La Junta tribune., 1899-03-25
Tale Of . Gutnea- Pig.


hammock cushions with Bobbie's new
guinea pig cuddled close In her lap.
She was trying very hard to become
acquainted with the new pet. but
Toodles was not at all genial: In fact.
Toodles showed strong signs of being
stupid. He would not play. he would
not stand on his hind legs. he would
not oven grunt. and Dorothy began to
grow tired of his company.
He cant do thing but blink his
eyes. and he does that only once in
fve minutes. Now. II he could Just
talk" and Dorothy heaved large sigh.
well. what do you want me to talk
about!" inquired Toodles. brusquely.
Dorothy jumped: "oh! SO you can
talk. can you? That's funny l only
wanted to ask why they speak Of you
as n guinea pig"
why do they speak of dollar hili?"
why. why-because 1t Is bill
worth dollar. l suppose"
WELL" proudly. Il am a pig worth
guinea. Does that satisfy your"
How much Is guinea?" asked
Dorothy. doubtfully.
You ought to know. You are study
Ing arithmetic"
"weli. 1 think it's something like
IS or So"
That's right t"-grandly-"my price
is S.
NO. 1t isn't said Dorothy. 81
heard Bobby say that he only paid rs
cents for you
IAN right"-dismally-" 1t your
own way. Anyhow. rs cents is half of
IS. so l must be half guinea pig. l
wonder which half am. Do you
know"
NO" said Dorothy. thoughtfully.
"You have whole body and all OF
your legs and ears and eyes and things.
| can't think what is missing
1T must be the other half" said the
guinea pig. sadly.
~, Eich half?"
why, the other half" impatiently.
III this half is here, 1t must be the
other half that Is not here, mustn't
it,"
II suppose so," admitted Dorothy.
doubtfully. Then: "Oh, l know what
is short: it's your tail"
Observation-Disclosures my
tail is short. 1t is not polite to make
personal remarks. / never crticise
your pug nose. nor your snarly hair:
and. anyway. my tail is not short
have not got any tail, so how could
It be short. stupid?"
"Oh, I don't mean that kind Of
short mean gone-missIng, you
know
"Then why didn't you say SO? What
Is the use of talking II you don't say
what you mean?"
Dorothy sighed. These furry folks
were so hard to please. She kept ST.
lent for a whole minute.
Toodles eyed her disapprovingly. but
as she appeared to have nothing more
to say he began again. less brusquely
"I suppose that you want to know
something about that tail that you call
short when there isn't any"
III you please" said Dorothy, re-
spectfully.
well. 1t Is not a long tale"
II said It wasn't" giggled Dorothy.
The guinea pig snorted contemptu-
ously. but proceeded with the story.
my grandfather told 1t to me, and
his grandfather told 1t to him. and his
grandfather told 1t to him. and his
.grandfather-"
us the nrst chapter all like that?"
Interrupted Dorothy.
"That ID the preface" said the guinea
pig. pompously.
"oh. all right" said Dorothy. lust
skip II. I always do"
There you 60" grumbled Toodles.
mo one ever yet let me tell my story
my way. You are very impertinent."
n beg your pardon" said Dorothy.
But. you see. I was afraid that you
would get to going and couldn't stop.
the way do when try to say: Pretty
pretty, pretty. pretty. pretty-Peter.
there! That's the hrst time that ever
cot To the 'petef'-the .prettya' alEaxa