The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-03-30

worth having"
Then the thing rushed at me, with it's
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 ~ / screamed" oh, Jack !
take him off, or l shall die"
Jack laughed and caught the creature
by his collar and pulled him away.
Why, bless your heart, Madgep he
said, "the dog won't hurt you. He is
only a pup-nine months old to a day
and as full of affection as he can stick
He only wanted to make friends with
you"
But don't want to be made friends
with in that fashion," I said, as we'll as
1 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 table-cloths, not only pulled
oil, but torn into rags; or my lace set
Aunt Clarice's wedding present-which
had been laid out to bleach, had disap-
peared bodily, all but futtering end
which hung out of Hero's mouth as he
careered about the yard; or it was one
of Jacks dress boots chewed to pulp,
and grave enough Master Jack looked
that time. / only wished his belongings
had suffered oftener; but unluckily he
took precious good care to keep them
out of the way.
Jack and 1 were poor enough, but we
had rich relations. Jack had an uncle,
Mr.. Philip Phelps. and 1 an aunt, Clar-
ice Vaughan, both of whom had de-
clared their intention of leaving us their
respective heirs. Aunt Clarice was a
childless widow, and Uncle Philip q
bachelor. Both of them were peculiar
in their way, and full of whims and
fads." 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 after
Jack brought home that wretched dog
Uncle Philip had always seemed very
fond OF me, and resolved to appeal to
him privately to induce Jack to Danish
the horid thing from the house.
Uncle Philip was stout and rubicund,
with a bald pink head fringed with white
hair, and laughing blue eye-two of
them, in fact. Unluckily for my private
plans, he took most kindly to Hero from
the first ; and as l watched the softening
of his eye over the pups clumsy gam
bols, realized that any attempt to in
tiuence him as | desired would be ut
te1ly in vain. We were all collected in
the back parlor on the night of his ar
rival, he sitting in 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 a sudden
ejaculation.
"I thought you told me you had no
mosquitoes here" he said, with q puz-
zled air.
Neither had we, as Jack and 1 both
assured him, and after moment he took
up the thread of his narrative. Crack
another slap at his bald head, and an
other break in his tale. Crack crack
crack
"What do you mean by denying
mosquitoes ?" 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, " But, indeed, dear
uncle" was suddenly interrupted by q
sudden flutter of wings, and douche
of cold water exactly on the center of
Uncle 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 they've
finished up with a shower bath. TAX
ing their bath in their drinking-cup,
too, the little brutes It's too bad, |
VOW p
Uncle Philip was silent, but his face,
as he glared at the cage overhead, was a
study. l apologized, eagerly, abjectly,
and, L hoped, to some purpose. Then we
adjourned to the front parlor. and
finished the evening quietly.
Uncle Philip was up bright and early
the next morning. 1 was surprised TO
find him in the dining-rOom when 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 Uncle
Philips knee, and his red tongue lolling
ont idiotically. Uncle Philip greeted me
| atfectionately, though fancied, with
rather an air of constraint.
81 Did You sleep well, Uncle Philip 81
L asked. Uncle Philip hesitated.
1t was quiet enough most of the
night" he said, "but ] was somewhat
disturbed toward morning"
" Not used to the city noises %
asked but Jack, who had come in be-
hind me, laughed.
3" Nonsense, Madge w he said "You
forget that Uncle Philip lives in Chi
cago, which is not exactly country. Ii
was all those birds of yours again.
Uncle Philips room is directly over my
/ stndu and the thinns tuned nm Of dnr