Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-09


ing with a most engaging whine, to be
taken into our laps.
But alas, and alas! his poor little tail!
He never learned to look out for that. 1t
was rather long, compared to his body,
and seemed to lack the power of curling
out of the way when the rest of him was
disposed Of. AS he would cuddle under
our dresses when we were sitting, the re-
suit was that poor TAN was forever get
ting under the rockers of our chairs.
There would be the most unearthly squeal,
the whole room full of people swelling the
chorus, at the same time leaping to their
feet, and Pinkie would run for comfort
and petting to the one who had rocked on
him. That much abused tail was broken in
several places by just such accidents; con-
sequently it stood out from his body at
various angles and with several pathetic
droops rather funny to see. He never
learned to guard it, and we never became
used to his ear-piercing, heart-rending
squeal. 1t always acted on our bodies
much the same as would a giant torpedo
if suddenly stepped on, we always rose to
q point Of disorder.
Then he had large aversion to cats.
A larger dog would have displayed q
quiet liberation of them, a medium-sized
one would even have made friends with
them, but not so tiny Pinkie. His feel
ings would become one too many for
HIM at sight of some specially large fe-
line, and on he would rush to the fray.
You know the expression, las quick as a
cat.'' AS far as quickness went Pinkie
was a match for any cat. There would
be a solo of snappy barks, frantic
waltz by the dog, running accompani-
ment of spit and bowls by the cat, a
grand crash and tangle composed Of
yelps, growls, flying fur and legs, tails
and bodies, then Pinkie would retire I'M
der the piazza to nurse his resentment
and choice assortment of scratches,
while the cat would calmly wash her
story, always the dog was defeated, but
he never learned his lesson. The next
cat had to give him the same treatment.
One summer during the term of Pinkie's
existence, We owned a beautiful Angora
goat She was beauty, with long, silky,
cream-white hair that fell to her knees,
widely branching horns, mild brown
eyes and dainty, polished hoofs. She was
no ordinary, newspaper goat, browsing
on tin cans and posters, but rather a
noble lady goat, gentle in manner and
aristocratic in taste. We made a great
pet Of her, tied her by long string out
On the lawn or took her on regular frOl-
les around the yard. Whether Pinkie
was jealous of our attentions to Nanny,
or whether it was just inherent mischief
that must come out, we could never de-
eide, but certainly he would torment the
poor creature numerically. Nipping with
his little teeth a bit of the long hair that
grew on Nanny's launches, he would tug
and pull, keeping up funny growing
all the while. Of course Nanny couidn't
reach him, try as she might, and then
there would begin the funniest dance you
ever saw. Nanny, after the manner of
all goats, would put down her head and
rush at Pinkie with her horns, or stand
on her hind legs and strike with her front
H0OfS
end Of her rope, but tiny Pinkie was safe
behind her, and the queer waltz ended
only when the rope was wound tightly
round the stake and someone had taken
away the tiny tormentor.
One day we heard a great clatter in
the side hall, sounding much as If all the
crockery in the house mad been pitched
down stairs, and Pinkie was trying to let
us know of the catastrophe. We rushed
to the scene to find Nanny at the top OF
the stairs, Pinkie dancing up to her and
retreating as he advanced, Nanny bleat-
ing Indignantly, Pinkie yaping furiouSly.
We separated the absurd pair of combat
ants, shut up the dog in a dark closet,
led the goat down stairs and held coun-
Gil Of war. We decided that one of the
pets must go, so we disposed OF the goat
in order to have peace.
Poor Pinkie, his cOnceit caused his
death. He would fight with other dogs,
big dog, trotting by in the middle of the
road minding his own business, and trou-
bling no one. Out would fly Pinkie, in
such a hurry that he would fairly turn
summersaults, making a racket equal to
two small boys beating on tin pans. The
big dog would trot along, not noticing
such an atom, but that didn't suit Pinkie.
Wasn't he a dog, and a very important
one? Snap he would go at the big dogs
legs; big dog would give one fierce look,
and keep trotting; snap again, big dog
trots little faster; snap once more, and
big dog gives one big growl. That usual
ly settled it. Pinkie would put as much
as possible Of his disjointed tail between
his legs and sneak back to the piazza. If
the dog were not very large he would run
away, Pinkie in hot pusuit, till longer
legs carried him beyond the reach of his
tiny assailant.
Alas, one fatal day the big dog came
along; the usual performance began, but
the big dog forgot to growl. At that
point he turned, seized the brown atom
by the back with his powerful teeth. gave
one shake, and all that was our Pinkie
fled when the slender neck snapped. Only
tiny, limp form was left for us to weep
over.
We had other dogs after Pinkie's death,
but none ever displaced him in our affec-
lions, or caused US to forget him. Peace
TO oh Thr;c