The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-21
DER HUMID.
Der Deutscher
Jlnd die
GEDANKTE FRAU.
Or the Trouble About a
Xmas Dog.

Christmas present. /
Hans liked dogs Liked them almost |
as much as he did his big pipe and the |
bernstein that Uncle Fritz brought
him from Germany -four years ago. The |
pipe had a snow scene on it and leg
en- in illegible German which said Fur !
Errinerung," and the stem was decor |
ated with a lot of logs in relief and
deer or two in impossible attitudes. /
There was a scroll work on one side
that said beer was the only solace of
a man, or words to that effect, only it
took longer to say it.
What made Frau Wurtz think of
dog for a Christmas present was some
thing Hans said one morning as he
started for his work He worked in
store over near Webster square, you
know, and it's long walk on cold
morning. and the cars weren't running
on account of the snow. Well, one
morning he said TO his wife that he
thought if he had company on his road
he wouldn't mind It so much that is,
if he could have congenial company,
and then the thought struck her that
she would get him a dog.
She didn't know just what kind of a
dog he'd like and she didn't know
much about dogs anyway. She took
the first one she could find for sale
cottage on Millbury street, to lock him
in her coal cellar, which, by the way,
wasn't anything but a shed in the back
yard, till Christmas eve
1t was d big dog. with curly black
hair, and the man said it was fond of
children. That made Frau Wurtz sure
Hans would be suited. She didn't ask
his name, because she thought Hans
would rather do the naming and call
him Bismarck, "Sigmund Myers" or
something like that.
They got him in the coal cellar on
the -23d of December, and he seemed
to be glad to go. He wagged his tail
and expressed his thanks not only for
the neat house provided for his com
fort but also for the link of Frank
furter which Frau Wurtz furnished for
his reflection. Mrs. Mcguire was glad
TO have him, for as she said:
IF burglars ID thry t stale the coal.
he'd chaw EN- up in minnit, so he
would
He was a good watch dog, that dog
was. Mr.. Mcguire found ii out when
he went after a bit of coal for the
stove that evening. The dog had made
himself at home. AS much so as the
Englishman who thinks his home his
castle. That dog wouldn't let Mr.. Ma
guire in. And he wouldn't come out
himself. He was comfortable and saw
NJ llGeA VI uiStuIDl llIliStlI ana he
was incorruptible. No Establishments
seemed to affect him. Mr.. Mcguire
tried all the barney he could think of,
but to no avail. Then he tried profan-
ity. but the dog only closed his eyes
and announced that he was sleepy and
wanted to be left alone. Even the del
icacy in the shape of a slice of fried
ham had no attractions for his canine
majesty and Mr.. Mcguire went over
to the Wurtzs to borrow enough coal
for the night
He did the same thing the next night
but he said some words in the hearing
of Frau Wurtz which she resented, in
audible, of course, because she didn't
want to have to lind another place OF
safety for the pup.
The only thing that troubled her was
how to get the dog out when she want
ed it. She dressed the Christmas tret
for the children early in the evening
and locked up the parlor, so they
couldn't see it when they came HON,
from the pond. all rudy and happy
from the skating. That tree was
sight to behold. 1t would have mad,
the heart of the crustiest bachelo
thump extra fast, rs he wished for
home for himself, SO he could have
tree for his children.
On this particular tree We're all tn
appurtenances peculiar to Germany
NVOucll llS uICS u men ana animal
We're stuck here and there stock fig
ures they We're. used Christmas afte
Christmas and kept packed in a ceda
chest during the rest of the year. mel
and birds and hearts and wagons an,
everything under the sun, and som
good things that couldn't exist any
where, all made of sugar candy and
sort of concrete-like cake, hum
around in delightful confusion.
The little candles on the branche
seemed to be waiting in readiness TO
the light and the new skates for Hans
junior. and the red sled for klein
Gretchen" beamed back at Frau Wurt
as she stood off TO view her work
Even Babys tin horn tried to blow it
self in the happiness of the occasion
Nothing was lacking but the dog, an
that would be added early in tn
morning before Hans was awake. Blu
how to get the dog out of the coal eel
lar? Frau Wurtz didn't let that worr
her very much, but trusted tc provi
dence, an dthis time providence didn'
fail her.
Early Christmas morning she start
ed out to see the superiority of Ger
man persuasion over Irish blarnel
and she took another Frankfurte
along. In order not to disturb the Ma
CURES she slipped in through the bac
gate and made her way toward the COS
cellar The Mcguire cat happene
along about that time, too and be
came aware of the presence Of eatable
in the immediate vicinity. The cat ha
been out all night with the boys, an
it was hungry, so it rubbed up agains
Frau Wurtz and asked for somethin
TO eat. Frau WurtZ couldn't see
however, and softly opened the doc
of the coal cellar aud made a noise, sh
called whistling to wake up the dog.
But the dog was awake, wide aWak
and when he saw the cat he gave eV
dence of his wakefulness. When Fra
Wurtz got up out OF the snow Whel
she had been sent by TIE catapult
advent of the pup, she saw him sittir
near the fence in undisputed possessio
Of the sausage and the field, and To
sat on the roof of the house and swol
in cat language till he was black
the face. The dog finished his me
and sat up and begged for more. 81
there wasn't any more, and Fra
Wurtz made use of the opportunity
tie string around his neck ana he l.
her home
He seemed TO Know the way, az
Frau Wurtz was delighted. she toe
him into the parlor and tied him
the tree and then went to tell Han
and the children. And while she W;
gone the dog, he had Z good time.
He bit the string IN two first, al
then began to sample the dear lit
candy babies and the sugar cake MOI
strosities with which the tree W.
decorated. He examined the constru
ton Of the wooden figures and g