Year: 1867

HE san rancISco CdfVO1n1dn Is
thus addressed by person who keeps
dog


"It is necessary to own a dog.
Why, 1T Is difficult to tell but every
body, at some time in their lives, have
taken unto themselves dog.


Our dog Nip made himself at home
Immediately after his arrival at the
house. There were no intermediate
stages of backwardncss with HIM in
his intercourse with the family. or in
lis assuming the direction of large
portion of affairs relating 10 the house
hold. lie is small dog; but very
lively. His natural condition seems
that of motion. He concentrates
within himself the activity of three or
four ordinary sized dogs


His first act soon after coming to
live with us was to take charge of the
back-door mat. He seemed to regard
1t as his own exclusive possession
lie had his IDEAS with regard to its
place and use. W. preferred it should
remain where the cleanliness of the
household might best be promoted He
preferred it IN the back ward. 1t
stayed in the back yard The whole
household toiled in vain to keep it
where it was supposed to belong, drag
ging it time after time up the bacl,
stairs, but all to no purpose.


When such a dog as Nip chooses to
devote his whole life to keeping door
mat in the back ward. it is difficult to
contend successfully with him
When he thought we had become re-
signed to his disposition of the mat,
he became dissatisfied and tore it
to pieces. He ewas dissatisfied because
we were resigned. He wishes TO do
something provoking. He loves ac-
tions of this kind. There was an IN
offensive old broom which. having been
discarded from the house, was used to
sweep the back stairs. This he set
upon and tore to pieces. The broom
never did him any harm. 1t would
not harm anybody. But its total in
nocence and inotTensiveness provoked
him. Good nature is often provok-
ing.


He has access to the cellar. He
rules there. 1t was very quiet aud
orderly cellar previous to his coming.
If it be so now it is according to canine.
not human views Of order and neat
ness. He was furnished with heap
of old clothes for bed. These have
been torn up and dragged in every di-
rection. He has no use for a bed.
His time is too precious to be devot-
ed to sleep. There are holes to be
dug in the hare cellar floor, and any
thing accidently hung up within his
reach must be torn down. The kind
ling wood must be kept scattered
about. Old newspapers falling within
his reach must be torn to shrrds. In
his eyes the general appearance Of
the premises IS much improved bv
these bits of torn newspapers. He
monopolizes the morning paper left
at the door, and it Is often found "
ing ignoblv in one corner of the ward.
covered with dirt, gone to the dogs
lie shows great contempt for news
papers.


Nip is a great pet. This is what
he was given us for, something on
which we might expend our spare
time and sympathy. Nip more than
fills the bill, he is always preform-
ing some aggravating and mischiev-
Gus action. so that we never forget
him-never.


We have rooster. Before Nip's
arrival he was a haughty and conse-
quential rooster in his own estimation,
and that Of his seventy wives. He
issued his pronunciamentos daily.
claiming the allegiance of hens, and
boasting in long speeches concerning
the completeness of his authority over
the yard and hencoor. But Nip has
taken all the conceit out of him.
Daily he chases him in abiect fear be
fore his subjects. He has chased
him from the high pedestal Of his for
mer dignity. Adding injury TO insult.
he has torn ont the most glorious Of
his tail feathers. 1t IS pitiful to sec
a rooster so completely demolished
both in appearance and dignity. He
runs after the hens. also. Not from
motives Of eallantrv does he this, but
to humilate more thoroughly the de-
jected. tail-ridden rooster Our per
secuted fowls have scarcely place il.
which they may lay their hcads-or
their eggs-in peace.


He has contests with an old tin pan.
carried on with great noise and fury
He idealizes this pan into some terri
bic monster, and idealizes so success
fully that the combat Is more real
than imaginary. The contest goes on
over the whole yard, the combatants
swaying backward and forward, but
Nip always comes of victoious. We
could dispense with his dragging this
utensil up the steps and letting II roll
down again. In his estimation the
dramatic effect may be very powerful.
but the peace Of the family il not at all
increased bv the claneor. 1t must be
very gratifying to fight an opponent