img The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories  /  Chapter 2 A DOG'S TALE | 6.90%
Download App
Reading History

Chapter 2 A DOG'S TALE

Word Count: 4391    |    Released on: 27/11/2017

PTE

him, he was the one that looked ashamed, whereas he had thought it was going to be she. The others were always waiting for this, and glad of it and proud of her, for they knew what was going to happen, because they had had experience. When she told the meaning of a big word they were all so taken up with admiration that it never occurred to any dog to doubt if it was the right one; and that was natural, because, for one thing, she answered up so promptly that it seemed like a dictionary speaking, and for another thing, where could they find out whether it was right or not? for she was the only cultivated dog there was. By and by, when I was older, she brought home the word Unintellectual, one time, and worked it pretty hard all the week at different gatherings, making much unhappiness and despondency; and it was at this time that I noticed that during that week she was asked for the meaning at eight different assemblages, and flashed out a fresh definition every time, which showed me that she had more presence of mind than culture, though I said nothing, of course. She had one w

t afraid of anything, she had such confidence in the ignorance of those creatures. She even brought anecdotes that she had heard the family and the dinner-guests laugh and shout over; and as a rule she got the nub of one chestnut hitched onto another chestnut, where, of course, it didn't fit and hadn't any point; and when she delivered the nub she fell over and rolled

nd from her we learned also to be brave and prompt in time of danger, and not to run away, but face the peril that threatened friend or stranger, and help him the best we could without stopping to think what the cost might be to us. And she taught us not by words only, but by example, and that is the best way and the surest and

PTE

ers, and never mind about the results; they were not our affair. She said men who did like this would have a noble and beautiful reward by and by in another world, and although we animals would not go there, to do well and right without reward would give to our brief lives a worthiness and dignity which in itself would be a reward. She had gathered these

said-keeping it for the last to make me remember it the better, I think-was, "In memory of me, when ther

I could for

PTE

shine; and the spacious grounds around it, and the great garden-oh, greensward, and noble trees, and flowers, no end! And I was the same as a member of the family; and they loved me, and petted me, and did not

eled face that just seems to glint and sparkle with frosty intellectuality! He was a renowned scientist. I do not know what the word means, but my mother would know how to use it and get effects. She would know how to depress a rat-terrier with it and make a lap-dog look sorry he came. But that is not the best one; the best one was Laboratory. My mother could organize a Trust on that one that would skin the tax-collars off the whole herd. The laboratory was not a book, or a picture, or a place to wash your hands in, as the college president's dog said-no, that is the lavatory; th

, when the baby was asleep and the nurse out for a few minutes on the baby's affairs; other times I romped and raced through the grounds and the garden with Sadie till we were tired out, then slumbered on the grass in the shade of a tree while she read her book; other tim

be a happier dog that I was, nor a gratefuler one. I will say this for myself, for it is only the truth: I tried in all ways to

lvety, and had such cunning little awkward paws, and such affectionate eyes, and such a sweet and innocent face; and it made me so proud to see how the chi

was shot out, and it lit on the slope of the tent. I suppose a quiet interval followed, then a scream from the baby awoke me, and there was that tent flaming up toward the ceiling! Before I could think, I sprang to the floor in my fright, and in a second was half-way to the door; but in the next half-second my mother's farewell was sounding in my ears, and I was back on the bed

nd that, in terror, and at last a strong blow fell upon my left foreleg, which made me shriek and fall, for the moment, helpless; the cane went up for another blo

and such things were kept, as I had heard say, and where people seldom went. I managed to climb up there, then I searched my way through the dark among the piles of things, and hid in the secretest place I could find. It was fooli

in. Quiet for some minutes, and that was grateful to my spirit, for then my fears began to go down; and fears are wor

there: along the halls, through all the rooms, in both stories, and in the basement and the cellar; then outside, and farther and farther away-then back, and all about the ho

w. I made a very good one; which was, to creep down, all the way down the back stairs, and hide behind the cellar door, and slip out and escape when the iceman came at dawn, while he was inside filling the refrigerator; then I would hide

fe is-my mother had said it. Then-well, then the calling began again! All my sorrows came back. I said to myself, the master will never forgive. I did not know

u are this way you sleep a great deal, and I did. Once I woke in an awful fright-it seemed to me that the calling was right there in the garret! And so it was: it wa

back to us, and forgive-it

adie was plunging and stumbling through the darkness and the lumbe

name they called it by, and it means agriculture. I remember my mother pulling it on a kennel once, and explaining it in that way, but didn't say what agriculture was, except that it was synonymous with intramural incandescence; and a dozen times a day Mrs. Gray and Sadie would tell the tale to new-comers, and say I risked my life to save the baby's, and both of us had burns t

could call to mind; but the master said, with vehemence, "It's far above instinct; it's reason, and many a man, privileged to be saved and go with you and me to a better world by right of its possession, has less of it that this poor silly quadruped that's foreordained to perish"; and

bject of it all, and I wished my mother could know that thi

nd that interested me, because in the summer Sadie and I had planted seeds-I helped her dig the holes, you know-and after days and days a little shrub or a flower came up there, and it was a wonder how that could happen; but it did, and I wi

by, and went away on a journey and a visit to their kin, and the master wasn't any company for us, but we played together and had

feeling proud, for any attention shown to the puppy was a pleasure to me, of course. They discussed and experimented, and then suddenly the pup

confess it! He's

ey all

you a great debt from henceforth," and they crowded around him

ut its head against mine, whimpering softly, and I knew in my heart it was a comfort to it in its pain and trouble to feel its mother's touch, though

farthest end, where the children and the nurse and the puppy and I used to play in the summer in the shade of a great elm, and there the footman dug a hole, and I saw he was going to plant the puppy, and I was glad, because it would grow and come up a fine handsome dog, like Robin Adair, and be a beautiful surprise for

me the best of food; and they pet me so, and even come in the night, and cry, and say, "Poor doggie-do give it up and come home; don't break our hearts!" and all this terrifies me the more, and makes me sure something has happened. And I am so weak; s

ask for the little doggie that did the brave deed, and who of us will be strong enough to

Download App
icon APP STORE
icon GOOGLE PLAY