Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-01-21
A REASONING DOG.

The True Story OF Puppy, Afterward q
Big Dog.
Iwould not put the faith of the read
ers of Harper's Young People in my
self to the test by telling them the fol-
lowing story did 1 not have it upon no
less trustworthy authority than the
word of venerable general superin-
tendent of the Methodist church of Can
ada, who spoke from the standpoint OF
an eyewitness
When DIR. VS. boys were going to
school they were. like all other boys,
ownership fine brown spaniel which
showed more than ordinary intelligence
A friend offered them cute little set
ter pup, but on asking their fathers
permission to adopt it he refused, on
the ground that one dog was enough,
and he did not wish to have any more
about.
The boys. however, instead Of accept
ing his refusal as final, brought the pup
home. and hid it away in the hen-house,
in the hope that the parental opposi-
ton might be overborne in some way,
and by happy chance their hope was
fulfilled.
The chill autumn air made the little
puppy feel very uncomfortable, and he
walled so piteously and persistently that
at last the boys slipped him into one of
the box nests arranged for the hens to
deposit their eggs in, hoping that he
would be warmer there. and that. at all
events, his cries would not make them
selves heard.
The morning after this was done they
rushed into their fathers study, crying
out: "Father, come here quick!''
DR.. W promptly responded to the
call, and what ne saw well repaid him
for being thus disturbed in the middle
of sermon preparation.
The puppy had been whimpering so
vigorously as to attract the attention
and awaken the sympathy of the big
dog, who had thereupon done his best
to get into the nest to comfort the little
fellow. But the opening was altogether
too small to admit of this. 1t was then
that a scheme to meet the situation
flashed into his brain that would have
done credit to an intellect of higher
order than a dogs.
One of the hens was lettering about
in a purposeless way. The spaniel
deity caught her by the neck, and
dragged her over to the nest in which
the puppy was shivering and complain
ing. He then sought to push her into
the opening. So gently was he holding
her, however, that she broke away
from him. But he soon secured her
again, and, despite her noisy protests,
brought her back to the nest. And
now his sagacity revealed itself in its
fullest extent. He had nc hands to
shove the unwilling bird inside; but,
keeping good hold upon her neck with
his teeth, he cleverly crowded her in
with his body, pushing firmly but
gently, and doing her not the slightest
harm, until at last success crowned his
efforts.
Now was not that most remarkable
chain of reasoning'for dog? The pup.
DIV was cold. He would gladly have
cuddled it up to his own warm breast
had he been able. but he could not get
in to it, and it had not sense enough to
come to him. 1t was in the hens nest.
If the hen were there she would cover
it with her wings, and protect it from
the cold. Then it was only necessary
to put the hen into the nest, and the
puppy would be comforted-a conclu-
sion no sooner arrived at then carried
into execution.
1t is hardly necessary to add that
after SO strange and touching a mani
festation of interest on the part of the
dog, the opposition on the part of the
father was withdrawn, and the little
puppy admitted into the family circle.
j. NJ. Oxley, in Harper's Young
People.
In the Boarding House. -Bordaire
Where is your husband. Mrs Slim
diet?" Mrs Slimdiet-"Out in the back
yard pruning a tree" Bordaire-"Ilord.
but we're in for 1t; more pxunesp-N.
Y. Herald