St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-18
The Dogs Revenge.
BY OLIVE THORNE.

among big people. as well aS among
little ones.
Ned Willis had a dog. little fellow
named Spot and he had been display
ing his tricks to Will that day. la an
unIuckv moment VIII began to brag
about his brothers dog Max.
Ned didn't believe that big dog
could be so funny as a little one. Then
Will waxcd warm. and told stories big
ger than ever. But Ned laughed e.,
his preten>ions. and tainted Will Ia
such pitch that he told him he would
go over to his brothers and get Max,
if he would wait and they would see
what he would do. Ned said he would
wait; 80 he threw himself on the grass
and played with Spot, while Will went
after Max. In few minutes he re-
turned. followed by Il large black New
foundland dog.
Now what allied Max that day | can't
imagine. Whether it WAS too warm. or
he thought it mdigniticd before Il small
dog, though he often went through all
his tricks for Will played dead dog.
shook hands, held Il piece OF meat on
his nose, ctc..--unt a thing would he
do that day. lie just stood there and
looked at viii. All the commands,
shouts, and coaXingS had no more effect
on him than on the grass he stood on.
Ned began to laugh dcrisivcIy. and
say Il told YOU So" and otherwise eX-
aspcrate Will. till his angry passions
rose to IL fearful height. lie seized Il
stick which he had uicd To make Max
jump over, and holding the dogs collar
in one hand, he gave him several hard
blows. Max finally jerkrd away and
ran yelping home, and Will sat down
on the grass TO cool, feeling very hot
and angry.
Will thought that was the end of it
but not so Max. In his doggiSh soul
his wrongs ranked. and an Opportunity
soon came for him to punish his enemy.
Later i'll the day VIII Went mp to his
brothers house for milk. tn" family
happened to be all away, hut that made
no difference for they always left a pail
standing on the kitchen table. all ready
and Max was too good watch dog t.
allow any stranger to come in.
As usual, Will walked into the house.
took up the pail and turned To 90. Bat
growl arrested hun. He looked
around. There stood Max. his white
teeth uncovered. his tail hanging down.
Ills NHOlt dlilltue meaning StIl"H>
business.
"Poor dog" said Will and stopped
to pat him, though rather nervously {;
for he well knew Max could he very
fierce.
At this movement the dog gave Il
tiercer growl, and Will hastily drew
back.
Poor doggy. poor Max good fcl-
low. :" said Will, in his most seductive
tone. But Max growlcd his eyes looked
red and wicked. and Will knew that if
he moved he would !ly at him.
"Well, may as we'll wait till some
of them come in said Will To himself.
and turned to sit down. Max flew AT
his foot, and held his head there with
an Ominous growl. Will dared not
move.
"I'll put this pail down, any way"
was his next thought. But Max resent
ed the movement of his hand, as we'll
as of his foot, and in unmi>takablc tones
made Will at last understand that he
must stand on that spot and hold the
pail till the family came.
Here was fix. Mary waiting at
home for the milk to put in her cU>tardS.
Ned Willis waiting in the back ward for
him to e" in swimming, and both of
them knowing that he had only rull up
for the milk.
How Ned would tease him How
Mary would laugh at him.
lnvOluntlTily he made movement
to go. Max was ready for him, and this
time seized his foGt.
Will tried to COAX him. and he let go ::
but stood ready for another move.
"Whcre under the sun are all the
family" was his next thought. TLen
he remembered that his brother WAS at
the office. and would not come home till
six o'clock, his brothers. wife had guu"
to town with his sister shopping. and
the girl had gone home fora week. He
looked ut the clock. 1t was four "'rlork
two hours before he could hope for
release. He heard Ned call him. The
calls came neaIcr. He was coming at
ter linn. He would catch him in this
plight. How Wills face flushed. as he
thought of that! If he could only lock
the door and put down the curtain.
But Max was alert. he dared not NOV, .
The calls came nearer, and at last Ned :
hooking face looked in at the open
window.
"Why don't you come along?" was
his question.
Il can't. don't want to- he STAN
mered. Max growled, and Ned SAW
how il was.
"Oh, no! the dog won't let You. He
remembers old scores. Ell! Say. Will.
why don't you sit down, il YOU will
stay ?" Aren't You tired holding that
pail p
So he went on, as boys sometimes
will, teasing and provoking, till Will
fairly ragged.
"Ned Willis :" he said, savagcIy. ''if
you don't shut up. I'll pitch this pail of
milk at YOU, if Max eats me up"
Ned SAW it was time to stop, so he
turned away. calling, as lie went:
II heard Mary anNiously inquiring for
you. I'll stop and let her know YOU
have got pressing engagement"
Well, he did, of course, and as he
went through the village he told every
boy he met: and one by one they crept
up and pecped through the window at
the unfortunate prisoner. each one say
ing his witty or smart thing at Wills
expense.
Poor Will! 1t was rather hard. He
had threatened to fight every hoy in
town, and every muscle ached like the
tOoth-ache before his brothers wife
came in and found him.
With difficulty she got the dog off.
and Will had to confess to the heat
ing.
He dragged his weary bones home,
found Mary III a towering passion. II"
custardS for tea, aud Il lecture from his
father on cruelty to animals