The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-03-10

monI ana Inat MS remarkable ap-
pearance was owing to something that
had been done to disguise him. But
Fb5ertigibbet, thinking probably that
possession was "nine-tenths of the
law was Indifferent.
Well, he sat there on the fence, hold
ing fast to the dogs string ; the bright
sharp eyes winking away from under
the old hat, ready to see what was
going on. But there was not much to
see Just -then-only the old school
house, with the trees behind it, hold
ing up their naked branches to show
what the cruel autumn winds had done
to them, a fow crows wheeling lazily in
the an, and the sleepy old country
road stretching away in the distance.
By and by something seemed to be
moving up the road. The keen eyes
caught this as soon as it came in sight,
and watching it closely, at last made
out that it was a hat. Soon from
under the hat emerged q hoy; and
following the boy appeared something
which turned out to be a dog.
The boy walked up to the fence and
stood in front of Flibertigibbet, and
his dog walked up and stood in front
of Fhbertigibbet's dog; and then the
four stared at each other. They took
it very cody, with the exception of the
spaniel and he seemed more alarmed
than gratified at the appearance and
manners of his visitor. And not much
wonder; for he was a queer-looking
animal, with body like a bulldog, ears
like a mastiff, and a tail like an ex-
clamation point, and an expression of
countenance that would totally dis
qualify him for admission in the peace
society. e
The silence was broken by a question
from Fhbertigibbet. "Dat ar yer
dog9"
"Yes, sir, that's my dog; an the
way he'll catch rats an chaw EN- up IS
a caution. But what kind of a dog is
that o. yourn2 ] never see one like
him; an I've seen heaps o. dogs too"
"But yer hain't never seer noffin like
dat ar" said F1ibertigibbet. "He act
jes' like folks; sit up ter de table Oh a
cheer, an eat outen a plate, an wipe
he mouf when he froo, ies' like folks
does"
80, go long. 'Spose I'm goin' to
b1ieve thati You must think I'm
green"
"Don' care eff yer bliebes it er not.
OATS so; an dar's lots o. folks seen
him."
"Well, what kind of a dog is he any
way3 l thought l knowed all the
kinds o. dogs, but 1 never see one like
him. He'd ought to be a spaniel by
his ears and his make but his hair
1 say, let's look at that dog" and he
made a motion to take him up.
But Fhbertigibbet was too quick for
him. He jumped from the fence, and
catching the dog up under his arm, ex-
claimed, "No, yer don't. Eff yer dom
be1ieb what TELLS yer, yer amt gwine
ter look at nofin." And he marched
of, leaving the boy staring after him
with mingled curiosity and suspicion.
This turned out to be rather an I'M
fortunate adventure for Flibertigibbe,.
The boy, who prided himself upon his
knowledge of dogs, was determined to
find out to what species this M be-
longed; and when he met any one who
he thought could tell him, he would
describe the dog, and repeat what his
owner said about him 1t happened
that this came in time to the ears of a
Mr.. Graves, who knew that some
friends of his, living about five miles
distant, had lost a King Charles spaniel
which they valued very highly. The
description given of Fibertigibbet's
dog led him to think that it might be
the lost spaniel disguised ; particularly
as he had been taught to sit at table,
and eat from a plate and use a napkin,
exactly as Flibertigibbet said. SO Mr..
Graves took a walk one day, on purpose
to see the wonderful dog, and, looking
closely at him, was sure that it was the
missing spaniel, with part of his hair
cut of, and the rest dyed black.
And now to prove it. An idea came
to MI. Graves, which he determined
TO carry out without defay-He was a
ventriloquist, and could throw his
voice in any direction, changing it at
the same time, so that it could not be
recognized. Z This wonderful power he
would use in the dogs behalf.
He found Fhbertigibbet in his usual
place, on the fence in front of the
schoolhouse. Stopping in front of him
he asked, Where did you ge~t thatdog2"
my uncle done brung him FINN the
city, said Flibertigibbet.
81 don't believe it. I think you stole
him.
"'Deed I nebber," protested Fiber
tigibbet.
"WelI, Pm going to ask him about
it. Now, doggie, tell me the truth do
you belong to F1ibertigibbet I"
There was a pause, then IN a curious
h~alf-squeal, half-bark, issuing appar-
emily from the dogs mouth, came the
answer, "No.n
Flibertigibbet started back, his eyes
almost bursting from their sockets, and
stared from dog to man, and back
again, In mingled fear, wonder, and
incredulity.
"Where did he get youg" And the
dog apparently>barked out, "Stole me.
from Nh. Campbell
Flibertigibbet dropped the string,
and put one leg over the fence.
"What did he do to you after he
stole your
scout my hair off, and BACKED me-"
The other leg followed its mate, and
Fhbertigibbet bounded down the hill,
stumbling yer rocks, rolling in hol-
lows, but never stopping till he found
a hiding place in the adjacent woods.
The spaniel, his hair grown, and the
black washed of, resumed his proper
position in society, but ever afterwards
ran and hid himself when a colored
boy approached the house.
1t was long before Flibertigibbet was
seen again in his accustomed haunts
and when he at length appeared it was
with a subdued air, and with a manifest
repugnance to converse on the subject
of dogs
Tur la5r c-orresnonao,t. 80 tbo n-oss