River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-12-09
A DOG STORY.

Dogs canno. laugh, except with their
tails; and then their laugh is laugh of
JOY. | doubt the existence of doggish
sense Of humor. But scorn and con.
tempt they undoubtedly do feel-they
show it to other dogs, and believe that
they must feel it for some men. At
least | should not like to run the risk Of
losing the respect of a dog of any char
acter. / should certainly see it in the
contemptuous whisk Of his tail, and in
the sidelong glance Of his eye. The most
supreme exhibition Of contempt that
ever saw was from dog Of mine. lie was
a noble beast, large and beautiful. His
sire was an English bloodhound, his dam
st. Bernard mastiff. lie was fawn.col.
ored, brindled, and his ears were softer
than the finest silk. lie was so big that
he could stand on a,l-fours and take a
roll with his mouth from the dining
table, and that he could spring up, put
his paws ON my shoulder, and look me in
the face. And yet | had little black.
and-tan terrier that would bully dear old
Thor-for so named him-out Of every
thing; everything, that is, but bones,
meatless bones; for that is a subject up
on which no dog of any delicate sense of
what is due to himself will allow the
least outside interference. But Thor
loved Puck, and would let the little ras-
cal do almost what he liked land when
his teasing and impudenee reached a
point that was intolerable, the grand old
fellow, instead of taking his tormentor
by the back Of tn neck and quietly
dropping him somewhere out of the way,
would meekly come and put his great
paw on my knee and beg me to go out
and set matters straight. And yet for
Puck he would fight anything, and many
was the row into which he cot by stand
ing up for his quarrelsome little playfel-
low.
One day took Thor with me on a new
walk, in the course Of which we passed
the gate of a farmer who had two large
pointer dogs, who were very cross and
quarrelsome with 10th man and beast /;
even so much so that they attacked men
tina. came to the gate. As we approach
ed the gate, there they lay together out.
side Of it upon the close greensward that
stretched into the road. Al the sight of
Thor they pricked up their ears, rose to
their feet, and began to growl. Thor,
trotting on ahead Of me, turned his head
moment, but kept on his trot. As we
drew near they crouched together upon
their bellies, and began to move thus to-
ward the middle OF the road and when
we were opposite their gate, with one
yelping bark they made simultaneous
rush upon the stranger. Oh, Thor, Thor,
did the spirit Of Shakespeare enter into
thee, that without even turning thy head
again thou heavedst up thy leg, like
Crabs dog, and served those dogs as he
served the gentlewoman' farthingale,
and then joggedst on as is nothing had
happened, leaving them to sneak back to
their lair with their tails between their
legs, less in fear than astonshment. and
thy delighted master to cleave the sky
with laughter! Verify, think there be
some human ours who like to spring yelp.
ing upon a man merely because he is q
stranger, whom it would be well if some
big human mastiff would treat somewhat
after the same fashion. They deserve no
more respectful consideration. -GdldrH