The morning call., 1893-02-12

The Happiest Dog in San
Joaquin County.
NOT HANDSOME, BUT GOOD.
A Desperate Battle Between Sand Liz
ards on the Desert Near Casa
Grande.
written for THE MORNING CALL

Slobsey is the name of the happiest dog
in San Joaquin County. He is also the
brightest, and thinks himself the most i'm
portant individual in the world. The great
est of life's burdens are his because be
thinks he has the whole care of his masters
family on his small white back, and no
doubt feels they would all continually be In
trouble but for him.
He is owned by Mr. Charles In Stock
ton, and looks more like fox terrier than
anything else That is really said to be his
breed, but like most other dogs his ancestry
is In some doubt. In color he is white with
two brown spots ON his back He is not
handsome in appearance for several reasons.
but he is to blame for some of them.
When quite young he was deprived of the
greater portion of his tail, so much in fact
being taken off he has not enough left to
wag, and in the effort to perform this act Of
courtesy he gives a seTpentine motion to
his spinal column that almost jerks his hind
feet off the ground. However. the cruel
deed was done when he was very young,
and he does not remember that he ever had
a TAIL Nor does be look upon the lack OF
caudal appendage as a loss to be m0arned,
but, on the contrary, thinks it is a sure sign
that he belongs to a superior race OF
CANNES. As he is never compelled to drag
old cOffee-pots around aS some OF bis friends
are he thinks he is relieved Of This burden
on account of his greatness. and not because
there is nothing to tie them to.
Taken all together he is not an Adonis,
especially after he has had bucket OF
water thrown on him and then rolled around
in the dust. He is very officious and while
he means well with everything he attempts
to do, succeeds in making himself q nuS-
ance. But he really has not a single enemy
in the world and wouldn't fight with an
other dog for a great deal, especially il the
other dog was the larger. He ia as gentle
as a lamb and none OF the other animals
around the place have the least fear Of him.
lie has a small house all to himself but
seldom sleeps in it for the lack of s0clabil-
ity. lie wants company when he sleeps
and seems TO be welcome everywhere. One
night he will go TO sleep in nest with an
old hen that is doing her best to increase her
species. There is never any trouble as be
simply takes as much of the bed as he wants
and the old lady can get along the best she
knows how with what is left.
If the old hen Is not congenial he will go
up TO the pigeon-house In the hay loft and
crowd among the flock roOsting on the floor
until he finds warm corner. There is gem
orally a little fiuttering Wnen he enters this
part of the establishment. bat all the birds
know he is harmless and make room for
him. As soon as lie has found the place lie
wants the pigeons settle themselves again,
and frequently cover him out of sight He
sleeps with the cow once in while. and oc-
casionally curls himself up On the horses
back. None Of them seem to object TO his
presence in the least. but his favorlte COM
pauion is the cat. Between the two there is
a strong bond of friendship that at times be-
comes touching. The two sleep and
eat together during the day, but
at night pussy generally has part
faEp in musical entertain o Mt
so is not around. Slobsey has grown quite
used 10 this, and takes 1t as a matter Of
course; but if she is ever absent in the day
time lie Is the most miserable being alive.
When the cat had kittens he felt himself
very important and brought all the family
down to the barn to look at the new ar
rivals. Oh, he is a most important indi-
vdual, and but for his attention the barn
yard would 60 TO ruin. he looks after
everything, and should there be any family
disturbance he at once steps in to decide
the matter and always does it quickly No
rooster is ever allowed to become obnoxious
in his harem any more than one pig allowed
to crowd the others out of the trough.
But Slobsey does not confne his work to
the barnyard; he also looks after his
masters family and the guests that come
to the house.
He never allows those who have spent
the evening at the house to go home alone.
but always follows at q short distance until
they have reached their destination. He
then turns around and goes home himself.
When he first assumed this duty ne used 20
90 inside the yard TO make sure that his
charge got into the house, but one night
while waiting on the porch the gate blew
shut and he couldn't get out The night
was cold and camp, and he had to pass it
with nothing but an old newspaper for a
bed. Since then he has gone as far as the
gate but no farther.
lie knows everybody in his crowd and
looks after them with the greatest care.
He Is always around TO attend to lots of
things that are none of his business, and
when he becomes too officious he is gener-
ally taken by the back OF the neck and put
out in the yard. where lie stands most de-
jectedlY and looking if his honest efforts
were not appreciated. WILL SPARKS.