Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-06-09

and his teeth would uncover and shine
like the furnaces. And a dog might
tackle him and bullyrag him and bite
him and throw him over his shoulder
two or three times, and Andrew JACK
son-which was the name Of the pup
Andrew Jackson would never let on
but what he was satisfied and hadn't
expected nothing else and the bets be-
ing doubled and doubled on the other
side all the time till the money was all
up, and then all Of a sudden he would
grab the other dog jest by the lint
Of his hind leg and freeze to 1t, not
chaw, you understand. but only just
grip and hang on till they throwed up
the sponge. II It was a year.
SMILEY always come out winner on
that pup till he harnessed dog once
that didn't have no hind legs. because
they'd been sawed OF in q circular
saw, and when the thing had gone far
enough. and the money was all up. and
he come to make snatch for his pet
holt, he seen In q minute how he'd
been imposed on and how the other
dog had him In the door. so to speak.
and be 'peared surprised. and then he
looked sorter discouraged-like and
didn't try no more to win the fight.
and 80 he got shucked out bad. He
give Smiley q look as much as to
say his heart was broke. and 1t wns
his fault, for putting up dog that
hadn't no hind legs for him to take
holt of, which was bis main depend
ence In a fight, and then he limped
of q piece and laid down and died 1t
was good pup. was that Andrew
Jackson, and would have made name
for himself II he'd lived, for the stun
was in him and he Had genius. ! know
It, because he had no opportunities to
speak of, and it don't stand to reason
that q dog could make such n fight
as he could under them circumstances
II he hadn't no talent. II always
makes me feel sorry when think OF
that last fight of his'n and the way 1t
turned out
"WelI, this yer Smiley had rat tar
riers and chicken cocks and tomcats
and all them kind Of things till you
couldn't rest, and you couldn't fetch
nothing for him to bet on but he'd
match you. He ketched frog one
day and took him home and said he
cal'lated to educate him, and so he
never done nothing for three months
but set in his back yard and learn
thet frog to jump. And you bet he did
learn him too. He'd give him little
punch behind. and the next minute
you'd see that frog whIrling in the air
like doughnut-see him turn one sum
merset or maybe a couple, II he got
good start, and come down 1atfooted
and all right, like cat He got him
up 80 In the matter Of ketching flies
and KEEP him In practice SO constant
that he'd nail a fly every time as fur
as he could see him.
Smiley said all frog wanted was
education and he could do most any
thing, and l believe him. Why, I've
seen him set Dan'l Webster down here
on this foor-Dan'l Webster was the
name Of the frog-and sing out. Files.
Dan'l, Hiesr And quicker'n You could
wink he'd spring straight up and snake
a fly off'n the counter there and flop
down on the floor ag'in as solid as
COB Of mud and fall to scratching the
side Of his head with bis hind foot. rs
Indifferent as II he hadn't no iden he'd
been doing any more'n any frog might
do. You never see frog 80 modest
and straightforward as he was. for all
he was so gifted. And when 1t come
70 fair and square jumping on dead
Level ne could get over more ground ds
one straddle than any animal OF his
breed you ever see. Jumping on dead
level was his strong suit you under
stand. and when 1t come to that Smiley
would ante up money on him as long
as he had a red. Smiley was mon
strous proud Of his frog, and well be
might be, for fellers that had Travelled
and been everywheres all said he laid
over any frog that ever they see.
"well. Smiley KEEP the beast in lit
tie lattice box, and he used to fetch
him downtown sometimes and lay for
a bet One day a feller-a stranger In
the camp he was-come acrost him
with his box and says:
"'What might It be that you've got
In the boxr
"And Smiley said, sorter Indifferent
like, 1t might be parrot, or It might
be a canary maybe but 1t ain't-tts
only just frog
sand the feiler took It and looked at
Il careful and turned 1t around this
way and that and says: 'H'ml So It's.
Well, what's he good for7'
"Well,' Smiley says. easy and care
less, he's good enough for one thing. I
should Judge. he can outump any
frog in Calaveras county
SThe feller took the box again and
took another long. particular look and
give It back to Smiley and says very
deliberate, We'll. I don't see no pints
about that frog that's any bettar'n any
other frog
"Maybe you DON'T Smiley, says.
Maybe you understand frogs. and
maybe. you don't understand 'em.
Maybe you've had experience. and
maybe you amt only a amateur, as 1t
were, Anyways I've got my opinion.
and I'll resk $40 that he can outjnmp
any frog In Calaveras county,
"And the feller studied a minute and
then says kinder sad.like Well. I'm
only a stranger here. and ! amt got
no frog, but II ! had a frog. I'd bet
you
.And then Smiley says: That's oil
right; that's an right. II you'll hold
my box a minute I'll 60 and get you
a frog And 80 the feller took the
box and put up his $40 along with
Smiley's and set down to wait
$50 be sat there a good while think.
ing and thinking to hisself, and then