Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-03-24

having them Hopping down bodily upon
my head. Never mind. I'll be careful
to leave my inkstand uncovered, and
they'll be drinking the ink some day,
and that will be the end Of them"
Jack, You are very unkind," I said;
but Jack only laughed, and went out of
the room. was always careful to see
that the inkstand was covered after that,
though.
It was soon after that that he brought
home his dog. I never shall forget that
day. He knows that ! never could bear
dogs. | am afraid of them, horribly
afraid, and never thought he would be
SO cruel as to bring one of the great
laundering things home to scare me out
of my poor little wits.
'sHere, Madge,'' he said, as he came
in, leading the thing. "As you are so
fond of pets, have brought you one
i worth having"
Then the thing rushed at me, with its
great red mouth wide open, and its white
teeth shining, and its eyes glaring, and
before knew it, the two big hairy paws
were on my shoulders, and the frightful
face close against mine.
- Jack!' I screamed. oh, Jack!
take him off, or shall die"
Jack laughed, and caught the creature
by his collar and pulled him away.
"Why, bless your heart, Madge!" he
said, "the dog won't hurt you. He is
only pup-nine months old to day
and as full of affection as he can stick.
He only wanted to make friends with
you.''
"But 1 don't want to be made friends
with in that fashion, said, as well as
I could speak for crying.
Jack laughed, and caressed me, and
apologized; but it was then that our
troubles began, for all that.
What a nuisance that dog was no one
who has not brought up Newfoundland
pup can imagine. Now it was one of
the best tablecloths not only pulled of,
but torn into rags; or my lace set-Aunt
Clarice's wedding present-which had
been laid out to bleach, had disappeared
bodily, all but futtering end which
hung out of HERDS mouth as he careered
about the yard; or it was one of Jack s
dress boots chewed to a pulp, and grave
enough Master Jack looked that time.
I only wish his belongings had suffered
oftener; but unluckily he took precious
good care to keep them out of the way.
Jack and / were poor enough, but we
had rich relations. Jack had an uncle,
Mr. Philip Phelps, and an aunt, Clarice
Vaughan, both of whom had declared
their intention of leaving us their re-
spective heirs. Aunt Clarice was a
childless widow, and Uncle Philip a
bachelor. Both of them were peculiar
in their way, and full of whims and
ssfads." We had never been able to en-
terrain them hitherto, but as soon as we
were settled in our own house each of
them had promised us visit. 1t was
time for Uncle Philips arrival soon af-
ter Jack brought home that wretched
dog. Uncle Philip had always seemed
very fond of me, and I resolved to ap-
| peal to him privately to induce Jack
to Danish the horrid thing from the
| house.
Uncle Philip was stout and rubicund,
with bald, pink head fringed with white
hair, and a laughing blue eye-two of
them, in fact. Unluckily for my private
plans, he took most kindly to Hero from
the first; and as I watched the softening
of his eye over the pups clumsy gam
bols, realized that any attempts to in
fluence him as desired would be utterly
in vain. We were all collected in the
back parlor on the night of his arrival,
he sitting in a large easy-chair in the
window. He was just giving us a
graphic description of recent visit to
New Mexico, when he started, and clap
ped his hand to his head, with q sudden
ejaculation.
81 thought you told me you had no
mosquitoes here" he said with a puzzled
air.
Neither had we, as Jack and both
assured him, and after a moment he
Al >GI L. -,
Crack! another slap at his bald head,
and another break in his tale. Crack!
crack! crack!
| "What do you mean by denying
mosquitoesP'' he cried, Indignantly. 81
know that mosquitoes and malaria are
two things that the inhabitants of a
swamp will never confess to; but I
thought that you two were above such
weaknesses"
Our earnest &c But, indeed, dear I'M
cle," was suddenly interrupted by a sud-
den futter of wings, and douche of
Gle Philips head. Jack sprang to his
feet.
cts those beastly birds, Madge," he
said. "They've been chucking their
seeds at Uncle Philip, and now the we
finished up with shower-bath. Taking
their bath in their drinking cup, too, the
little brutes! It's too bad, vow!"
| Uncle Philip was silent, but his face,
as he glared at the cage overhead, was
study. apologized, eagerly, abjectly,
and, hoped, to some purpose. Then
we adjourned to the front parlor, and
finished the evening quietly.
i Uncle Philip was up bright and early
| novt ro0rninr I c,1rnriSpd tn fin
him in the dining-room when I went
down, before the bell rang, to see that
the table was properly set. Hero was
beside him, blinking up with his great
stupid eyes, one big paw laid upon I'm
Gle Philips knee, and his red tongue
lolling out idiotically. Uncle Philip
created me affectionately, though,
fancied, with rather an air of constraint.
i Ibid you sleep well, Uncle PhilipP''
asked.
| Uncle Philip hesitated.