The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-20

dren were talking excitedly on
n the corner as Old Man Negley
came into the street to his days work.
They were discussing a wonderful
animal act" they had seen at
vaudeville show to which their par
ents had taken them the preceding
night.
At the sight of the old man. who
was q favorite with all the children
of Vine street. the three came running
to meet him.
"Oh. you ought to have been with
US last EVENING"" cried little Phyllis
Rance. speaking above the other two
clamorous young voices. ave had the
Ioveliest time ever! Daddy took us
down to the Olympic. 1t was the fun
niest show you ever saw. But one
thing In it was million times better
than all the rest"
ut was a play" put in her BROTH
er, Charlie. "a real play that lasted
almost half an hour, Mr.. Negley. And
what do you think? All the actors In
1t were little live dogs. All except
one: and that was a cat. Oh. you
ought to have been there!"
Last night" said the old man, slow
ly. Il was laid up with one Of my
neuralgia attacks. 1t pretty near
killed me. And I kept on wishing /
was anywhere else or doing anything
else. I'm glad now wasn't. I'd lot
rather wriggle around my bed with a
crazy neuralgia pain that watch lot
of dogs on the stage"
"But l thought you were so fond Of
dogs!' exclaimed Phyllis. "I-"
81 am" he said. tersely. "That's
why I'm glad wasn't at that show"
That's because you're enviousl"
snorted Billy Rance. you're envious
because those dogs on the stage were
SO much cleveser than your silly Dober-
maan Pinscher that you make do his
tricks for US sometimes"
The old man petted the sleek black
head of the slender dog that stood
close to his side.
Maybe So" he assented. In no Of
Tense at all. Little Squire here can
lie down, and shake hands, and waltz
and sit up and beg. and jump over a
stick five feet high, and jump through
the hoop Of my arms, and say his
prayers. and play dead. and roll over
and bark or growl to order, and find
things hide, and do one or two other
cute stunts like that. But that's about
all he can do. He"
"Phoh!" snorted Billy. THAT'S moth
ingl Those dogs last night could
climb ladder and climb down ton
their front legs with their hind legs
In the air-and jump through circles
Of fire and walk on their hind legs
with muskets on their shoulders and
turn back somersaults and"
MY Squire can't do those things"
said Negley. still petting the wise lit
tie Dobermann's head. "Nor anything
like that. But all the few simple
things he can do he has learned with
out being tortured or starved or
scared or anything like that He's
learned them as fast as / have taught
them to him; and he's enjoyed learn
ing them a lot more than I've enjoyed
teaching them to him. It has been
grand fun to Squire. Not a blow nor
a kick has he gotten while he was
learning them. either.
Generally don't care for trick
dogs or for teaching dogs to do funny
stunts. But when a dog enjoys 1t as
much as Squire does. let him learn
some. It's grand game, to him. So
! teach him. A Dobermann is a clever
dog"
"But not near as clever as any of
those dogs last night" objected Billy.
mot anywhere near so clever"
Maybe not" agreed Old Man Neg.
ley. But he's a whole lot happier.
By the way, last night when one of
those trick dogs happened to lag or
begin to go slow or drop down from
his hindlegs when he was tired-did
You happen to notice how. all Of
sudden. he'd give a little fiinching
jump and maybe a yelp, and then go
on with his work faster than everf"