The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-23


destined to be one when he grew up.
AS yet he was just big, funny-look-
ing, anXiOus-tO- please, lovablc puppy.
Uncle Ted said he would be worth
hundred dollars after he was trained
and Uncle Ted ought to know, for he
had as many dogs as the old woman
who lived i'm the shoe had children.
Only Uncle Ted knew what To- do.
There never was a man. Ben ana Laura
thought, who was as clever with dogs
as Uncle Ted.
He never would have left Boxer at
grandma's, only n telegram came very
suddenly, calling him away.
Take good care Of the dog" he said
the last thing, and Ben and Laura with
one voice answered: I'VE willw
They were delighted to think Of having
such dear, ridiculous puppy TO play
with. Uncle Ted had left him chained
TO a post, but they begged their father
10 let the poor fellow loose
why, yes" said papa, laying aside
his paper. ''The farm Is big enough
10 hold him, ! guess; and even If he
does get into mischief. l think we can
manage him"
When Boxer saw them coming, he
wiggled and frlsked till his tail almost
touched his head
"Wuf! Wuf" he barked in his funny
puppy way, which was TO say. LET
me loose! Let me loose! What's the
use Of being on n lovely big farm If
you have to be hitched to post by
stupid old chaln?"
You should have seen him when he
heard the chain drop! He bounded
Off, and then back again, upset Ben
in comical excitement. lcapcd up to
give Laura kiss. and there Is no
telling what he would have done next
IL he hadn't caught sight of some chick
ems scratching away in the flower bed.
"Rrwufr' And I'm n twinkling he
had chased the last one out.
"Deary mel" calculated grandma.
from the window. IF we had n dog
as smart as that. my sweet peas might
have chance to bloom"
'He wasn't thinking of sweet peas"
chuckled papa. ITS just because he's
n bird dog. He's chase anything with
feathers till he's trained, If 1t were only
an old stuffed owlr'
The children listened with respect
and admiration, for papa knew almost
as much about dogs IA Uncle Ted.
They had n delightful afternoon with
Boxer, and he begged Off, so when
they took him back to the post that
they decided to leave him loose.
Next morning there were seven lit
tie green goslings missing at feeding
time. They found them ut last, scat
tered along at the edge Of the pond
all dead!
N"Oh. dear!' walled the children. dis
tracted between grief for the goslings
and pity for the guilty pup in the pun
ishment that was sure to overtakc him.
why didn't we chain him up? oh,
what will papa do?'
What papa did do was to gather up
the goslings and arrange them in n
pile, with their poor limp nccks all
dropping one way. Then he sent for
Boxer.
Naughty dogr' he said sternly,
pointing to the goslings. bad, bad
dogv'
: Then he whipped him.
Poor Boxer! He looked Mt the gos
lings. and he looked at papa, and IL
there ever was a penitent puppy, IL
was he. His brown eyes shone with
tears. and he licked papa's hand and
whined so sorrowfully that IL was all
the children could do to keep from
throwing their arms about his neck
and telling him not to feel sad any
more-that 1t didn't matter. anyhow.
There could not have been n better
dog than Boxer was that day. The
family thought him u more wonderful
creature than ever. He seemed so
delighted whenever he pleased any
one. and was so heartbroken when he
blundered that no one really had the
heart to scold him very much.
SO that night they let him loose
again convinced that the lesson had
been learned.
Next morning before breakfast he
came bounding up joyfully to papa.
"Wuf! Wufv' he said. as expressive
ly as IL he had said, "Come with me!
Come, everybody
Everybody came Boxer frisked
along proudly at the head OF tho pro
cession. and led them straight to the
duck pond.
"Wuf! Wuf!' he barked again. Just
see how l did IL this timev'
There on the bank were seven more
little dead goslings. arranged neatly
in a pile. with their bills all pointing
one way!
"Well. never"-began grandma.
But papa suddenly stopped over and
patted Boxer on the head.
GOOD doggyv' he exclaimed in q
queer. shaking kind OF voice. And
then. Don't you see what he's done
He thought / whipped him all because
he didn't put them I'm n pllel Good
doggy Yes-sir-eel Nice old fellow!
"wufr' barked Boxer. wagging al
most double for JOY.
II is doubtful IL any OF the gosling
would have lived to become geese /
Uncle Ted had not come that after
noon TO take Boxer home. And tn
next time he visited the farm he wa
mueh too wise a dog 70 chase barn
yard fowls Of any kind.