Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-06
OUR UGLY DOG.
BY CLARA GUERNSEY.

Our ugly dog came to us, one morning,
like the McDonala's baby
"out the everywhere into here"
And, similarly, the first thing he did was to
howl to the full extent of his capacity, which
was great. The first thing we knew of him
he was sitting upon the door-steps, diseon-
nected fact, and filling the air with his Ia.
mentations.
The captain went out to see what manner
of a dog this might be, for we well knew
that it was neither of our own, seeing that
Fluff, the Maltese terrier, was curled up on
the sofa, and Ban, the Newfoundland, was
lying on the rug. An exclamation from the
captain summoned us to the piazza and
there, for the first time, we saw our ugly
dog"
There was nothing about him to Indicate
the important part he was aftcrward to play
in our family history. He was big dog,
of no breed in particular, but, rather, as it
seemed, of all races in general. The shape
of his head and his blunt muzzle seemed to
indicate bulldog stripe among the many
bars sinister Of his scutcheon but then he
had lop-ears, with a thin. scanty fringe,
which dimly suggested a spaniel. He was
neither smooth, nor shaggy, nor rough but
his coat resembled an old door-mat worn out
in spots. He was short-bodied and long.
legged, and that half his tail, which malice
or accident had left him, was, like his ears,
thinly fringed with coarse, long hair. As to
his color, the groundwork seemed to be dirty,
yellowish white irregularly spotted with
patches of faded Maltese-cat color, and he
was also licked here and there with pea
spots of dull yellow. His one eye, for he
had lost the other, was one good point, being
like deer-hound's in color and expression.
lie was thin to starvaton.point he was
dirty, and draggled, and dsconsolate, to the
last degree which dog nature can endure
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 him
self on his hind legs, and began to beg,
bowling mournfully all the time. Fluff gave
little yelp Of disgust, turned short round,
and went into the house, evidently unable to
endure the sight of SO much vulgarity and
distress. Ban, who sCorned to attack 9
brother in trouble, and who was never rapid
in adopting any resolution, stood staring il
establishment at the sight OF dog on biz
hind legs.
" In the name of goodness" said the cap
tain, "give the creature something to eat =
Of course, something was produced and
when the stranger had in some degree salts
fed his hunger, he testified, IN every wal
which a dog could, his intense thankfulness
suppose VIC shall have this beast added
to our family menagerie, now," said L. "H,
doesn't belong in the village, for think
am generally acquainted with all the dog
in the place" .
"Of course, we can't keep him." said tn
captain. 1t would be too much to hav
another dog | dare say he'll trot off whel
he has rested little"
OF course, the ugly dog did not trOt of
and though We declared, every day, that W,
could not have him, almost equally, of course
he became member of the family. At frs
he insinuated himself into the shed, wher
Ban gave him share of his own quarters
then he modestly and humbly took up cor
ner in the kitchen. and then followed th
little boys into the parlor, bringing in hi
mouth Oharley's gloves, which had BEEF
dropped in the yard and, in the course of
few days, the ugly dog" had establishes
an equal right with Ban and the cats. II
was a knowing creature, and could fetch an
carry, as well as beg, He was irreproach
able in dog morals, and his soul seemed
overflow with affection for every member {
the family; even for little, arrogant, col
temptuous Fluff, who barked himself fair
the first time the stranger came into III
house, and omitted no opportunity to sho
his own superiority to the ugly dog, VIII
could have swallowed him like pill.
No one in the place knew anything abOr
the creature, aud VIC guessed that he hO
strayed away from travelling caravan whic
had passed through the place few days b.
fore. In week " the ugly dog had b
come a great favorite with all, from II
master Of the house down to the cat and Ii
three kittens, who contracted habit Of 81
ting upon him, liberty which he seemed
no wise to resent. His very ugliness was
sort Of recommendation. No one else ho