The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-02-16
Our STORY TELLER.
JOHN GUBBINs'S DOG SCHOOL.

JOHN GUBBINS'S DOG SCHOOL.
When John Gubbins came home from
the war, with only one leg and great
big hole through his shoulder, he won
dered what work there could be for him
to do. with only part of himself left,
and that old and rusty. For many days
he looked down-hearted, and hobbled up
and down the village street, peering
into the shop-doors, and over the fences,
where hollyhocks and lilies stood up like
gay young soldiers. H
John Gubbins had dog that looked
enough like him to be his own son.
Towser Gubbins limped on one leg and
had one ear half bitten off-the work of
abloodthirsty old pig that thought he
was after her young ones, one day. John
had taken great.deal of pains in teach
ing Towser, and he was one of the most
"knowledgable dogs" as Patsy Burke
said, that anybody ever knew. Towser
could open door as well as any one.
He stood up on his hind legs, held the
handle by one fore paw, and struck the
latch with the other. Open flew the
door, and in walked Towser Gubbins.
Then everybody laughed except Towser.
Sitting in his door one dark day in
spring, poor John Gubbens felt very low
spirited; his hat was old, his coat torn,
and his stump of leg bothered him
more than ever. He said to himself that
he wasn't good for much anyway, and
he might as well be clam and be done
with it. John had no wife. so he kept
house for himself in a little bit of a
shell that wasn't much larger than a
dry-goods box; and there he did some
wonderful cooking, and kind of wash
ing and ironing that would have amazed
any child in Belleville. Just before he
sat down in his door he had done up his
breakfast work; that is, he had wiped off
his plate with a bit of newspaper, had
fed square inch of mutton-bone to
Towser, and had put his army blanket
wrong side out and bottom side up on
his lumpy straw bed. Therefore, John
had nothing more to do, SO he sat down
by the door and thought.
Close in front of him sat Towser,
looking up in his face, and now and
then cooking up his ears smartly, as if
to hurry John along and make him talk.
Towser," said John, "you're a
pretty fair beast in your way, and we've
got to do something to get our bread and
mutton; now, suppose we teach a dog
schools" 49,. ..-.
Up jumped Tewser, wagged his tail,
took little walk around in place not
larger than a wash-bowl, and sat down
in the very same spot 1t was plain to
be seen that Towser liked the plan.
The first. thing" said. John, " is to
get our scholars, and the next, to keep
you from chawing them up; for there's a
bit of bad blood in you, Towser Cub
bins" ..'-.l' -'.......
Up jumped Towser, and putting his
forepaws on Johns one knee, he ran his
tongue out and smacked his lips as if he
already tasted a terrier. 81 +
Down." said John, q and let's go and
hunt up our academy"
So out they went, John hobbling
along with his one leg and crutch, and
Towser running and skipping on three
legs as gracefully as he could, for fear
the village dogs would laugh and say he
made dreadful botch'' of it. All
day long they walked the town, John
and Towser Gubbins, and next morning
four of the village boys came to Johns
little house to talk about the new school
for dogs 5Grg t.a of
Tommy Watson had pink-eyed
soft, white poodle, which wore a blue
ribbon around her neck, and drank
weak tea with sugar in it. She was
washed every day, and always cried
when her ears were rubbed.
What this dog could learn John did
not know, but he told Tommy that.
Judging by her looks, she wouldn't be
able to open doors and climb ladders
like Towser, because she looked too LADY,
like. However, Pinky Watson Joined
the class at twenty cents week.
Next came Harry Nelson's dop--a
sober-looking Spitzberger fellow, fond
of his ease, and more than fond of ice
he has been known to lie down on a
piece in front of the kitchen door. and
stay there until the ice melted and the
water ran down the path to the garden.
However, Spitzy Joined the class. too
and was to be brought every morning at
nine o'clock precisely.
Then came Neddy Fowler sgreybound
a long-legged, ight-brown fellow, with a
'hoi nooc, anu DOQy mat was all
breast and no stomach. John thought
he would be credit to the academy. so
he took Lueth at fifteen cents a week
intending to makea tight-rope performer
of him.
Then arrived Walter Lester, leading a
long, low-bodied dog, with splay feet
and great bullying eyes, whose name was
Turk, and who looked as if all he cared
for was to eat and to sleep. Old John
did not care to undertake Turk. for he
was sure he would never learn ANYTHING
and would have to be whipped ouife
frequently. But Walter loved Turk
Dearly, SO John couldn't say "no.n and
Turk Lester entered the school at twenty
cents week, and the privilege of being
whipped for the good of his class. Then
the boys all went away and left their
dogs in charge of John and Towser
Gubbins.
That the scholars might see what a
dog had learned, and 80 not be dis
couraged, John first showed what
Towser could do. The learned dog
walked across the floor on two legs
oueped tho eupboorI Joo- 81 I.f1