The sun., 1885-12-24
A CHANGE OF MIND.
From the Youths Companion.

From the Youths Companion.
"Now it is of no use for you to talk,
George. That dog must go. Pm only
too glad to come and keep house for
you, and I'll do my best; but there is
not room enough here for me, and the
dog"
Nonsense, auntie" | said, kissing
the lovable, crotchety old soul. "You
don't know jackson yet. He's a
splendid fellow, as you'll say when
you've made friends. Hi, Jackson!
Bloaters!"
My dog had been sitting up with his
back toward us, and his head bent
down right in the center of the fender,
as if he were warming his scalp, and
apparently in a day dream about
bones, or Smiths dog round the corn
er; but the moment spoke, he made
a dash to the side, reared up, caught
the old-fashioned wollen bell-pull in his
teeth, gave it a vigorous tug, and re-
turned to his place.
'There!" cried my aunt. "I declare
he's demon! don't believe in temzy
cosies, or ghosts, or spirits, or haunt
ing, or any nonsense OF that kind; but
that dogs demon. ''There there!'
she cried, excitedly. "Look at him!
Did you see him lift up that right ear,
and leer at me in that wicked, malig
nant way with his right eyer"
"He fancied that you were talking
about him, auntie."
''He knew was talking about him.
declare, he sends a cold shudder
through me! Pm afraid of him,
George"
"But what has he been doing now?''
said, as the old lady arranged her
mittens, and proceeded to pour out
the coffee.
Rushed into my room this morn
ing, when Jane brought the hot water;
and then he wouldn't let me get
up"
"Wouldn't. let you get up? Non
sense, auntie! Why, he's as good as
can bel"
"He's not, George!" she cried, with
her hands trembling. "Hes as wicked
as can be! Every time moved to get
up, he growled; and I was obliged to
ring for Jane to come and take him
out, when he ran under the bed, and
she had to fetch your fshing-rod to
drive him out"
"Oh, l know why that was. You've
got my bedroom, and he doesn't like
any one else being there. He'll forget
it in day or two" "f4..,
"He never will, and he has taken a
malignant spit against me-"
(Which you can cure by giving him
bit of these" | said, as Jane enter
ed the room with two covered dishes.
"He is very fond of bloaters' heads.
Do you see?"
"Ugh!" calculated my aunt. "Send
him out, George; can't bear him to
be here. He gives me the creeps. The
dog is not natural beast. He has
an evil spirit in him; know he has"
I simply sat back in my chair and
laughed. 1t was impossible to help
it, for Jackson had turned sharply
round as soon as Jane entered with
the dishes; and as soon as she had
taken off the covers and gone, the dog
uttered three loud barks, trotted to
the door, and then raised himself up
on his hind legs and walked solemnly
right round the table, open-mouthed
and erect of ear, till he reached the
hearth-rug, where he remained motion
less.
"Look, George!' cried my aunt again.
"He's putting out his tongue at me
now, derisive!y. Go away! Cist! Go
away!' 50
As soon as I could recover myself,
cut off the bloaters' heads, and pitch
ed them, one by one, to Jackson, who
caught them and swallowed them on
the instant, before subsiding on to his
four legs. -.
"There's the secret of his possession,
auntie," I said. "Let me give you a
bloater. Genuine; slightly smoked.
I've been idle all these years, waiting
for practice, and I've taught my dog a
few tricks. There, come, make friends
with him. Here, Jackson, shakehands
with the lady"
Jackson looked intently at me, and
held out his paw.
"No! mol" / said. $50 shake hands
with the lady"
jackson uttered a low growl.
'"There you see my dear!" cried my
aunt, triumphantly. "He has taken
great dislike to me-"
'Then he must learn BETTER" Isaid,
sternly, elbow dare you, sir! Go in
the corner! Be off! You dog, you!''
Jackson seemed to resent being called
''you dog" for at those words he ut
tered low growl, trotted to the cor
ner, threw up his muzzle SO as to get
his throat straight, and uttered such
series of yelps that my aunt put her
fingers in her ears, and filled her face
full of wrinkles both wide and deep.
"There, that will dol" l said loudly.
"You can come back now. GO and
shake hands with that lady, sirl Do
you here?" .s{
jackson came out of the corner, and
walking slowly up to my aunt, held
out his paw, which she took at my re-
quest, but not until she had covered
her hand with. her kerchief, an insult
which Jackson seemed to resent, for
he uttered low growl.
I had had Jackson five years. He
came to me misunderstanding, fat
little object, with skin far too large
for him, and heavy, clumsy paws; and
all through the days ofhis puppyhood
he passed his time as carefully divided
as King Alfred might have divided
his own puppy Jackson's being; be-
tween eating, sleeping, and worrying
his enemies these latter being any
thing that came in his way, especially
legs of tables, chairs, the sofa, or,
above all, shoe, with which latter,
or boot, or even slipper, he would
have, what seemed no doubt to him,
the most furious fights.
By dint OF good deal of talking,
and on the strength of my being a
great favorite, truce was patched up
between my aunt and Jackson; but