Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-02-19

Once there was jolly little Doy mann
ed Jim. who had big Newfoundland
dog that he called Major He was
very black, curly. handsome dog, and ne
loved fun as well as his master-and his
master loved it better than apples or mo-
losses candy. Major loved joke, too
for once when he was trotting along to
the postoffice with a basket IN his
mouth. as he had been taught to do, for
the mail, a little snarling cur ran out at
him. barking with all his might. He
had bothered Major often before, and
this time the old fellow dropped his
basket and caught the little cur right
around the back in his great mouth,
picked him up and carried him about
ten rods, and dropped him. 1t would
have made you laugh to see that little,
saucy pup go howling home with his
tail Rugged tight between his legs.
Well, one winter Jim used to coast
every day. The hill was just CLASSY and
the sleds tipped down swift as an arrow.
Major went out with the boys, and he
could keep up with them very wen
climbing the hill, but when they started
down they soon left him way behind.
He didn't like this at all, and one night
he waited outside while Jim left MS
sled to go to supper. Jim had been call
ed as usual three times, once by Maggie.
the girl, who hollered: master Jamie!
supper is ready, shure, COON IN to
wunnstr'-once by his mother, who
said: "Jim mel come-tO-supper-thls-min-
itw and last by his father, who just
said: "Jimp and crooked his thumb to-
ward the house in way that let Jim
know something else would crook II ne
didn't mind.
When his little master was stuffing
himself with baked potatoes and brown
bread, the dog took the rope in his teeth
and dranged the sled up the hill.
When be got to the top, he stopped.
turned the sled around, as he had seen
the bows do. and then began to look
as much as to say: "0ught dog to
slide belly-bunt, or side-fashiOn, or sit
ting He didn't know whether to
steer with his tail, or his fore-feet. or
his hind-feet. But slide he must; and so
he Jumped on, caught the rope in his
teeth and started down, letting the sled
steer itself, while he sat up and watch
ed the fun.
Down, down it went; Major hanging
on, but looking pretty well scared. Just
as the sled got near the 'jounce" at the
bottom, going like runaway horse, Jim
came out, and you never saw boy so
astonishad He Duckered I'D his mouth
and let out an "O-h-h-h!" as long as one
of the icicles on the barn. The "jounce"
threw Major off heels over head in front
of the sled, add he got caught between
the runners and pushed into a deep
snow-drift, that filled his mouth and
eyes and ears full, and made him as
white as sheep all over.
When Jim saw that Major wasn't
hurt he laughed and roared, and called
the dog into the back door where his
mother was, and said:
Here's feller that's been running
away with my sled and coastlng; and
the Sled ran away with him, and busted
him good. guess you'd better brush
him off, and see if his feet are wet, and
toast his shins before the CRATE, and tell
him he can't go out again tonight"
And wnen his mother found it was
the dog she saw the joke and laughed,
toe, and let Jim stay out half an hour
later, and didn't tell him to BE care
fulP and don't get cold," and BE sure
that YOU come in on timer and don't
90 near the hill until you learn to steel"
over seventies times. Wasn't she an
uncommOnly good mamma?