Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-22
BIG DOGS AND SMALL
Carl Curtis Goodner

! nave long Wdnttu " pe VS.
dog. Here's my reason:
When | was a student In college,
I was walking down the street one
day on my way from the postofficc,
and saw Immediately ahead of me
large Newfoundland dog, carrying
in his mouth a baske,. There was
nothing particularly striking about
this dog at first sight, except his
size. But as neither of us seemed
in a hurry, and were both travel
ing the same way, | fell to studying
my four-footed brother as | walked
along in his wake.
He had evidently been to the
store for groceries, and, having Sc
cured his order, was now returning
TO his mistress with the well-filled
basket. Whether it was his GUS
tom to make daily visits to the
stores | know not, but he certainly
was no novice in the task he was
then performing. The longer |
watched and studied him the more
| admired him; / couldn't help but
wonder Just what were the
thoughts running through his ca
nine brain. Big and powerful he
was, for he bore the heavily-laden
basket with all the seeming ease
with which it might have been car
ried in the hand of a strOng man.
There was no hurry or nervous
waste of energy in his motion, but
instead a calm, steady onward piod.
as though he realized fully the i'm
portance of his mission and pun
posed to allow no passing interest
along the way interfere with its
execution. He looked neither to
the right nor left. and there was no
| loitering-just a self-possessed air
of indifference toward the hurry
and hustle of drivers, teams and
wagons in and along the streets.
While l was yet few PAGES in
his rear, and was still wondering
as to his opinions concerning the
life that surged around him, one u
these little woody skye terriers came
romping down from the steps OF n
nearby dwelling yelping and
swapping for all the world as
though he owned the town. Straight
for the heels of the big basket
carrier he bounded, keeping up q
steady stream of noisy invective.
With hair standing on end and
teeth swapping, he seemed to have
but one object in view--to eat the
big Newfoundland basket and all!
What had been i,u; mild cur
osity on my part, became suddenly
one of intense interest. ! was fully
alive as to the possibilities OF a
little canine comedy, and comedy
| it surely was. But If the bearer of
the basket knew the terrier was at
his heels he gave no outward init
nation. There was no quickening
of his pace, no recognition OF his
little tormentor's presence by so
much as slight turning or ms
head His steady march and Wag
of tail continued as though he were
alone on the whole street.
The little skye's teeth snapped
and his eyes blazed in fury, but he
drew not the slightest attention on
the part of his big dog-brother
When he saw that his seedlings
and threats were of no avail, he left
off all loud demonstrations and
|trotted along In TIC Newroundland's
rear, shifting the air and growing
his disaproval.
Then came the most comical,
and, at once the most significant
part of the incident. The carrier
of tine basket suddenly stopped and
lowered his burdenito the sidewalk
Without moving from the position
he held when hating, he turned
his great head and gave the little
terrier a look of calm unconcern
But it served it's seeming purpose,
for the little follower, prudently
and without hesitation, turned
back to his own home.
And 1t was then the desire came
to me of wanting to be a big dog.
Again my big friend took up his
basket, and together we walked on
to the corner of the block, where
he turned at right angles to the
street ! was to follow. l wanted 20
say something to my big comrade
something highly complimentary
but / couldn't. While rounding
the corner he gave mo look which
seemed to say: well, so long, old
top. You must go your way, and