The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-10-27
Il DOG WITHOUT n TAIL.

A gentleman of this city, says the st.
Louis Globe Democrat, whose wife is the
owner of nice little pet dog, relates the
following 'singular circumstance" and
vouches for its truth:
On pleasant afternoon last Spring Mr..
Smith took walk with his wife, and
Fanny, the little dog-we'll call her a dog,
for short-accompanied them, running be-
fore, and appearing unusually lively and
frisky. After walking several blocks they
met lady acquaintance, Mrs. Jones, who
also had a little dog, Tommy, trotting by
her side. There was one peculiarity about
Tommy that excited the admiration of
Mrs. Smith, and that was tile fact that the
little fellow had no tail there was a very
short stub just visible at the place where
dog IS tails are wont to grow, but no one
would pretend to pass it off as tail
go dear me ~ exclaimed Mrs. Smith,
f'what beautiful little dog? So cute, so
playful And see, hubby, he has no tail
not sign of a tail How | wish | had n
little dog without a tail! / would give
anything in the world if my Fanny had no
tail. How d id you cut it off, Mrs. Jones ?''
'Why, it wasn't cut off at all; it just
growed that way"
81 do declare is it possible? never
heard of such thing ! L wish Fanny had
been that sort of dog. l do love dogs
that's got no tals.''
While the friends were discussing the
interesting topic of dogs tails, Tommy and
Fanny were scraping an acquaintance, and
IN a moment or two were on the best of
terms. They put their noses together,
squattered and romped and ran around,
aud put their paws upon each other s necks,
as dogs will do when they scampered
around the corner, and for a few minutes
were lost to sight.
After while the Smiths parted from
the Jones and resumed their walk. Mrs.
Smith could think of nothing but tailless
dogs.
.How would it do to have Fanny's tail
cut off?' she inquired of her husband.
sit wouldn't do at all she's too old it
might kill her; beside, it would be a very
cruel thing. If it had been cut of when
she was pup, she never would have missed
it but now, when she's old enough to be
grandmother, the loss of her tail would
be irreparable.''
That's too bad. But, know what I'll
do. If Fanny should ever become a moth
er, I'll take one of the puppies and cut it's
tail off with the carving knife; that what
Tn do.'
ga good idea,' replied Mr.. Smith, and
the subject was dropped.
Now comes the wonderful part of the
story. Several weeks after the occurrence
related above, Fanny became the proud
and happy mother of four blind puppies,
and among them was one without the
shadow of tail
Mrs. Smith was delighted. She was at
last the owner of a tailless dog.
''Isn't it strange, though" she said to
her husband, ''Lhat | should have my
dearest wished gratified, and without the
trouble of using the carving knife The
dear little thing, too, is spared the cruel
pain of a surgical operation. How nice y
Yes" replied MIR. Smith, ct looks like
a dispensatjon of Providence, or a contri-
vance of old Bergh or Bod Macdonald to
crafty your wish, and at the same time
prevent an act of cruelty to animals.
''Just look at the funny little fellow 1t
looks so much like Mrs. Jones' Tommy
EYES," responded Smith dryly. "I
shouldn't wonder if its mother was think
ing about Tommy before it wa born