Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-28
A DOGS TAIL.

(From Advance Sheets OF Harpers
Magazine for December)
My father was ST. Bernard, my
mother was a coolie, but / am a Pres
byteran. This Is what my mother told
me; / do not know these nice distinc-
lions myself. TO me they are only
fine, large words meaning nothing.
My mother had a fondness for such;
size liked to say them, and see other
dogs look surprised and envious, as
wondering how she got so much educa-
ton.
But, indeed, II was not real educa-
ton; " was only a show; she got the
words by listening in the dining room
and drawing room when there was
company, and by going with the child
rem to Sunday school and listening
there; and whenever she heard a large
word she said It over to herself many
times, and so was able to Keep II until
there was a dogmatlc gathering In The
nelghborhood, then she would get II off,
and surprise and distress them all,
from pocket pup TO mastiff, which re-
warded her for all her trouble. II there
was n stranger, he was nearly sure to
be suspicious, and when he got his
breath again he would ask her what
1.
was never expecting this, but thought
he would catch her; so when she told
him. he was the one that looked
ashamed, whereas he had thought 1t
was going to be she.
The others We're always waiting for
this, and glad Of II and proud OF her,
for they knew what was going to hap
pen, because they had had experience.
When she told the meaning of big
word they We're all so taken up with
| admiration that II never occurred 20
any dog to doubt If it was the right
! one; and that was natural because,
| for one thing, she answered up so
promptly that Il seemed like d diction-
airy speaking, and for another thing,
| where could they find out whether II
was right or not? for she was the on
| ly cultivated dog there was.
| BY and by, when | was older she
! brought home the word unintellectual,
| one time, and worked 1t pretty hard all
| the week at different Notwithstanding
much unhappiness and dependency.
| and II was at this time that | noticed
| that during that week she was asked
| for the meaning at eight different as
semblages and flashed out fresh def
| milton every time, which showed me
that she had more presence of mind
| than culture, though | said nothing,
| of course.
She had one word which she always
| kept on hand, and ready like life pre-
server, a kind Of emergency word to
strap on when she was likely to get
| washed overheard in a sudden way
| that was the word synonymous. When
she happened TO fetch out long word
which had had its day weeks before
| and its prepared meanings gone to her
| dump-pile, II there was stranger
| there of course, II knocked him groggy
| for a couple Of minutes, then he would
come TO, and by that time she would
be away down the wind on another
tack. and not expecting anything; so
when he'd hail and ask her TO cash in.
| (the only dog on the inside OF her
Rame) could see her canvas Kicker a
| moment but only just moment.-then
II would belly out taut and full, ana
she would say, as calm as a summers
| day. ITS synonymous with superero-
! cation" or some goddess long reptile OF
a word like that, and go placldly about
and skim away on the next tack per.
| fectly comfortable, you Know, ana
leave that stranger looking profane ana
embarrl sed, and the initiated siattng
The floor with their tails In unison and
their faces transhgured with a holy
| oy.-Mart Twain,