The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-09

4
mouth, and never in all his little life
had he been half 30 cunning. Perhaps
the lady had been in her room two min
utes when "Erie" bounded up stairs and
rushed to his mistress; then very delib-
erately placing his great paws in her
lap, dropped from his mouth the I'M
fortunate Clip" OF course Mrs. Hub
bell thought the bird was quite dead,
for he did not stir, only lay in her lap
little wilted ball of yellow feathers.
Erie acted so very strangely that his
mistress didn't know what to make OF it,
barking, growing and wagging his tail
in the queerest manner then he would
stand very still and look in her lap, and
end by turning over the poor little heap
with his great paw.
"Erie evidently thinks that our poor
Zip isn't Dead" said the lady, and
then she lifted the bird and blew in his
mouth. Sure enough, "Zip" trembled
little, then shook his feathers, and
finally stood up and looked
about him. There was one happy
woman at that time, and "Zip"
and Erie" were treated like lords all
that dey. 1 have read and heard great
many stories about dogs, but | am very
sure not one among them ever showed
more sympathy and intelligence than
did Erie" on this occasion.
The next morning Mrs. Hubbell went
to church, after taking the best possible
care of all her pets. Erie, "Julius
Caesar" and "King" had seemed very
quarrelsome, and the lady had been
compelled to separate them in order
| hat Iryh hn
peace of the Sabbath.
She hadn't been gone but short
time before the fight begun again; but,
after little; they walked off together,
apparently on the best of terms.
Whether they had conferred together
and decided what it was best to do L
cannot tell, but this is what they did do.
Mrs. Hubbell's seat in church was not
far from the altar, and next to the aisle.
The priest was delivering a most i'm
pressive sermon, and SO still was it In
the sacred edifce that the rustic of a
dress or the squeaking of shoe could
be heard in all parts of the church.
The outer door had been opened for
better ventilation, and-what do you
think
A strange noise caused several heads
to turn, when Mrs. Hubbell, all of a
sudden impressed thatthe unusual rack
ct was caused by some member or men,
bers of her " live stock" turned to see
what?
Can you guess? No, I am sure you
cannot
Poor Mrs. Hubbell She did not
start at what she saw-she sat and stared
at the strange procession which had en-
tered the church door as though she
were in dream.
1t a0ds strange procession--it aDas
her =" live stock"
First, "Erie," who bounded up the
aisle as much at home as if he we're q
member in good and regular standing
Such frisk as there was to his tail |!
Such happy eagerness as shone in his
eyes
Next, "Julius Caesar 80 black and
so sly-who sneaked after the dog for
all the world like thief, or hypocrite
that cat kneW he had no business at
church
And then liking" bringing up the
rear-the great white rooster, his neck
erect, his comb elevated, stalking for
ward, for all the world like the naughty,
purse-proud man who comes in late 80
as to be seen by the congregation.
What did Mrs. Hubbell do ?
What could Mrs. Hubbell do, in.
deed?
For, you see, the worst of it was, the
dog and the cat and the rooster all went
for their mistress, and in the midst of
the excitement liking" thrust forward
his lordly head, inflated his lungs, raised
himself a-tiptoe, a d then, at the very
pew-door, he sent up crow which al
most threw priest and audience into
commissions.
At this the little lady seemed to
gather sudden strength. She picked
up her prayer-book, and her nosegay,
and her handkerchief, rose from her
seat, and, with dexterous movement of
her parasol, turned the strange process
sion about, then, with n face the color
of scarlet, walked down the aisle and
out the door, followed by her pets, as
orderly as you please.
And what did Mrs. Hubbell do and
say as she bravely generated her live
stock homeward ? Ir
Well, 1 don't think she said anything,
driving such queer little drove but,
when she did set home-why, she
whipped them every one, and then
good soul, petted them more than ever
before !-Eteanor KIRK, IN Augus
Vide A1Uake.