Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-15
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The Dog that Understood French

The Dog that Understood French,
There is gentleman of our acquain-
lance, living in the neighborhood of this
great and never sufficiently to be admired
Crescent City, who is the fortunate posses
sor of large and ferocious dog. This dog
is Of French origin. OF course he under
stands the French language. 1t appears
that he understands no other. At least so
says his owner. That was what he said
not long since TO a gentleman whom he
had invited out 10 dine with him one day.
"Dont be afraid Of the dog just tell him
in French AAez or PasSez and he'll not
NEEDLE with you. He don't understand
English You understand French, eh?"
"Yes, little. A word or so !" replied the
other, with long dormant visions of Levi
zac's Grammar rising to his memory.
g. Very we'll Mind. at sharp three And
don't be afraid of the dog" and the inviter
turned of waving his hand i'll friendly
adieu. Hang the dog Don't under.
stand English! Let me see alex pasSez !
pdsScz alex" Aud off he went too, re.
peating the talismanic words.
About 2 o'clock, P. M, the invited
guest perched himself in buggy, and set
off for his hosts country re idence. Null
tiaEious business arrangements had entire
l. driven the dog" out Of his mini. The
buggy aud he went quietly and smoothly
on together; ii fast tro,ting horse prece ed
ing both and drawing both. "HelIo there
Here, some one called out the guest, as
he dashed up to the front gate ofhis friends
neat little cottage, and Jumping down, began
to stretch his limbs and arrange the reins
and harness.
Bow WOW wow!" The invited star
ted Bow WOW p and an immense, curly
haired black dog, with fierce red eyes,
dashed roundth corner { the fence, fifty
Yards off, and made at the new conner.
9TH, big dog, by thunder! p exclaimed the
latter ego way get out srP' Bow WOW !"
replied the dog, louder than ever, and
showing formidable row of teeth. Just
then the hosts hint about the animals
lingual accomplishments flashed on his
mind but the dog came rapidly GU, and
the new conner could not for the life of him
recall the only words that could save him
from an attack. Get out, sir !" shouted
he, Furnishing his whip threatenlngly !!
"back, you rascal French language !!
Porly uoa0s Get out! Bon jour-"
That did not stop the canine monster he
had apparently forgotten his Frenc In
another moment he would be in dangerous
proximity to the invited ones 'ower limbs.
Shouts, threats gestures, were OF no avail.
There was sudden rush on the part OF
the dog, and a sudden jump on the part of
the guest Th9 former, barking and growl-
ing, had his fore paws on tho edge of the
buggy; the latter was inside of IT. His
French suddenly returned to him. Com
ment vOuS porter UOuS ?" he exclaimed,
holding his reins hard with one hand, and
lashing away at his assaant with the whip
in the other. "Coniound you Comment
UOuS porter UOuS? Comment UOuS porter
UOus, you internal villain! Comment UOus
porter UOuS I" This last phrase had hardly
been uttered, in tone of the utmost anger
and passion, when the fast trotting horse
frightened out Of his wits, broke into run,
knocked the dog over, and disappeared
down the road, his driver in as pretty apas-
sion as was ever concOcted
When the guest and the host next met,
former was rather cool and reserved. He
thought it was all trick. He was finally
prevailed on to relate his adventure. "The
internal ugly beast did talk French to
him, but the more French uttered the
more savage he became" "What did you
say to himW "Say oh, everything!" A
new idea struck him. "By the Lord Har-
ry! I've sold myself! No wonder he didn't
understand me. There was asking him
in French, Hon. he was. instead of send
ing him in the same lingo to parts unknown !!
Don't laugh, now Losing my dinner and
being run away with were bad enough.
Never say" dog" to me again and I'll treat
you to dinner But, confound it, old fel
low, do hire schoolmaster and have your
domestic tiger taught that Comment UOuS
porter UOuS don't always mean Hon. dye
dO."-N o. I'ic0yuns.