A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOG

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 201, 26 August 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOG

I got out of my basket and stretched my paws. As it was bath day, I had to get into a tubful of soapy water as soon as breakfast was over. Now, I don't like this at all, and I coughed and spluttered while master scrubbed my paws and coat. When it was all over I jumped out of the tub and tried to get out of the door. But master had locked it beforehand. He dried me and put me in a coat, although it was quite Mi. Then he went to work and mis-

8y.... Philip Macdiarmid

tress chained me up on the verandah and gave me a golf ball to chew. But it went out of my reach, and I whined and struggled to get off my chain. I was glad when at last mistress let me off. Down the steps I went, barking a tune t had heard from master.

A few minutes later I sighted a black-and-white object walking slowly amidst ■the bushes. I went nearer. It was Bonzo, the black-and-white dog. I called out a cheerful "wuff-Wuff!" and went and cocked ears with him. For the rest of the morning I was very buey, and then it was lunch time. By this time master had come home and he came out on the lawn and played with us. Master told Bonzo to go home, so I had a sleep on the verandah. When 11 woke up I found Bonzo by my aide again, very Meager to go for a walk around the block. So we eet out together and met the two Scotch 'brothers, Angus and Fergus, who said they would like to come, t<Hvi| Then we collected another, and yet another, friend. ' There were so many of us that we thought it would be great fun to take aides and have a war. Soon we were wrestling and rolling in the dust. A big, curly retriever was badly wounded, and when I got home master chalked me, and. then I went to bed. Next morning I went to bring in the paper as I have been trained to. Two _ members of our family go to "school" "Xiir-'-a •"car,"' end ride. I wanted Bonzo to come, but he waen't allowed—poor old Bonzo —he must have been lonely, too. Anyway, when Jimmy and Philip eame home, •gain, they took out two queer-booking objects, which they called "bicycles," land started riding round on them. Of jwH—y l waa ipat«h'thaDi-dol

it. By and bv I lost all interest in their bicycles and started playing with Bonzo. Bonzo had a big bone and I was getting rather jealous of him, so I tried to take it away. I succeeded rather well during the first 10 minutes, but Bonzo took it from me again. So I told him that we would fight it on master's front lawn. By and by we were burying half the bone each. Master was inside the house, playing a game called "Monopoly," so Bonzo and I went inside to watch how he did it. Mistress brushed my coat, and gave me eome medicine. Now, I do not like this stuff any more than rotten bones, and I put out my tongue and snarled when she gave it to me. Later. • It was Saturday and I was allowed to ride in the car a» mistress was doing her shopping in it. When we got to the chops mistress and. the two boys had things called "ice creams." . I was allowed some, too, but I don't think it's as good as a bone that's been buried in the garden for a few weeks. .Anyway, when we got

home Jimmy and Philip went and rode their bikes again, while I allowed my mind to wander and think of the regatta that was being held that afternoon on the river. How I would have loved to row one of those big boats. I pondered for a moment then hit upon a real idea! I would eneak to the regatta with some of my friends! I went and collected Peter the pomeranian and " Russel the retriever, and we started off at a jog-trot. . . •

We knew where the place was and we were all happy, but wheft we got there not one boat did we tee. There was only a crowd of silly men and wbmen, and men 'firing pistols and bellowing through megaphones. I started wandering through the crowd for about 10 minutes, then as I crawled between •omeone's legs I saw my dreams come true—there was a big* boat lying on the rery ibrink of the river, and empty, too. I climbed in, and hid myself, but when the men came along they saw me at once and just said: "Chit of the way, dog," and tipped me eat. I remembered then that Peter and Russel had gone off somewhere, so I walked along the bank of the river. Now, it happened that Jimmy and Philip had come to the "regatta, too, and they took me home again, where I had a long drink.

At midnight I' dreamt I was being :obfced»by*»«bigglai.

I opened niv eyes and, as I did so, I heard muffled footsteps outside. I blinked, I sniffed, but there was no familiar smell. I went into master's room, where I found him snoring loudly. I tugged at his bedclothes and heard someone climbing in the window. I went to the window and barked with all my might, and the thief ran away squealing, "Ghosts! Demons!"

It was Sunday afternoon and the whole family was going for a picnic out in the country. They were taking me, too! Mistress had packed the "hamper," as she calls it, and when all was ready we started off.

Master said We were going to "Raglan," and I wuffed with sheer happiness. First, we went through a flock of sheep. These are, very nice animals to chase, but I had to stay in the car.

When we arrived at "Raglan" we went to a beach named "Cox's Beach," which had a very long pier, stretching out from the cliffs to the sea. Soon we had unpacked the hamper and eaten our afternoon tea. When it was time to go home again I thought I would play a joke on piaster, so I didn't get in the car. Naturally, master thought I was in and drove off, but he had to come back for me.