Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-12
Che family Circle.


Dogs sometimes exhibit traits that are
almost human; and we sometimes wonder
whether Pythagoras was very far wrong
death, and also before their creation, inhabit
the bodies of animals.
Certainly, if So the soul of Il certain
little black spaniel named Mig" must
originally have belonged to some greedy
boy whose indulgent parents fed him upon
knicknacks until he died; for never was
there an animal more particular in his
tastes with regard to food. Many times
Mig would go supperless to bed because
his little master insisted upon his eating
plain bread and butter instead of cake
and he was known to fast an entire day
on one occasion, because his breakfast
consisted of fried potatoes and beef bones
rather than hot rolls of which he was
extravagantly fond.
But little boys learn to get their own
way, and little dogs are quite as apt.
After n time. Mig concluded that the
only sure method of obtaining what he
wanted was to eat or hide away, what was
first given him and then beg for more
and, therefore, he would carry off the
crusts which he found upon his plate, bury
them at the foot of the garden and then
return, and with wagging tail ask for a
doughnut or "a cookie which he seldom
failed to receive.
By this and other tricks the spaniel
generally managed TO secure such food as
he best liked; and for a long time, the
shrewdness which he exhibited and the
hearty laughs which he excited made his
master forget how bad were the habits
which he was forming. But one day Mig
made too great II fuss about the supper
which was set before him, and, as pun
ishment, IL severe order was issued:
The dog was to cat Just what was left
from the table and nothing more. What
was good enough for the family must do
for him.
That night Mig slept in happy uncon-
seriousness of the new rule; but when
morning came and breakfast was over its
full import became known to him. For
his master had eaten Goldfish and potato,
and Goldfish and potato was all that was
left for Master Mig.
A plate with the tishy food was prepared
and placed in Nig's corner, and he was
Invited to partake. At first he approached
with evident hunger and delight, shifting
eagerly at the offered plate; but when
his nose told him what it contained his
conntenance and his tail both fell. He
looked ut his master in Il reproachful
manner and turned sadly away. He was
called back and ordered to eat. Slowly he
returned but instead of eating, he carefully
pushed eveny particle of the food from the
plate to the floor crowded it close under
the rim of the dish, and again retired to a
chair where he seated himself, looking
soberly at the plate and then at his master,
us though entering Il remonstrancc against
such Il breakfast.
But his master was obduratc and spoke
stcrnly:
Mig, you must cat that fish and potato
before you have anything else"
No sooner We're the words spoken than
the dog leaped from the chair, ran to the
door and disappeared.
For two entire daysnothng was seen of
him and his master began to fear that the
little fellow was lost, when, early upon
the morning of the third day, My present
ed himself ut the door and began to BEG
for his breakfast rs usual
Hoping that the dogs hunger had over
come his scruples, the fish and potato was
tgain presented to him. He regarded it
for moment with II sorrowful air, ears
and tail dropping low, then turned and
quietly walked out of the door without
tasting it.
This time he was gone nearly week,
md when. ut last he returned, his master
The obnoxious fish and
potato WAS thrown away and MIG Jared
'umptuously upon fresh beef and hot rolls.
Since that time the spaniel has eaten
only such food rs he prefers. Like MANY
children he had fought the battle out and
Wide AWake.