The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-05-18
THE PARABLE OF THE COUNTRY
DOG AND THE TOWN DOGS
By Alison Baker

well stricken in years, and the sound
of the grinders had diminished, I de.
parted from my farm and my fire.
side, and forsook my asses and my
oxen and my horses and my kline,
and took my dog in my hand and
bent my steps toward the city. And
] entered into the city and dwelt
there, and my dog.
Now my dog was a large dog, be-
ing about one cubit and one span
from the ground upward, and about
three cubits in length including his
tail, which was bushy and of gra-
cious curl. The hair of his coat was
of the length Of two finger breadths,
except upon his belly and upon his
neck and upon his hinder parts,
where it was full three finger
breadths in length. His legs were
large and his countenance was rug
ged.
And we abode in the city for a
season and divers town dogs began
to appear and to make the acquaint-
ance of my dog, and he smelled with
them, and wagged tails with them,
and showed them much courtesy.
Now these town dogs (if it be law
full to call them "dogs") are not as
other dogs. Their physiognomy,
whatever their color may be, is al
ways pale and sickly, and their hair
is short. Their tails have all ceased
growing suddenly, or peradventure,
they have worn them short by much
sitting upon them. 1t is plain that
no man hath cut off these tails, else
he had thrown away the other end,
and all pertaining thereunto.
When a town dog ariseth in the
morning, he trotteth an hundred
PAGES up the sidewalk, and then walk.
eth back home. If he should become
weary on the return journey, he
resteth himself until his strength is
restored. When he hath safely re-
turned and findeth himself again up
on his own front porch, he sticketh
up his nose and smelleth the new
smells that have arrived. He spend.
eth the rest of the day in meditation
and serious contemplation of these
odors. At night he slumbereth and
sleepeth.
And it came to pass upon a certain
day. that score of these town dogs
said unto themselves, go to, let us
go forth and bulldoze, and bullrag,
and tantalize, and vituperate and
hen-peck this country dog that he
may make sport for us. His coat
is dirty and unclipped, his language
is inelegant, his feet are large, his
tail sweepeth over our heads and he
hath not a bath every day. He is
plebean. and countrified and provin.
cial. Yea, he turneth our stomachs
and we no longer relish our cake ard
tea"
And they went forth and beset
him round about. And the country
dog was sOrely amazed, and they
made his soul sick with their clam.
our and much barking. But he held
his peace, and opened not his mouth
lest they should reproach him for
rudeness or lack of hospitality. And
he said in his mind, "Yea, this must
be some game of which country dogs
are ignorant. / perceive that my
education along this line, whatever
1T is, hath been neglected. Or, per-
adventure. this is some great classic
which they are singing, even the
work of some old master, to which,
alas! my untutored and barbaric ear
doth not respondw
But after little season it came to
pass that one of the town dogs,
whose understanding was not great,
nipped the country dogs tail. Where
upon the country dog said, "Yea, now
l perceive that this is not a classic
but a dog fight"
And he lifted up his bristles ara
advanced upon them bravely, even as
surgeon advanceth upon an appen.
dix. And he smote them and they
fled, and he pursued after them and
smote them hip and thigh from Hell
to The Iron Works.
And said, "Yea, my dog, of whom
was just little ashamed, hath done
himself proud! He possesseth the
primitive and everlasting virtues,
even those around which are hung
all the humanities and refinements
OF character. II is not necessary to
have a smooth skin. and a short tail,
and to know the prelude of a dog
fight from a classic in order to be
of worth"
This parable sheweth that a little