The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-19
TAFFY'S EXPERIENCE.
BY MARY ALLAIRE.

| You would never have dreamed it if
you had seen him. He was handsome
and looked we'll cared for. You knew
he was very jolly the moment you looked
at him. His tail had a comical twist.
Of course he was a dog. l thought you
knew that. He was city dog, and the
country sights and sounds were very be-
wildering and confusing. There were
those delight ul creatures who had only
two legs, but had delightful things to
flap at their sides, and feathers that
blew in the wind. Could anything be
funnier than the way they squawked and
tapped their wings when you chased
them! Why, Taffy-for that is this
dogs name-almost rolled over as he
chased them; they we're SO ridiculous,
and acted just as if they expected to be
hurt.
When Taffy made up his mind that
the hens and chickens we're afraid of
him, he made every effort to convince
them that it was mistake; that he was
playing tag. But it was useless. Taffy
had but to appear and the hens scatt-
cred in every direction, SO that Tafy
realized it was useless to try to catch
any of them to explain.
Over in the field there were some de-
lightful creatures. These had four legs
and were covered with soft. curly, wool
ly stuff. Some of these beautiful
creatures we're large and some were
small. Taffy watched them for quite a
while from the road. At last the little
ones began to run and tumble over each
other. Taffy liked the game; twas the
one he tried to play with the chickens.
He bounded through the fence with
short, quick banks, which was his way of
saying. MY name is Taffy, and I will
join at once in this game; l know how to
play itw
The moment he jumped into the field
the large creatures hurried away to the
further fence, calling out to the little
ones to come to them at once. Taffy
did not understand their language. and
jumped and barked until he caught the
smallest one. He threw her over and
tumbled her about, but she did not play
at all we'll. She seemed to want to get
away. She called out in beseeching
tones, but it was foreign language to
Taffy. who played harder and harder,
and did not stop until he heard her give
little moan. Then he was horror
stricken. He had torn her ear. Poor
Taffy! He tried to explain, but she
could not understand, and Taffy with
the funny twist all gone out of his tail,
and his pretty head hangin' down, went
home.
The next day Taffy went off to visit
his charming friends in the field. He
began again by telling in his best Ian
guage that he had come for game, but
they again thought him an enemy, and
this time they ran as hard as they
could. bleating and calling for help.
Those who could. jumped the fences
into the next field. Taffy jumped after
them. but, alas! he jumped to his punish
ment. The owner of these sheep and
lambs caught Taffy, and tied him up,
and threatened to shoot him. You see,
Taffy could not make the owner under
stand. any more then he had made the
sheep and Lambs understand. that he
wanted to play tag. He did not speak
their language. nor they his. The
lambs and their mothers seemed to un-
derstand the owners language, and he
must have understood theirs, for he
came at their call.
That was a sad day for Taffy. A
great ox-chain was tied about his neck,
and he was chained to a tree. Poor
fellow! he hid not understand that in
the animal world it as great crime for
dogs to play with sheep.
Now. Taffy hal dear mistress. How
it was possible for Taffy to be naughty
when he lived in The house with such a
mistress, no one could understand. Yet
he was. In the house with Taffy was a
beautiful white eagle, stuffed. The
eagle was given the place of honor. and
Taffy must have heard him admired
many times. After Taffy had been
punished for playing with the sheep-the
owner called it worring-he was shut in
the house while the family went for a
drive. When they came back they
found on the floor lot Of feathers, two
br oxen claws, and an eagles head. The
place where the eagle had been was
empty. Taffy was greatly puzzled
by the excitement that followed. and
still more puzzled when his mistress,
refused to have him on her lap.
Tsffy was intelligent. His experience
taught him that be must not play with
things in the house, nor four footed
things in fields. Having come to this