Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-10-04
Miscellany.
q, OUR UGLY DOG.
BY CLARA r. GUERNSEY.

Our ugly dog came to us one morning,
and the first thing we knew of him he
was sitting upon the doOr-steps, discon.
nected fact, and filling the air with his
lamentations.
The captain went out to see what man.
ner of dog this might be, forwe well knew
that it was neither of our own, seeing
that Fluff, the maltese terrier, was curled
up on the sofa, and Ban, the NeWfOund-
land, was lying on the rug.
An exclamation from the captain sum-
mOned us to the piazza, and there, for the
first time, we saw ''our ugly dog"
Hew thin to starvation. point; he was
dirty, and draggle !, and disconsolate, to
the last degree which dog-nature can en-
dure; and apparently he had made up
his mind that all hope was gone, and he
had taken his place on our door-steps to
sing his own despairing dirge.
No sooner, however, did he behold the
whole family about him, than he lifted
himself on his hind-legs, and began to
beg, howling mournfully all the time.
''In the name of Goodness" said the
captain, "give the creature something to
eat!'
OF course, something was produced;
and, when the stranger had in some de-
gree satisfied his hunger, he testified, in
every way which dog could, his intense
thankfulnes.
''Of course, we can't keep him." said
the captain. "It would be too much to
have another dog. dare say he'll trot
off when he has rested little"
OF course, the ugly dog did not trot sof,
and, though we declared every day that
we could not have him, almost equally, of
course, he became a member of the fam
lily. He was a knowing creature, and
could fetch and carry, as well as beg.
No one in the place knew anything
about the creature, and guessed that he
had strayed away from travelling cara
van which had passed through the place
few days before.
In a week "the ugly dog" had become
of the house down to the cat and the three
kittens. who contracted habit of sitting
upon him, a liberty which he seemed in
no wise to resent
A few days after he came, [ heard that
an old friend of ours was visiting at re-
lation's in GalOosa, place about fourteen
miles from the little village of Maysville,
where our lot had been cast for the last
few years. Twas anxious to see Mrs. st.
Clair, and to hear news of our friends in
New York but there seemed to be diff
ticulty in getting to Galoosa.
One of our horses happened to be lame,
and the other, though peaceable enough
in double harnesss was apt to be sklttlsh
and ill-conducted when driven alone. 1t
was quite impossible for the captain to
leave his business at that time, and it
seemed that, unless | could borrow or
hire horse, the visit must be given up.
Now, it was not easy to get hold Of a
-, MoucuilIn TbaTn NVpTn n he
sure, three or four teams belonging to our
saw-mill, but they were all engaged three
deep intheir legitimate business, and as
it happened, All the other horses in the
place were either busy or sick, nreluct-
antly, resigned myself to staying at home.
just then, however, our friend Mr.. Cal
vim Bruce, man somewhat given to
horses. came home from Detroit, and,
hearing of my necessity, he at once placed
at nv disposal what he called "a pair of
colts.n There was no -rouble in finding a
driver.
& At that time, Dick Monroe and his sis
ter Diana were staying with us on Visit.
Dick at seventeen, considered that he
knew all that was to be known about
horses, and would have undertaken to
drive the chariot of the sun with as much
confidence as Ph3ton himself
Calvin described the colts as "gentle
enough, only pretty spunky," and averred
that 1T was easy enough to manage them,
if fellow will only let them have their
own way"
The Captain demurred little at letting
Diana and myself go off behind the colts
with no more experienced guardian than
Dick. at which distrust of his powers
3 Master Dicks dignity was good deal
hurt but then f1attered myself that
too could drive little,> and l was very
anxious to see Mrs. st. Clair, and, to be
short, of course we went. Diana and
were ready for some time before Dick
made his appearance with the horses
Diana, at sixteen, was tall, slim, gray
eyed, black haired girl, very much OF
child in some things, and very much OF
woman in others. !. :,
Dick was also tall: and slim and hand
some, and he and Diana were the best ol
friends. Dick was more full Of himself