Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-07-25
and
THE SNOW man

Minnie had worked busily all the
week making fine big snow man.
Minnie was not very big herself; there
fore 1t was very hard work for her to
build a snow man all alone. So when
she was almost up to his head she de-
cided to call Puggie, her pretty pet
puppy. and ask him to help her. She
knew he could scratch snow and pile
It up for her to use. So she went to
the door and called to Puggie. who
was asleep on the fur rug before the
fire, "Oh, Pug-Pug-Puggie, come here
and help me work"
Puggie bounded up at sound of his
little mistress voice and ran gayly
into the yard. where he was introduc.
ed to the headless snow man. "Thls
is Mr. Snow Man, Puggie," said
Minnie. "Of course he can't bow to
you yet, as he hasn't head. but as
soon as he gets one maybe he will do
80. Anyway, you must bow to Mr.
Snow Man and show your good man.
ners." And Minnie made Puggie.
greatly against his will, bow very low
and shake his paw and say, "BOw-
WOW, bow-wow-wow."
But Puggie was fuller Of mischief
than he was Of manners or tricks. He
may have dlsliked the headless snow
man, too, Just on general principles.
but anyway he refused to work as
Minnie dictated. She showed him re-
peatedly how to scratch up loose snow
into q pile for her to work from, but
the minute she let 60 Of his paws he
would put them tremblingly down.
whine and shiver as much as to say:
"Now, for PHYS sake don't oblige me
to work on this llfeless. silent thing!
II this great. clumsy snow man could
run and jump and play I'd do my best
to help you put head on him. But
he's of no use except to freeze chill
dren's hands and dogs paws In the
building"
Minnie, provoked at Puggie. made
him sit down on the cold doorstep.
where she could keep an eye on him.
After awhile she thought 1t time to 60
into the house to warm her hands and
eat q cooky. But to punish Puggie for
his stubbornness In refusing to help
her in her work she bade him remain
out of doors till she should return.
Well, the little miss did not know her
pet Puggie's ugly tricks. AS soon as
the door had closed behind her Puggie
made leap at the snow man, scratch.
Ing and gnawing at his legs till had
they been Of flesh they would certain
ly have poured forth blood. But as
they were only Of soft snow they crum-
bled away and became a heap with.
out form.
Just as Puggie was finishing his
work Of destruction Minnie reappeared
on the scene. For a moment she could
not speak, her mouth was 30 full OF
cooky. But the instant she swallowed
the sweet morsel she ran toward Pug
gle, crying out: "You bad, naughty lit.
tie scamp! You've killed my poor
snow man and before he'd got his head
onl oh. I'll whip you for your naughti-
ness, I will! And you'll go to bed to-
night without your supper too"
And that night as Puggie lay down
In his warm basket. his little stom-
ach begging for nice supper. he
felt that to behave naughtily only in
tured himself. The snow man didn't
suffer, and Minnie could build another
one. But he-oh. he couldn't have his
supper and an affectionate good night
from his kind little mistress! 30 he
made up his mind, Puggie did. to be
good and obedient after this and never
to kill any more headless snow men,
especially II his young mistress were
likely to see him at his work.