The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-02

looked so shocked. L was sure that
it must be something dreadful, and l
felt sorry; for, as ! said before, am
very fond of him. Well, whatever it
was, he seems to have got over it now,
for he always looks happy and jolly,
and he takes me for more walks than
anyone else, except my mistress. l
hear his gate bang, and l meet him
outside, wagging my tail, Just to say,
Glow do you do?" and then we
start off, without any fuss about the
weather or anything else.
Our favorite walk is to his sons
home. We go first past the village,
then through some fields and over
two brooks. He goes on footbridges,
but I like to splash in the water best.
We go down long lane, with banks
of roses on each side, and lots of
little birds in the trees, until at last
we get to a pretty little house in the
corner of garden.
The old gentleman's son is scarce
ly ever at home; but directly he rings
the bell we hear two boys shouting
"Branpa! Branpa!" and nice girl
like Mary, our housemaid, opens the
door, and then they rush at him and
kiss and hug him, and I lick them,
and we are all just as happy as we
can be! l must not forget to say
that there is fair young lady with
sweet face there, whom the boys
call "Mudder," and 1 like to see her
smile when we come.
The old gentleman is very hot
when we get there, and l am tired,
too, but the boys don't give him any
rest. cart, Branpa!" the smallest
one says; then ne gets out sort of
box with things in it he calls ami
mails, and sets them up on the table,
often smile as / lie on the rug,
resting; sometimes l hear them say,
Now, Branpa, put lovely dog like
dear Scottw Then he takes an ugly
little wood thing in his hand and
puts it on the table-a dog, indeed |!
they can't deceive me, it's only wood
and it hasn't any tail.
Those boys do lead the old gentle
man life; he never gets minutes
peace, except when they play with
me. IT is. "Read now, Branpa!" or,
"Spin top, Branpal' and they shout
and jump about SO that we are quite
glad to get into thequiet fields again
on our way home.
We take many other pleasant walks
together, but | never go when the
lady of his house is with him. Once
when | set off, as usual, she turned
round and said in a solemn voice,
like clergyman, go home, Scottp'
| turned back at once, for | never go
where | am not wanted I justlay down
by my masters gate and waited till
someone came who could appreciate
me, then | went with them.
l am very much attached to the
little girl who lives opposite; she has
a sweet little face and often talks to
me and pats me very kindly; hope
she is not growing spoilt and willful;
| have sometimes seen her give little
stamps with her foot and say, Il
won't" | wish she had more chill
dren at her house, for where a great
many come out of a gate they are SO
smiling and happy.
l don't think people really under
stand dogs. l often wish l could
talk; l would explain a great many
things about our race. We see
understand much about our race. We
and understand much more than
our masters give us credit for, and /
am proud to think there is nothing
low or mean about us.
AS / limited, | have busy life;
nothing interests me more than the
shopping do with the ladies of Our
Lane; all meat shops like greatly,
but they do not seem to care for
them, or to stay long. But when we
go to shop where they sell lace or
bonnets, oh, my patience is terribly
tried!-they ask so many questions
and look at SO many things, and are
altogether so troublesome that l feel
quite sorry for the young lady who
serves them. She often looks white
and tired, but the ladies never seem
to see that. If were buying things,
1 would try to give less troubled
The greatest treat l had last week
Except the butchers, was visit to
likeness shop; l had nothing bet
ter to do, so l walked with an old
lady to the village and, to my sur
prise, she went into the likeness
shop. I had never been in such a
place before, and it was exceedingly