The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-07-11
MY LITTLE DOG PICKLE.

Towards the close or dull November
day, in the year 1856, a young man was
standing, with his back to the fire, in a
small but well furnished apartment in
- street. Scattered about upon the
table were several open and evil looking
volumes, bearing, as their titles indicated,
upon witchcraft, spiritualism, mesmer-
ism and various supernatural phenom-
ena Their appearance showed that they
were frequently and deeply studied
Seated on the hearth rug, close to the
young mans feet, was small black and
tan mongrel, very sharp about the muz-
Zle, very bright about the eyes, and very
tremulous about the tail. Every now and
then che looked up into her masters face,
with that look of wistful wonder so COM
mon to the canine features, giving at the
same time little whimper, in order to
attract his attention.
"What is it. Picker he exclaimed at
last, rousing from his reverie, and look
ing down at the dog; "what is it, my
grill"
Bow, WOW, wowl'
That's a very general answer, my
doggie."
AT that moment some peculiar idea
evidently flashed across his brain, for,
looking earnestly at the dog, he ex-
claimed:
"By Jovel I've a good mind to try
the experiment. Let me just read it
over again"
He walked quickly from the fireplace
to the table, and opened one of the vol
umes at marked place. For quarter
of an hour he sat, and never raised his
eyes from the book; then, leaving it
open. he pushed it little way aside,
and called his dog. 1t was on his knee
in a second.
pickle" he said gently, "would you
like to talk?"
Bow, WOW, wowp'
mo, not to bow, WOW, WOW, but to
talk-like do?'
The dog put it's head on one side and
looked at him earnestly, with that pain
full endeavor to understand which every
one who talks to dog must often have
noticed.
LET me see what it says once more, !"
muttered her master, and he turned to
the book again. HIM! power of strong
will-condit on produced by mesmerism
experiment of Won Glaben-act on
brain and tongue-transmitted capacity
and sympathetic action on muscles. Yes,
I'll do it, come what may"
With thoca bo l.
from his knee and placed it upon the
table in front of him, SO that its face was
level with his; then he raised his finger
and exclaimed sharply:
''Pickle, look at me!''
The dogs eyes were riveted on his in a
moment. The last rays of the Novem-
Der sun had long ago departed, and the
rooni was filled with that visible dark
ness which gives a weird aspect to the
commonest of objects. In this obscur-
ity, relieved only by a fitful fare from
from the dying embers in the CRATE, the
pupils of the animal seemed to the young
man to dilate under his glance and be.
come balls of liquid fire. Never for a
moment allowing his steadfast gaze to
vary, he lifted his hands quickly from
his side and made the usual passes, add.
ing to them certain others evidently pre-
scribed in the recently studied article.
At the first few strokes the dog trem.
bled violently, and the bristles rose round
its neck like ruff. Then it suddenly
became rigid; the jaws dropped asunder
and the ears were pricked in the most
painful tension.
"PickleI" exclaimed the young man
bringing his face suddenly SO close t.
the dogs that their noses touched
"Pickle, speak to met Say masterl'
The open jaws closed with sudder
snap; the lips twitched spasmodically
the working of the throat showed tina
the tongue was violently agitated.
pickle, if you love me, speakI''
The words were this time accompanied
by powerful attack upon the ANIMAL
brain and tongue. The same symptom
followed the second appeal; and then
from between the clenched teeth, ther,
came, harsh and grating, as though tear
ing its way up the dogs throat, the wor'
master"
Pronounced in an unearthly tone, tn
word, half expected as it was, had me
mentary effect upon the operator
nerves; but before the current of his in
fluence over the dog had been destroyer
he recovered himself and continued tn
experiment.
"Do you know what say to your
This time the answer fell easily an
softly from the dogs lips. The unuse
muscles Of the throat had, under the in
fiuence of Won Glabenstein, got quickl
oTer the first shock and fallen at ono
into working order. II understand al
you say to me-"
''Can you speak except under the in
f1uence9 l mean could you speak if
withdraw my eyes from you-so?"
The young man turned away, and de
stroyed for moment the rapport be
tween the dog and himself. The ANNA
was powerIess to reply. Resuming tn
former conditions the operator then con
tinued:
do you retain the remembrance O
your former life. or are you oblivious t.
the past9"
'You use very long words"
sis your condition altered? Do yol
Eemember anything that happened to