Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-05-14

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careful mothers feel perfectly easy
when Rover is with them. One sum-
mer, two families left home for sew
eral weeks and Rover sadly missed
the children, and little dog, which
also went to the seashore. He would
go wandering about looking for them,
and half across the road, where he
could see every house, lie down and
watch and whine. Tiny was Nal
tese poodle, about the size of his paw,
but favorite playmate. 1t was
amusing to see them together, one
coal black and the other milk white,
and the great dog SO careful not to
hurt the little one.
Indeed, his kindness toward small
creatures is remarkable. Though
ar excellent Watchdog, his disposi-
ton is very gentle. He never quar-
rels with other dogs, barks at horses,
chases hens, nor leases cats. In his
puppy days, he delighted, as puppies
do, to get cat up in a tree and bark
at her. And, when little white
kitten was given us, we were at first
rather anxious for her safety. There
happened TO be a large bird-cage in
the house not then in use; and the
kitten was put into this, and so in
troduced to Rover.
At first, he looked very much as
though he would like to play ball with
her, but listened to our reasoning
and remonstrances, land took the mat
ter into consideration. He saw that
we valued the kitten, and would be
troubled if she were hurt; and, what
ever he may have thought of our
queer tastes and whims, he evidently
concluded to humor them, and please
us as we'll as he could. From that
time, kitty was safe in his care, even
from other dogs. The first AngOra
pussy he ever saw was buff, and with
it's long hair, squirrel tail, fringed
ears and paws, looked something like
a Skye terrier. He seemed to take
it for little dog, and was not quite
pleased that it had come to stay. But
petting him and the kitten at the
same time, and talking to him in
kind, reasoning way, giving kitty into
his especial care, set it all right. In
little time our Angora pussies grew
very fond of him, would rub against
him, and hold up their faces for him
to kiss them.
He actually helps our white pussy
take care of her kittens. She goes
away mousing and-leaves them two
or three hours and more watchfu
nurse they could not have. The tiny
kittens follow him, and rub against
him; and it is pretty picture as he
lies on the grass in the shade with
them scrambling over him, and some
times asleep on his back.
SNOWFALL is a faithful, affectionate
mother, and takes good care of her
kittens till she judges it is time to
wean them. Teen she is very decid-
ed. and, if they tease her, rolls them
over with her paw, spits and growls
at them, and runs away. They beg
piteously at first, but not a whisker
cares puss; and they soon accept
the inevitable, retreat to the kitchen
stove, and wash their own faces.
Not whit of petting, not a purr,
does pussy give them till she con
cludes they have learned what not to
expect. One day, she seized kitten
that persisted in teasing her, held
him down with one paw, and cuffed
him right and left with the other.
Her family were pretty well used to
this treatment, but one very meek
little tortoise-shell kitten was more
ender than the rest. She never
grew beyond two months size, tho
she lived to be nearly year old.
She was very forlorn when her
mother would have nothing more to
do with her, and Rover's generous
heart was moved to pity. He fairly
adopted the tiny kitten-would let
no strange dog touch her, washed her
face for her, let her eat out of his
dish, and cuddled her in his paws
every night close to his warm breast.
The kitten would run to meet him,
and nestle, purring, in his curl y coat.
Very few dogs will bear interference
while eating, but this kitty would
nibble bits of meat from his break
fast and we have more than once
seen him walk across the door-yard
with large bone in his mouth, the
kitten clinging to it, and seeming to
enjoy her ride. Even after she had
been given to friends in Dorchester,
and been away several months, when
she was brought back again to stay
while they were boarding for the sum-
mer, Rover began again just where
he left off,-took the kitten into his
own paws, washed her face, gave her
share of his supper, and put her to
sleep as of old.
One afternoon, he came home with
his foot badly hurt. He lay on the
carpet in the sitting-room, moaning
piteously. AS gently as possible, we
took it in our hands and looked it
over, but could not find cut or even
scratch. So we concluded it must
have been done by stone. He was
in great pain. A poultice was made
directly of white turnip sliced and