Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-16
COMNITNICATEn .
BitcY,s Birthday.

BltcyS y birthday.
My name is Bitey Pelton. had two
brothers. We were born on farm in
Virginia My master named US Catch
'em, ''Bil'em" and "Kill'em !"
"Catch'em" and 'Kill'em" he gave
away, and my name has always been
called 'Bitey" am said to be very
handsome dog-my color being a sort
of seal color, with white fore-feet,
which my master calls hands. | have
also a white breast, which he calls Il
shirt bosom. and | have soft, silky
ears, and eyes Just the color of my
coat.
AS always sleep in a blanket in
cold weather, in a little bed by the side
of my masters, | keep my coat very
soft and shiny. My master sometimes
calls me Little Shiny | look so pref
ty, he says.
! hope my readers will not think me
vain. l only wish you to know lust
how | look, and am quite sure that
much of my good looks is owing to the
care receive, and my good home. |
know if was halfstarved and knocked
about as | see some poor creatures.
both in town and here in the country, /
should lose all my good looks, for moth
ing keeps person in good spirits and
gives him proper degree Of self-respect
which will always cause him TO Try al
least to look well, like plenty Of good
victuals. Indeed, have heard my mas
ter say that good vctuals and good
| fire were the two great things in lie. y
know very well that | appreciate
both. for when 90 to town on wet
day am so glad 10 get home and get
warmed and fed | 90 to town with
my master always, running all The way,
that | may 90 into the woods and find
rabbits. My mistress would tell you
that find q great many, but | seldom
catch any-they do run so ST; and if |
catch one and Kill it, can only eat q
little of it at once, and if I bury it
Dandy Ga neghbor's dog or poor
Frank" (our colored mans dog is sure
TO find it, so have given up catching
them. like to chase them, but | am
contented to let cur bic white cat Hop
Pelton" get them. lie brings them in,
as big as himself, eats on them until he
is quite uncomfortable, then leaves the
rest for the other cats-"Fouo and
BABY like to chase him, too, for
he will run, but that "Fou," although
she is very small, she won't run. She
stands and faces me, and il 90 too
near she strikes at me with her claws,
which are as sharp as needles. Then
my mistress says
Bite Pelton, don't you hurt my
'Fousy."
My mast rand mistress are very fond
of pets. NY master is particularly
fond of his horses, Wills my mistress
pets everything on the place. She has
some little chickens, Malta, ""Speckle"
and "BIackey" which she puts 10 bed
every night in nest of leaves, with
rabbit skin in it to keep their feet
warm. The old hen-mother left them.
Two little pigs have just come to the
farm. She named them Jack and
JILL and says they are ''real
cunning | thought at first they were
"possums,n and would have tried to
catch them, had not my master told me
better.
But l must tell you about my birth
day. l was four Years old last Fourth
of July. My master said he thought it
was quite time that some notice was
taken of the birthdays OF such good
little dog as Bitey PeltoD.
So then we began 10 think Of birth
day party.
But who shall we invite ~ said my
mistress. Dandy is gone away. 1t is
hardly proper to ask Frank to come,
and you know Bitey don't like the
cats"
sInvite ourselves said my master.
SO it was settled. The day came,
bright and beautiful. ! went all over
the farm, as usual to see that all was
right. Then sat down on the hill and
looked off on the river, and watched
the boats going down crowded with
people and bedecked with flags and
streamers. | could hear the bands
playing, too, aud ali this made me very
happy,
began to think how very thankful
should be for my pleasant home, how
good | would be to the cats q even
made up my mind that l would not
chase them any more), how much more
watchiul would be OF the farm and
the animals, and then | must have
fallen asleep, for the next thing re-
member was hearing my mistress say
that dinner was ready.
Now never 90 into the dining room
until the family are through eating. |
know this, by hearing my master push
back his chair. | then go and he al
ways gives me something nice, which
he has saved for me on his plate. This
time | went as usual. and saw leap.
ing plate of good things all ready fol
me, and in the center of the table a
beautiful birthday cake with four little
flags in it-that was mine, TO do Just Is
| pleased With. So after We had eact
had a piece, then began to think whar
was TO be done with the remainder
Nv mistress said she thought we oush
TO take some of it to the little colorec
children who live in the cabin by th'
river.
So she cut four pice pieces, and put :
: flag in each. then she filled plate witt
nuts and candies, and we went TO lh'
cabin. How pleased the children We're
There were Just as many as had live
,I,o;, littia tinuS