pilot. He was alone +in the kitchen when it happened, and ran barking +into the other part of the house, and then +back to the kitchen, until he succeeded in getting +the family to follow and put out the fire.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Tramp Dog</span></h4> + +<p>And here is what was once a tramp dog, but +we know he was not a tramp from choice. This +dog did a good deed in return for a kindness +shown him, in observance of the Golden Rule, +which we should all remember.</p> + +<p>This poor dog, who was alone in the world +and desperately hungry, saw a man come out of +a butcher shop with a package of meat. Hunger +had made his sense of smell so keen that even +at a respectful distance he knew the stranger +was a fair prospect. So the dog trotted along +behind the man until he reached his home.</p> + +<p>The dog, being a tramp, knew his place was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>at the back door; so he lay there to wait until +he should see some one come out to the garbage +can, which soon happened. This person not +only gave him the remains of the nice, juicy +steak, but also spoke a kind word to him. +Feeling that life was, after all, worth living, the +dog decided to spend the night with these kindly +people. During the night a fire broke out. +The tramp, as he was called, ran to the window +of the room where the man slept, and awakened +him just in time to save his home.</p> + +<p>Needless to say, he was no longer a tramp dog.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Small but Brave</span></h4> + +<p>A lady was making a call on a neighbor next +door, leaving her husband asleep on the bed, +and her small dog to keep guard during her +absence. She felt that all was secure. However, +she had hung some stockings over the gas +oven to dry, leaving the gas turned on. The +oven became very hot and set fire to the stockings, +and the flames spread to the window curtains. +The dog, seeing what had happened, ran +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>to the bed barking, but failed to arouse his +master. Then he caught the covers in his teeth +and pulled them off the sleeping man, who awoke +just in time to save their home from a bad fire.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Duke</span></h4> + +<p>A dog named Duke saved a large factory from +being burned by giving the alarm to the watchman. +The man and the dog had just made +the rounds and had seen that everything was all +right. Then, after the watchman had punched +the time clock, they left that part of the factory +for another. The dog, who was watching every +move that his master made, returned with him +to the office from where they started. There +they settled down to take a nap, until the alarm +clock would arouse them to make the next round.</p> + +<p>The watchman, who was a sound sleeper, was +soon snoring away, but not so with Duke. He +seemed nervous and alert to every sound. In a +few minutes he sprang up and barked loudly, +waking his master, and ran to the door in an +excited manner. The watchman, on going outside, +saw a bright light at one corner of the +factory. Running to this spot, he saw two men +hurriedly leaving, with the dog in pursuit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span></p> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_141.jpg" width="450" height="615" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Duke Wins Honors</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span>He turned in the fire alarm, and when he telephoned +to the police headquarters, what he +heard in reply was, “Men taken. Holding your +dog for identification.” When Duke was reinstated +at the factory, he was given a new brass-mounted +collar. He was also given a pension +for life for having performed this noble deed. +This fine fellow is doubly welcome in the Fire +Brigade.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Jess</span></h4> + +<p>In one of the smaller cities is a fire company +that has a tawny-colored Irish setter named +Jess, who is a great favorite with all of the men. +Jess knows all the “ins and outs” of the fire-fighting +business, and is as helpful as it is possible +for him to be. When there is no call for +action, he lies contentedly in the sun waiting +for the summons to duty.</p> + +<p>When an alarm is sent in, Jess is the first to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span>respond. He runs first to one and then to +another of the men, spurring them on to action +and haste. Then he jumps into the chief’s car +and seems to love to go tearing through the +streets, having the right of way over everything. +The ear-splitting screech of the siren is music to +him. Arriving at the fire, he takes a position +affording the best view, and where he will be the +least hindrance to the firemen. He takes an +intense interest in every move that is made.</p> + +<p>Once he entered a burning building. Going +in by the back door, he ran up the stairs in that +part of the building and aroused a man who was +asleep, thereby saving his life. It was for this +that Jess became a life member of that fire company; +he was serving without pay, just for the +love of being useful. After a fire is put out, he +rides home in triumph on the fire engine, wearing +a fireman’s hat. Jess will be an honorary +member of our “Fire Brigade” if everybody is +willing.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE JUDGE’S STORY</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the other dogs had finished with their +stories, and the Judge was satisfied that they +had done their best, he thanked them, and said +he would now tell them some stories. First he +would go back to his own family history, of +which Bob was not able to tell a great deal, as +he was young and not expected to take much +interest in such things.</p> + +<p>“The Airedales are a very old and famous +family of dogs,” proceeded the Judge. “The +name is romantic, having originated from a +river in Yorkshire, England, the River Aire. +It is something to be proud of, to have a name +suggested by a river; and then, to have a dale, +which means a valley, attached to it. I close +my eyes,” said the Judge, “and imagine I can +see that beautiful green valley, with the river +winding through it, and my ancestors living +so peacefully there, enjoying a free and easy life, +chasing rabbits and rascally badgers, with which +the hills are infested.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span>“It is said of the Airedales that they were +good swimmers, and how they must have enjoyed +a plunge in the River Aire on a warm day. +They were trusty, too. Baby could be left in +their care with safety. So many good qualities +are seldom found in just one breed of dogs.</p> + +<p>“While they were not noted for their beauty, +nor for the sweetness of their voices, their many +other good traits make amends for that. +Beauty, after all, is only skin deep, and if there +are no virtues below the surface to give it luster, +it is not even skin deep. Whatever beauty +the Airedale dog can lay claim to, is brought +out by his inborn cleverness. Good deeds and +good behavior have resulted in making a really +homely dog into a world-wide favorite.”</p> + +<p>While the Judge was making this modest +claim for his clan, little Pixie hung her head and +blushed with embarrassment to think that she +had ever been ashamed to play with Bob, because +of his personal appearance. She then +and there resolved to be more courteous to both +Bob and his father, of whom she was becoming +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>very fond, thinking him a wise judge and a +good counsellor for all dogs.</p> + +<p>The Judge went on to say that it was recorded +that one of his ancestors had won the first prize +at a great dog show. The people of the country +where this happened acclaimed him “King of +the ring and King of the country.” Because of +the fine qualities of the Airedales, he added, one +of their number once became a member of the +animal family at the White House, and was a +favorite of the President of the United States +and his lovely wife.</p> + +<p>“Were medals to be issued to dogs for bravery +in saving lives, the Airedale family would have +many souvenirs to hand down to their children. +A noted musician tells of his dog, Buster, +having saved his wife’s life not only once, but +five times.</p> + +<p>“The almost human instinct of this tribe was +manifested when one city was holding its election. +One of the amendments to be voted on +was the curtailing of the liberty of all dogs. To +run at large, they must be muzzled, or they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span>must be leashed when on the streets. Of course, +all dog lovers were opposed to this measure. +The dogs themselves, having heard so much +discussion on the subject, seemed to sense that +something was going to be done which concerned +them.</p> + +<p>“Such remarks as these were addressed to one +Airedale, whose name was Jerry:</p> + +<p>“‘Jerry, old pal, they are talking of interfering +with your personal liberty, and not allowing +you the run of the town, without a string tied +to you. Now you must not think we are going +to stand for any nonsense such as that. We will +go down to the polls, Mother and all of us, and +we’ll put this thing over strong, and show those +dog haters a thing or two.’</p> + +<p>“Jerry would look interested and try to wag +his stiff tail, as much as to say he would like to +do his bit to help. He had no vote, although +there were some who had, who in his opinion +were not deserving of it. One man he knew of +hated dogs, and when he had something in him—Jerry +did not know what—he was abusive to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>his dog—and also to the little boy who loved +the dog. Yet that man was one of those who +wanted all the dogs killed or tied up, and would +vote for that cruel measure.</p> + +<p>“Jerry slept over the matter, and when morning +came, bright and early, he was at the polls. +Taking up a position under the table where the +workers were, he lay down, to see that everything +was properly carried through. There he +stayed until it was almost certain the dogs were +going to win, when he left, satisfied that he was +no longer needed.”</p> + +<p>The Judge told the dogs they were all very +fortunate to be living in this wonderful country, +“where we are loved and well cared for, as there +are many places where dogs are despised and +mistreated, and even left to run wild, becoming +scavengers, just because they are half starved. +They fight and quarrel among themselves, and +make the nights hideous with their howling. +To be unloved and have no friends would be +cause enough for howling.</p> + +<p>“Then there are the Eskimo dogs. They too +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>have a hard life, as they have to draw the sledges +and do the work that horses and automobiles +perform in this country. They are harnessed +together with leather straps made from reindeer +skin. There is also a long whip, made of thongs +of the same leather, the lash of which is chewed +by the women to make it pliable. Then it is +braided to make the handle. This is lashed +over the dogs’ backs to make them draw harder +and go faster.”</p> + +<p>“How terrible!” barked all of the dogs, shrugging +their shoulders in pity.</p> + +<p>“Probably their masters love these dogs, but +this seems a strange way to show it. The people +of that country are dependent on these faithful +dogs, as they are the only means of transportation. +They have no horses, no automobiles, +and no airships—nothing but their dogs, so +their very existence depends on these brave +animals. We, with our loving masters and +mistresses, can scarcely realize how differently +these other dogs have to live. And how much +they must miss being loved as we are!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>So much sympathy was expressed for the +other kind of dog life that the Judge felt gratified +to see that these getting-together parties +the dogs were having were creating a good effect.</p> + +<p>Even little Ruby, who seldom thought of +anyone but herself, unless it was to envy some +one, was becoming less selfish. “Oh, the poor +things!” she exclaimed, licking her white forepaws +while she was saying it. She gave those +paws particular attention, and the habit was so +strong with her that, perhaps, it didn’t lessen +her sincerity.</p> + +<p>The Judge told them he thought that, as not +many of them ever had a chance to travel, he +would tell them a story about one dog who was +a great traveler, and also a very clever fellow. +This dog was a setter and his name was Jack.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">JACK THE TRAVELER</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Wheeler’s home was broken up, for Mrs. +Wheeler had passed away, leaving no one but +her husband, as there were no children.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wheeler was alone but not lonely, for he +still had Jack, his faithful setter; and there was +a cat, but she had been Mrs. Wheeler’s pet.</p> + +<p>His dog Jack was a good hunting dog, and +hunting was his master’s favorite sport. So +they two, having similar tastes, were on intimate +terms, and at all times were quite congenial.</p> + +<p>After disposing of his little shop, Mr. Wheeler +decided he would follow the trail to California. +He purchased a Ford with money from the sale +of his small stock of merchandise; he rented his +home and, leaving the cat with the Widow +Higgins, who lived next door, was ready to +pack for the trip. His gun was cleaned, and +his camping outfit made ready. All necessary +equipment for an extended trip was gathered +up, and a supply of provisions laid in.</p> + +<p>How eager Jack was about all these preparations! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span>He felt very important, too, having +been given to understand that he was a partner +in this enterprise.</p> + +<p>Jack, being a pointer and setter, as most +hunting dogs are, would <i>set</i> in the evening, +after the day’s work was done, with his nose +pointed toward the setting sun, while he dreamed +of the great times they would have when they +did finally get started.</p> + +<p>The cat was on hand and wanted to go along, +it seemed. But Jack saw to it that she was +left behind. He chased her up a tree and barked +good-by to her.</p> + +<p>Dogs of this kind, although loyal friends, +are of one-track minds. In Jack’s mind was +just one idea, and that was to be in the game +with his master. He had no regrets at leaving +the old home where he was born and raised. +The master was all that counted. Home to +him meant only to be able to eat out of his +master’s hand and to lie at his master’s feet. +That the dogs he was used to playing with +would miss him, affected him not in the least.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>Finally, Jack was perched on the seat beside +Mr. Wheeler; the gun was handy; they were +ready to go. Giving everything a final looking +over, they started on their trek across the intervening +states to California—gun, dog, man and +pipe, all essential to each other’s happiness.</p> + +<p>It was about the first of October, the most +delightful time to travel. The days were ideal. +The trees were in their most gorgeous fall colorings, +yellows deepening into rich browns and +tans, vivid scarlets softened to maroons; greens +of every shade—one glorious riot of color.</p> + +<p>The master’s eyes took in these autumnal +glories, but most of the time they were fixed +straight ahead on the road, to make sure of +good going. As for Jack, what did he care for +nature’s color scheme? The color of a chipmunk +or a jack rabbit meant much more to him.</p> + +<p>There were also many other things of interest +to look at. Of course the dogs were the chief +attraction. Jack had not known there were so +many kinds. He saw big dogs and little dogs +of every description; and, wonder of wonders, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span>one small dog was actually being carried along +the street in a lady’s arms! Another was all +dressed up, with some kind of a coat on, and a +brass collar. Poor things, to be so hampered!</p> + +<p>In one town, he saw a little fluffy white thing +coming down the street, with a ribbon bow on +top of its head, just like the little Higgins girl +wore. A dog dressed up like a girl! Could +anything be worse? He tried to pat himself +on the back, so glad was he that he was just a +common dog.</p> + +<p>School was out for the noon recess as they +passed a large school building, and Jack was +astonished at seeing so many children. He +didn’t care particularly for children, not having +been raised with them. He liked to romp with +the little Higgins boys once in a while, when +there was nothing more interesting, such as a +hunting trip, on hand. Those boys were good +sports, who could throw a ball just about right +for him to see it stop, so he could get it easily +and take it back to them. But this noisy, +scrapping crowd—they might be all right, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span>he was glad there were none of them in his +family.</p> + +<p>Now they were leaving the town and, driving +up under some trees, they stopped for lunch. +Eating lunch in the car with his master was a +privilege. Not many dogs enjoyed one like it, +but his was an exceptional master.</p> + +<p>Once more they were on their way, and there +would be no more stops until camping time. +He might as well turn around a couple of times, +lie down, and go to sleep. After this nap, he +felt refreshed and more alert to passing objects. +So many automobiles, where were they all coming +from, and where were those others all going? +Big cars and little cars, of every make and +description, all seemed to want to get there +first.</p> + +<p>How glad Jack was that his master was in no +hurry! In fact, Mr. Wheeler never was known +to be in a hurry about anything. This jogging +along just suited Jack, too, and gave him time +to make observations that would be impossible +if they were tearing along. In every way his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span>master was a comfortable person to live with; +he would always stick to this good master.</p> + +<p>Some of the other cars had dogs in them, and +some were loaded with children. One fact that +impressed Jack was that the larger, more comfortable, +and apparently softer cushioned cars +contained the smallest dogs, while the poor old +flivvers, with the floppy curtains and wheezy +engines, seemed to carry all the tired looking +women and children. Also, if a faithful dog +were brought along, he was compelled to ride in +the most uncomfortable position on the running +board, getting dust in his eyes and cramps +in his legs.</p> + +<p>While Jack pitied these poor unfortunate +fellows, he was thankful that such was not his +fate.</p> + +<p>There was one large car that fairly dazzled +his eyes with its shining, silver mountings. A +negro was driving, and, as the car passed, Jack +noticed that the only person in it was a very +fat lady. On a silk pillow beside her was a mite +of a dog, no larger than a skinned rat would be, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span>but it was covered with a bushy coat of soft, +silky hair, and looked like an over-grown, woolly +worm. Jack was fond of teasing woolly worms, +and that was why he thought of the comparison.</p> + +<p>They were now approaching a long stretch of +open country, and getting further away from +familiar scenes. The cornfields, with corn in +shocks, and yellow pumpkins strewn over the +ground, bordered both sides of the road. Jack +rabbits, quail and chipmunks were scampering +in all directions, stirring Jack to a quiver of +excitement. Wouldn’t his master stop and take +a shot at them?</p> + +<p>Then, just in front of them, sitting in the +middle of the road, with its back to the oncoming +car, he spied a fine specimen of a jack +rabbit. Stopping the car, Mr. Wheeler +cautiously took aim, and up in the air went the +cottontail. With a bounce, Jack was there to +catch it as it came back to earth, and he brought +it to the car. Now, they would have fresh +meat for supper, and how hungry he was!</p> + +<p>They established their camp in a byroad. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>While the tent was being pitched, Jack was as +helpful as he could be, lying on the loose ends of +the canvas to keep the wind from blowing it +away; at least, that was his idea of it. To be +sure, his master said he was in the way, but +masters are sometimes mistaken. Everything +being set, and the rabbit browning nicely on the +little camp stove, the smell made Jack’s mouth +water with anticipation.</p> + +<p>Then, what should drive up but a rickety +old flivver, with a tired looking, thin lady, and +a number of hungry children along with a +cramped-up dog! They were a sorry lot from +“York State,” bound for the “land of sunshine,” +where the thin lady, who was really ill, +hoped to regain her health. Jack was wishing +they had hastened along.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wheeler, being a kind-hearted man, welcomed +the newcomers. As there were little +children, and the mother looked so ill, his ready +sympathy was aroused and he asked them to +join him at his meal; and he was glad that he +had something nourishing to offer them, in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>way of coffee and rabbit, with plenty of bread +and gravy for the little ones. It made him +happy to see these hungry travelers eat until +they were satisfied.</p> + +<p>Jack did not enter with his master into the +spirit of this benevolence. Instead he grew +sulky, as nothing had been left for him but a +few well picked bones. Feeling that Fate had +played him an unkind trick, he felt revengeful, +and that he must have satisfaction from some +source. So he proceeded to take it out on the +stiff-jointed dog. Going to the side of the car +where the poor fellow was lying, Jack began +sniffling contemptuously. All of his virtuous +feelings concerning this crowd were gone. The +other dog assumed an indifferent air, which +only aggravated Jack more.</p> + +<p>He began snapping at his victim’s heels, +and that started it; the fight was on, which +showed there was some spunk left in the other +dog, even if he did not look the part. Over and +over they rolled, snapping and snarling, and +biting at one another. Jack, being the larger, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>seemed to be gaining on the under dog, when +the blood of his adversary, who was part bull, +began to boil, and grasping Jack by the neck, +he held on with a death grip. At this turn of +the battle, the owners of the two dogs came running +up. They brought with them pails of +water, sticks, and everything at hand that could +be used to separate the fighting canines. Each +began by beating the other’s dog, protesting +that if one must be killed, it must not be theirs.</p> + +<p>The lady brought an umbrella and helped, +notwithstanding her weakened condition. Forcing +the umbrella between her dog’s jaws, she +managed to loosen his hold on Jack’s throat, +by spreading it enough to break his grip. Jack +then, feeling that the victory was his, retreated +to have his wounds dressed.</p> + +<p>This little unpleasantness was a dampener on +the newly formed friendship between Mr. Wheeler +and his guests. He felt that no longer did +he wish to continue the acquaintance of these +people, so he asked them to move on. They +refused, and so he decided to break camp.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_161.jpg" width="450" height="620" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">“The Fight Was On”</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>Mr. Wheeler made ready to continue on his +trip. By this time the moon had risen, and, +as there was less traffic than during the day, he +decided he would drive on, as he would really +make better time by doing so. He felt depressed +by the circumstances that had forced +an unpleasant ending to a perfect day; but he +had learned a lesson from these events that +would prove valuable on the rest of the journey.</p> + +<p>Jack was trying to sleep on the back seat +cushion. His back was sore; his pride was +hurt, and, if that dog on the running board had +been any stiffer than he felt, he hoped to know it.</p> + +<p>The night driving was pleasant. The roads +were smooth, and only occasionally Mr. Wheeler +had to pull out for a passing car. Soon his +spirits rose and, as they went on through the +villages, he noticed the lights were cheerful. At +some places there was music and dancing, and +the ring of merry laughter filled the air.</p> + +<p>It was after midnight when our travelers +drove into a sheltering clump of scrubby oaks +to spend the rest of the night. Mr. Wheeler, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>rousing Jack from off the back seat, curled up +there himself and went to sleep. By morning, +Jack was feeling better. Being in good health, +he soon recovered from his skirmish with the +strange dog. His throat was still sore, and the +skin was torn, but it was healing nicely, and so +was his pride.</p> + +<p>The next night was uneventful, so they rested +and were refreshed. They pushed on toward +town for breakfast. Jack was allowed to eat +on the back porch of the restaurant, after which +he hopped into the front seat beside his master, +ready for more observations.</p> + +<p>They were now going through the prairie +country, and they saw prairie dogs sitting on +their haunches, looking like sentinels beside +their homes. Jack would have liked a chance +at one of them, to give it a good shake, but his +wounds would not allow him to attempt it. +Two jack rabbits were shot. Even in this +sport, he was not feeling “peppy” enough to +take part, although by supper time he was +sufficiently recovered to enjoy his share of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>good cheer. This time he got real meat. The +bones were left, not even buried, which showed +he was not really himself yet.</p> + +<p>By the time the city of Denver was reached, +Jack was fully recovered and very alert. Mr. +Wheeler ran the car into a garage for repairs, +and they started out to see the sights while +waiting. As they were near the Capitol building, +Mr. Wheeler thought he would like to go +to the top, as all tourists do. Of course, Jack +was not allowed to accompany him. An officer +gave Jack permission to lie on the lawn and +watch the squirrels at play.</p> + +<p>Though he did not feel quite right about +going without his dog, Mr. Wheeler began the +ascent. When he reached the topmost balcony, +he looked down to where he had left +Jack. Imagine his horror at seeing the dog +chasing one of the squirrels up a tree and barking +his lustiest at it. He also saw an officer +running toward Jack, and then beating him +with a club until the dog howled louder and +louder. Mr. Wheeler descended as fast as he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>could, which, on account of the narrowness of +the steps, it was hard to do; and he found that +the dog catcher had been called to take Jack +to the pound. Nothing would do but that Mr. +Wheeler must go along and settle with the chief.</p> + +<p>Jack was loaded into a cage with a lot of other +dogs. They were all snarling and snapping, +but at heart they were very good dogs, who +had been guilty only of some thoughtlessness, or +some small fault perhaps that they did not +know was wrong. Poor Jack!</p> + +<p>The waiting room at the chief’s office was +filled with irate men and women who had come +to claim their various pets. All were sure a +great injustice had been done; a great mistake +had been made in taking up <i>their</i> dogs.</p> + +<p>Time dragged along for poor Jack. He +thought he had been having trouble enough, +since he had started on this pleasure trip, without +this; and it all came about just because he +was following a natural impulse, something for +which he was in no way responsible. What a +nuisance their old laws were, anyway!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>Finally the room cleared, and Mr. Wheeler +had a chance to present his case, and get Jack +released. How glad Jack was that his beloved +master had been watching, and was able to go +with him and help him out of his predicament!</p> + +<p>The next problem was how to get to the car, +as the pound was in the outskirts of the city, +and Jack would not be permitted to ride on the +street car. Also it was much too far to walk. +Something must be done quickly, for it was +getting late. Beside the dog pound was a +settlement of a certain class of merchants of the +street, venders of old clothes, rags and old iron, +necessary commodities of a sort, and there the +horse-drawn vehicle was the mode of transportation.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Wheeler was debating in his mind +what to do, along came one of these merchants +driving a half-starved horse. Noticing the look +of perplexity on Mr. Wheeler’s face, he inquired, +“What’s the trouble, Boss?” Then a bright +idea entered Mr. Wheeler’s head. He told the +man of his desire to get to another part of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span>city, but that he had no way to do so, and he +wondered if it would be possible for the merchant +to take them. The merchant, having had a +rather bad day in his business, consented, thinking +that here would be a way to make accounts +balance. They did some quibbling over the +charges, which Mr. Wheeler thought very +“steep,” for he was asked to pay two fares for +both of them. As he could not very well help +himself, he agreed to the price, and they started. +Thus they returned to their lodging.</p> + +<p>Next morning, after both had enjoyed a good +breakfast, they set out on the last lap of their +journey. Following the old Santa Fe trail, they +found the country they were passing through +very interesting. Jack kept his eyes open and +his ears pricked up.</p> + +<p>He was attracted by the Indian Villages, where +dogs were numerous and all seemed to be living +happy-go-lucky lives. Really they looked too +lazy to come in out of the rain, if it ever should +rain, which it didn’t; therefore they were deprived +of even this exercise.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span>For a long stretch nothing much occurred to +interest them.</p> + +<p>By noon they were nearing another town, +a Mexican settlement. More lazy dogs were +seen lying under any shelter that afforded shade +from the blistering sun. Jack wondered what +these dogs lived on. They looked well fed, for +Mexican dogs, that never get fat. Seeing +strings of something red hanging on fences and +from nails driven into the houses, he wondered +if it was meat. If so, where did they get it? If +only his master would stop long enough, he +would have liked to sample some of this drying +beef. But Mr. Wheeler was getting very +tired, having all the driving to do, and was +anxious to get to his journey’s end. He would +welcome the sight of the green pepper trees he +had heard so much about. He was planning +on stopping for a long rest at the first tourist +camp they came to, and so he did as little stopping +on the way as possible.</p> + +<p>At last our travelers reached the land of sunshine +and flowers. They were tired and travel-stained, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>but glad to be at their journey’s end. +Their first night at the camp was a new experience. +It seemed like a neighborhood meeting +of some sort, all were so friendly and willing to +tell of their experiences. Almost every one Mr. +Wheeler met had either been through the town +of Woodville, Iowa, or knew some one from +there, or some one who had passed through +there, so he felt quite at home among them.</p> + +<p>Many had brought their dogs along, but +Jack, after his experience with the strange dog +during their trip, was more cautious about making +advances. He had learned that the best +policy was “to live and let live,” and so he got +along very well with these dogs.</p> + +<p>After getting rested and learning where was +the best place for them to locate, man and dog +moved into a pleasant suburb of one of the +larger towns, taking rooms with a friendly +widow, who was fond of dogs but cared very +little for cats, which was agreeable to Jack. +Now, he would get plenty of good things to eat +and lots of attention. Although Jack was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>strictly a man’s dog, the arrangement suited +him very well indeed.</p> + +<p>One of the first things his master had to do +was to buy a license for Jack. The dog must +wear a collar with a number on the back, or +some day the dog catcher would get him again. +Jack was not very proud of his new collar, but, +since collars were being worn, he must conform +and get used to being a city dog.</p> + +<p>Jack and the landlady, whose name was Mrs. +Weir, became quite good friends, though he +refused to be trained to any new habits. His +old ones were good enough for him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wheeler, having good prospects of going +into business, concluded to return to Woodville, +sell his home, and locate permanently in California. +Therefore he made preparations for the +return trip and was soon ready to start. Jack, +of course, was disappointed at not being included +in the arrangement. He was left with +Mrs. Weir, who was to give him every needed +attention. He was tied up till Mr. Wheeler +was well on his way, and did some lusty howling, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>which he kept up until the neighbors protested, +and he was given his liberty.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he loose than he took up the +trail in pursuit of his beloved master. However, +as Mr. Wheeler had several days’ start, it +was impossible, even if he had made no stops, for +Jack to overtake him. Jack did stop many +times. He got very tired and hungry, having +to depend on his own efforts for food. Most of +his nights were spent in prowling around, hunting +for a possible loosely covered garbage can, +to get a meal. When he was out in the open +spaces, he would catch any wild game he could. +This all caused delays, so that, by the time he +reached his old home town, his master was well +on his way back.</p> + +<p>Jack was very glad to see all the Higgins +family, even the cat, and never once during his +stay did he chase her up the tree, nor in any way +annoy her. He had seen much of the world +since last they met, and travel had broadened +and made him more considerate of others, as a +well mannered dog should be.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span>He was not satisfied—the place wasn’t the +same—and he missed his master. So in a few +weeks he was missing. Then, some months +later, Mrs. Higgins received a letter from Mr. +Wheeler saying that Jack had returned to California. +Though very thin in body, he seemed +none the worse for his adventures.</p> + +<p>All the dogs thought this was a very fine story, +and begged the Judge to tell them some more. +So, at the next session, he told them a couple of +brief narratives, one about a puppy and young +turkey, and another about a blind man’s dog.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">TOM AND DANIEL</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Many of you dogs who have never lived on +a ranch or a farm, may not know that a dog +and a tom turkey can be just as unfriendly as a +dog and a cat,” said the Judge, as he thought of +a story which illustrated this point.</p> + +<p>“There seems to be a sort of jealousy between +them, which manifests itself at a very early age, +and develops into bitter hatred as they grow +older. This was the case with Tom and the +collie I am telling you of.</p> + +<p>“The puppy and the turkey came into the +world at about the same time, and the little +lady who owned them divided her attention +between them. Young turkeys are delicate little +creatures and require the greatest care to get +them started. The puppy was usually at the +heels of his mistress when she fed the turkeys, +but, instead of pretending to help, as he did with +the little chickens, he would bark and snap at +them, frightening them.</p> + +<p>“In the flock there was one young Tom who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span>early showed a disposition to defend himself, +and his puppyship got many a peck on the nose. +Thus began the trouble which led to war, and +many a battle royal was fought between them, +but there was never any bloodshed.</p> + +<p>“Their maneuvering took place around the +woodpile back of the house. The turkey would +be strutting in all the glory of his brilliant +plumage and war paint, arrogant and ready to +battle any intruder. Along would come Daniel. +With a war whoop of a gobble, Tom would start +after the dog, and round and round the woodpile +they would go, with Daniel just a few steps +ahead of his pursuer, until, tired out, he would +hop on to the woodpile and bark insultingly at +his enemy. The turkey would puff up his +feathers, drop his wings, spread out his tail, and +look as if he were bursting with rage.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_175.jpg" width="450" height="615" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">A Battle Between the Two Warriors</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>“When he could stand it no longer, Tom +would fly at Daniel, who knew the tactics of +the bird, and would dodge to one side, so that +his majesty would land on the other side. This +was just what Daniel had in mind when he +mounted the fort; and now it was his chance to +be the pursuer instead of the pursued. Again +around and around they would go, until both +were almost exhausted.</p> + +<p>“The lady decided to sell the young gobbler, +and he was taken several miles to a new home, +and Daniel was left to his possessions.</p> + +<p>“One day, several months after Tom’s departure, +the lady had occasion to go to the +place where the gobbler was sold. She took the +dog with her and left him in the car while she +did her errand.</p> + +<p>“Returning to the car, she found Daniel +gone. Then she heard a familiar bark, answered +by a warlike gobble, and she saw that a battle +was on between the two warriors, as of old. +Instead of the woodpile, a small building was +their fortress this time. Not only a dog never +forgets, but a turkey gobbler seems to be neither +a forgiver nor a forgetter.</p> + +<p>“That is all of that story,” the Judge told his +audience, “and next time I am going to tell you +about a blind man’s dog.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> + +<h3 class="nobreak">THE BLIND MAN’S DOG</h3> +</div> + +<p>At his post on the corner, not far from the +park entrance, was another little dog, whose +occupation would not permit of his attending +these gatherings, if he had been invited, which +he was not.</p> + +<p>As the park dogs went by, either led by their +attendants or chasing one another, as some were +never free to do, this dog, from his place by the +side of his master, would look in wonder at them. +Where were they going, and what would they +do when they arrived? How strange they all +looked! He was anxious to know if he resembled +any of them. He looked over as much of his +body as he could see without turning a backward +somersault.</p> + +<p>He had four legs, as they had, and his coat, +which was white where it was not black, and +black where it was not white, was smooth and +sleek. But his tail—there was the difference. +None of them had his kind of a tail. Some of +theirs were bushy, others were short and stiff. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>He wondered how they could ever express their +feelings with such tails. One little pom had her +tail curled up over her back like a doughnut. +No, his tail evidently was not in the prevailing +fashion, as none of the park dogs were wearing +his kind. Not beautiful, but how useful was +this straight, tapering tail of his! How easily +he could express his every mood with it!</p> + +<p>If he were happy, how fast he could wag that +willing little tail. Should any one be harsh or +unkind to him, down would go that same little +indicator. So, if his tail were not in the popular +style for the season, it answered his purposes, as +a gauge for his feelings, which was more important.</p> + +<p>His ears were small and stuck up on the top +of his little head like sentinels, sensitive, alert, +always pricked up to hear every sound that +came through the air. Then those piercing +black eyes—they were his chief asset. There +was special use for them, and it was important +that they have sharp vision, as he must be “eyes +for the blind.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>His beloved master looked to him for protection, +as he moved about from one place to +another; and the dog had to pilot him to his +place of business, where his firm sold papers. +The firm consisted of himself, Tony, his partner, +and the dog, Job, so named on account of his +characteristic patience.</p> + +<p>Man and dog were inseparable. They had +lived together ever since Job was small enough +to go into the blind man’s pocket. At that +time, Peg, Job’s mother, was the pilot, and she +had trained her son for the work when she +should grow too old and feeble to do it.</p> + +<p>Every evening they would start out from the +small cottage, where they lived with the blind +man’s dear old mother. Job would lead on +cautiously to the corner. Here they would stop, +waiting for the signal to cross. Then Job would +lead carefully to the middle of the street, watching +the lights, and over to the high curb on the +other side. This he would mount, turn around +and pull on the leash, so his master would know +that the other side of the street was reached, +when he could measure the height with his cane, +as he must step up. On the dog would lead, +through the crowd to the soap box on the corner, +where his master would open up his business for +the night.</p> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i_180.jpg" width="450" height="613" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Job Was “Eyes for the Blind”</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span>Tony would be there already with his supply +of papers. Each of the partners had his own +kind to sell. Soon the blind man would call, +“Morning Times—all the latest morning news!” +although it was really early evening. This +call would be heard along the street with Tony’s +clear soprano cutting the air with “Extray—Extray—Evening +Herald—Evening News—read +the latest, all about the game!” Meanwhile +Job, the personification of patience, would take +his position near his master, to watch for any +stray pennies that might drop from the hands +of his master when a purchase was made.</p> + +<p>Tony kept an eye on the blind man’s business +to see that no one took advantage of him. This +did not often happen, however, for those wonderfully +sensitive nerves in the blind man’s fingers +had become very acute, and the sense of touch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span>was keen to the value of the coin that was given +into his hands. He was not easily fooled. Seldom +was Tony called on for anything except to +get more change.</p> + +<p>The blind man was a youngish looking man, +not unpleasing to look at. He was clean, of +fair skin, and had all the marks of having been +injured while helping to make his country a safe +place to live in, which was indeed the fact.</p> + +<p>In Tony and Job he had two faithful allies, +the former having no claim to such a relationship, +other than a fellow feeling of helplessness +that Tony was experiencing when they first met, +which had been entirely overcome through this +partnership. It had helped Tony to forget +himself in helping one more unfortunate than +himself.</p> + +<p>Tony didn’t belong to any one in particular. +Now, since he had adopted Job and his blind +master, he felt he had something to live for, and +he ceased to feel the need of <i>belonging</i>. He told +the blind man when he first met him that his +father was dead, and his mother had married a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>man with a houseful of children. Tony had +been told to get out, and to make his own way.</p> + +<p>Small and under-nourished, the lad went forth, +his first stop being the corner where the blind +man was being harassed by a gang of newsboys, +who were trying to drown his feeble voice, and +loudly hawking their papers. The confusion +and noise were great. Tony came upon the +scene just in time to help his present-day friend +out, by going to his side and beginning to sing.</p> + +<p>It was no classical song that he sang, but it +had its effect. As “Yes, we have no bananas +to-day,” rang out sweet and clear amid the +hubbub, everyone passing took notice of the +situation; and Tony could sing!</p> + +<p>Among those whose attention was attracted +was the owner of the building in front of whose +premises this all occurred. Driving off the +hawkers, so as to give the blind man a chance, +he permitted Tony to help him, and in this way +the partnership was formed.</p> + +<p>Tony slept at police headquarters that night. +The next day at school arrangements were made +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>for him to live at a boys’ refuge home, with the +privilege of selling papers in the evening with the +blind man and Job as partners. Now that +Tony was not always hungry, his voice was +growing stronger. Calling “Extray” had helped +to develop his vocal cords.</p> + +<p>At school he could be depended upon to lead +the choruses. His clear, sweet notes, as they +sang “Star Spangled Banner,” could be heard +above the rest of the singing. One day the choir +master from one of the churches came to hear +them, with the idea of finding some material for +a boys’ vested choir for his fashionable church.</p> + +<p>After hearing the children sing, he asked that +Tony be allowed to sing alone. This the little +Italian boy was proud to do, and he sang so +sweetly that the choir master engaged him, and +asked him to meet with the choir for practice on +Saturday afternoon.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of better things for +little Tony. The boys’ choir was to make its +first appearance on Easter morning, and Tony +was to be the soloist.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>The blind man and Job had heard about it +several times, for Tony was full of the subject, +so full that he bubbled over. He would start +out with “Evening News,” and trail off up into +high C, ending in “All love excelling,” before he +came down to earth again.</p> + +<p>His partner, too, was fond of music. His +beloved Violin was his only solace. The sad +appealing notes that he was able to produce on +that old instrument went straight to one’s heart. +Then there was Job. Maybe he didn’t love +music, but he would stand before his master, +listening intently, ears pricked to sharpest aspect, +body tense, and tail oscillating with measured +beat to the rhythm, and when the tension grew +too strong, a dismal howl would relieve his pent-up +feelings.</p> + +<p>The practicing had been going on for several +Saturday afternoons. The next Sunday was +Easter. The blind man was not in the habit +of going to church, although his dear old mother +was a regular attendant, but there was an inducement +to go this Easter morning that he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span>had never felt before. Tony was to sing in the +choir. He would go just for that.</p> + +<p>The church was beautifully decorated for the +occasion. The choir boys in their vestments +marched to their places, singing a stately processional. +Proud mothers filled the pews, each +looking with adoring eyes at her own beloved +boy. Tony had no one to care. All were +strangers to him, so he thought, as he looked +over the throng. Then away to one side, in a +pew alone, he saw something that made him +happy, for there were his partners, Job and his +master.</p> + +<p>Job paid little or no attention to anything +that was being done or said. The choir had +sung one song. Other things had been done, +but nothing that a dog cared about. Then the +organ played the prelude, and a voice, full of +sweetness and charm, started out with, “Love +Divine, all love excelling.” This aroused Job’s +interest. He sat up and took notice; his +body stiffened, his ears twitched. When everyone +was enraptured with the little Italian’s music, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span>in the pause after the solo, Job’s over-wrought +feelings overcame him. One pathetic wail, toning +off into a dismal howl, broke the sacred +silence.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The Judge, satisfied with this conclusion of the +exercises, dismissed the dogs with the feeling that +the lessons they had learned from this experience +would be beneficial and lasting—that the +motto he had given them, “To live and let live,” +would influence all their lives. Bidding them a +kind good-by, he adjourned the court.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77634 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/77634-h/images/cover.jpg b/77634-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e37f46 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/77634-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5ee28f --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/coversmall.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_007.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_007.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f7509e --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_007.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_015.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_015.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..50ba895 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_015.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_024.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_024.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e1063d --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_024.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_029.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_029.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4bb1e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_029.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_033.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_033.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e82887e --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_033.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_046.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_046.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4abb9f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_046.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_059.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_059.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b5d6b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_059.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_065.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_065.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b13b5c --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_065.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_068.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_068.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..99577c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_068.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_079.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_079.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f650f9f --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_079.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_092.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_092.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a5795d --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_092.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_095.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_095.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..922840a --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_095.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_111.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_111.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ea948f --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_111.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_114.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_114.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d68a014 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_114.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_129.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_129.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..36f1ee1 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_129.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_135.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_135.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b1efd86 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_135.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_141.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_141.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..33fcaee --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_141.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_161.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_161.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14c843b --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_161.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_175.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_175.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4eaaa3b --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_175.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/i_180.jpg b/77634-h/images/i_180.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..12ca73c --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/i_180.jpg diff --git a/77634-h/images/titlepage.jpg b/77634-h/images/titlepage.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..03323c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/77634-h/images/titlepage.jpg |
