Year: 1868

Our dog Ponto is knowing old fellow
It's as good as show to watch him some
times He has one quality that most of
US might seek after with advantage-that
is a will to overcome difficulties that
scarcely anything can hinder. If Ponto
takes it into his head to do anything. he
is pretty sure to succeed. What helps his
dogship is the faculty of imitation. He is
like monkey in this, only great deal
more sensible than any monkey [ ever
head tell Of You never catch him ventur-
ing upon unknown danger. or making him.
self ridiculous, because his human friends
and companions choose to step aside from
the ways of safety and respectability,


He's as brave as a lion and, am sorry
to say, a little quarrelsome, But he's only
dog and doesn't know any better. One
thing in his favor; [ never knew him to
attack small dog; he has too much self
respect and honor to do SO cowardly a
thing. But he's always ready for a tussle
with any big dog that comes along Size
and strength make no difference with him.
AS a matter of course, he often gets pun
ished for his folly.


One day, few years ago, Ponto was
missing. He had been about, as usual,
during the moring, but all at once disap-
peared. A neighbor told us that he had
seen him fighting with the butchers dogs
about noon, and that he was getting the
worst of it. [ went over to the butcher
during the afternoon, and the butcher
boy confirmed the neighbor's story. Ponto
had come over there to fight, as the boy
said. and got more than he bargained
for


He'll not try it again very soon, I'm
thinking" added the boy, with malicious
pleasure.


Do you know where he is now?'
asked


Home, L suppose. He went off that
way, limping," answered the boy
WAS he much hurt p"


Considerable, guess


[ went back home, but no one had seen
Ponto | was beginning to feel anxious
about the dog, when he was found in one
of the third-story rooms, snugly covered
up in bed, with his head on the pillow
On turning down the clothes a sight met
our eyes The sheets were all stained
with blood, and the dog, hurt and ex-
hausted, looked as helpless and pitiful as
any being.


[ will not tell of all the wounds he had
received. There were a great many OF
them, and some quite severe. A good
lesson for him. we all said And il
proved so, for he was little more careful
after that. how he got into fight


A few months before, had been thrown
e-,n, a wagon and badly hurt, so much so
+b.t I was confined to bed for week.
| ponto was with me at the time OF the ac-
cident: and on my arrival at home, fol-
| lowed me into the house, and up to the
chamber where [ was taken. He watched
everv movement as l was laid in bed, and
then sat down with his eyes on my pale
face, regarding me with such looks OF pity
and interest that [ was touched and sur
prised.


When Ponto's turn came, he remembered
the comfortable way in which L had been
cared for, and profted by what ne had
seen. But his mistress, while she pitled
the poor animal, did not fancy having her
snare bedroom turned into a dog-hospi-
tai and so we removed him into an out
house. and made him as comfortable there
as possible.


One cold Winter night Ponto was alb
sent from his accustomed place in the hall,
where he slept on mat. The wind was
high, and there was confusion OF sounds
outside.


Hark :" said one.


We all listened.


"I thought heard a knock at the hall
door,"


"Only the wind" was replied.


Yes there it is again"
We all heard two distinct knocks, given
quickly one after the other.
| arose, and going into the hall, went
TO the front door and opened it. As l did
so Ponto bounded in past me, gave two or
three short, glad barks, and then paid his
boisterous respects to the family in the
sitting-room l waited a moment, and
then stepped out to see who had lifted the
, knocker, but found no one. Ponto had
done it himself, for ever since that time he