Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-19

eeteQ observer OF anlTnal llo.
The good qualities, the faithful
ness. the devotion and the affec-
ton of the canine race have been
sung In every key and praised In various
degrees of eloquence in every tongue; but.
while the virtue Of dogs Is admirable, their
petty vice is amusing
To lie is a common canine transgression.
The more intelligent the dog the more In
clined he Is to lie. Their simple souls re-
gard a lie only as a means to accomplish
an end, but II is rarely that their power
OF discrimination Is sufficiently great TO
enable them to continue the deception for
any length OF time. My little bulldog will
limp painfully when forced out to take
exercise he finds dull, but az he is released
and allowed to return to the house he at
once begins to caper and pirouette. un-
consciously acknowledging in this way his
own contemplate falsehood. He has oc-
castonally, to avoid being left alone.
feisned such violent attacks of mysteri-
GUS Illness that, seriously alarmed by his
peculiar symptoms. by the shivering, the
feeble whimpering and the general air OF
intense suffering not warranted by any OF
the we'll known signs indicating canine ILL
ness. ], puzzled and frightened, have been
Just about 10 telephone In haste for the
veterinary, when mouse running across
the floor OF a dog barking in the street has
miraculously effected an instantaneous
cure.
This same artful little animal will force
every one Of the family in turn when the
weather IL to his liking to take him out
for a walk. This he accomplishes by going
to each one Of them separately when he
can catch them alone and declaring in ex-
pressive pantomime that he is suffering
for exercise. The dream OF a neglected
bone which has obtruded itself upon his
midnight hours has obliged me often to
leave a warm bed on a cold night. His
most persistent lie Is that which concerns
Il a. A. ~. NzNwwr
OF dinner fully twice the size OF his stom-
aoh, which he has captured by fair means
or foul he viii swear to me by every oath
known 10 dogdom and in every note of the
dog gamut that he Is slowly starving 70
death, or, at the very least, faintlng for
lack OF food. He IL lectured, he Is re-
proved. but his sensitive little heart, which
10 20 easily affected by punishment for
lesser crimes, remains perfectly hardened
to the iniquity of lying. Only lack OF
opportunity, am sure, has prevented him
from carrying his propensity for falsehood
far enough to become an arrant swindler
like Sandy MoGrew.
Sandy, as his name would reveal, was
Scottish terrier whom a friend of mine had
transplanted from his native moors to a
Surrey village, Sandy had all the thrift
and acquisttiveness OF his countrymen. as
will be seen from the following true tale.
II was his masters habit in order TO teach
Sandy proper business methods to give the
little dog a great, honest British penny
each morning when they started out for
their early walk. This weighty copper
coin Sandy would carefully hold in his
mouth until, with his master. he entered
the family butcher shop and received a
portion OF meat he considered was its
equivalent. The butcher endeavored from
time 70 time to play joke upon him by
offering him a smaller portion, but Sandy.
shrewd Scotchman that he was, knew by
the looks whether OF not the meat was OF
the proper weight and ooetinately refused
TO give up his penny unless he was given
all he should have.
Why He Went Astray
Sandy would probably never have
stray-ed from the paths OF virtue and hon
ssty had not two circumstances combined
to throw temptation IN his way. First Of
these was the fact that the village In
which he lived supported two butchers,
and second. eandy's master had the mis-
fortune to spra1n his ankle so badly hat
for a time the morning walks were post
poned Sandy'a manner was go detected
that In order 70 cheer up his melancholy
terrier Mr.. J. bestowed upon him his usual
penny and commanded him TO be gone.
Whereupon sandy. shaking his long, rough
body with wicked gles and solsmnly wav-
ing his long tail with secret Joy at this
golden opportunity. trotted away TO the
meat shop never patronixod by his master.
looked upon the little dog as the probable
herald OF the family custom, that Sandy
received an enormous piece of meat. for
which he quietly gave up his penny. But
no sooner haA he gobbled up this honestly
purchased food than he proceeded to the
shop where he waB well known and bought
a second like amount on credit. This most
unserupulous fraud the little Scotchman
boldly perpetrated each day, until the
butchers bill presented to his master co.
casloned an investigation. ! regret to say
that the moral OF this tale Is not as Il
should be. sandy was not punished by
anything more severe than a scolding for
his clever sin.
At the risk OF plagiarizing myself l VIII
here repeat the story 81 Peter Parkin.
which l told In my English Inns" Peter
was a great. numbering bulldog whose most
cherished playmate was a gold hsh lead
ing a solitary existence in a small pond
set among the flowers In the garden Of
the Wakes. This lonely FISH had been
called MT k In honor OF the VICAR. who
after having had the sad experience OF
losing a whole school OF these shining
nsheS On his fountain conveyed the sole
survivor TO other waters with Satisfactory
results. Mr. X. the hsA. Hour Ied IA
his new surroundings and lived long
ssSGSh 20 bsguils many . pleasant day