Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-10-09
THE LITTLE DOG.

THE LITTLE DOG.
How He Became Exalted In His Own Es-
timation, and How tho Conceit Was
Taken Out of Him.
He was a very small dog, and a very
restless and unhappy dog, because he
considered himself of no account. He
envied the dog that was covered with
spots, and run all day under q great
carriage. He envied the cham
pion fighting dog of the town, because
no one dared to pick him up by an ear
or indulge in other familiaritics un-
jealous of the dog that wandered the
streets without home, because that dog
did not have to submit to the indignity
of a weekly bath.
One day when the unhappy little dog
was running across the lawn in one OF
mis- most sorrowful moods, thoroughly
dissatisfied with himself and the world
generally, he espied a new ornament on
the grass.
1t was a large ball, apparently of
quicksilver, and had great rejecting
power; and when the dog saw himself
in it he was simply electrified with sur
prise, for the ball magnitied him into o
dog OF great size and dignity.
81 see," said the unhappy little dog,
who was now happy, that I am alarge
dog after all. and that l have been kept
in ignorance of my size and strength
that / might not become dangerous I
suppose it is the same with all great
animals. The elephant, in all proba-
bility, thinks he is no larger than q pig,
and that is Whist makes him so gentle
and kind. The next time that cat
scratches me, 1 shall tell the mice to
come out here some moonlight night
and look at themselves, and they will
discover that they are as large as sheep,
no doubt, and that will be the end of
MIR. Cat"
Then the little dog viewed himself
with great pride and satisfaction. The
silver ball did not increase his height as
much as it did his breadth; but it made
him appear as high as a mastiff. and
his muscles stood out like saplings.
And when he opened his mouth and saw
what great teeth he had. he remarked:
81 think it a great shame that l did
not know this before. Here I have
been chased and wantonly bitten by
little insignificant dogs, simply because
1 thought myself weak and harmless.
| But now that 1 know 1 am great,
I shall have a big brave heart to
correspond. And l shall not deign to
notice the small pet dogs I used to play
with, but shall only associate with the
large ones. / suppose l ought to go up
the road now and have my revenge out
of the bulldog that gave me such .
thrashing the other day"
So he hustled away, like a small man
who has suddenly hAd greatness thrust
upon him, and is full Of his own im-
portance. A little way up the road he
met the bulldog.
"How do you DOE" said the bull
dog:
The other bowed haughtily.
"What's the matter with you?"
asked the bulldog; haven't you had
any dinner?"
Eyes, and a good big one, too." re-
piled the dog who had suddenly dlscoy-
cred his greatness.
..You seem to be rather out of Sorts"
said the bulldog. 'Perhaps your di-
gestion is not good"
81 think 1 could digest you in a few
minutes, jack" replied the warlike
dog.
eff you are going to treat me with
naughty disdaln," said the bulldog,
''you should call me by my last name,
which is Stilton, with the prefix OF Mr."
Here the warlike dog held his paw
over his mouth to conceal the smile
| that nlayad on his f%aotnreS
'.What are you laughing at?" de-
manded the bulldog.
II was just laughing at Your name,
and wondering ii you are a member OF
the great Stilton Cheese family-that
was ALL"
..That was enough" said tho bull
dog; Gin fact, a little too much. You
should have controlled your features
until you got off a little way. Don't
you know it is not polite to smoker
right in a dogs face?"
II don't know whether it is or not,
and don't care. l smoker whenever
please"
..Then you are no geptledog," said
the bull dog, "and l think I'll teach
YOU such another wholesome lesson a.
I did when 1 thrashed you the othe,
day."
Il was sick that day, replied the new:
made warrior; II had, only an hour
before the fight, dined on lobster Gro
QUOTES. But I am we'll to-day"
The details of q dog-fight are any
thing but entertaining. Therefore it is
but necessary to state that the dog
whose greatness existed only in a lawn
reflector was taught a valuable lesson.
When he limped back home. all the
other little dogs met him in the yard.
and laughed until they had to hol6
their paws against their sides. Anc
even the old hens caugnu the tit, and
We're obliged to put their heads under
their wings 10 conceal their mirth.
And then the crest-fallen dog wen
down to look at himself again in thu
silver b4.l on the lawn. He WAS jus
as large as ever, but oh, how he wa
astonished at what he saw! He We
covered with crashes. and eyery paSl