USE AND ORNAMENT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21355, 24 December 1934, Page 13 (Supplement)

USE AND ORNAMENT

(By Mary Moran, Fairlie, 12 years) It was a warm winter's day, in the untidy suburbs of a dilapidated town, when on turning a a stray sheepdog encountered an obstinate Pomeranian, To the left of the Pomeranian, ran a narrow, dusty road, with but little traffic, while towering above the two dogs was an ancient mansion which had been unoccupied for the last ten years, so it may well be imagined that it was a rat's and mice tourist resort, while at the best it was called a "Spider's Paradise." Here it was the stray Pom- | eranian and the stray Sheep Dog approached each other for the first time. Pomeranian: -Make way for me, you gigantic ragamuffin. Sheep Dog: For a little rat like you? No. Never. Why. anyone would think you were king of England the way you order ma about. Pomeranian (indignantly): I am. At any rate I am king of the dogs. Sheep Dog: Ha, ha, ha, you king of the dogs! Who ever heard of such an absurd thing? Pomeranian: You aren't at any rate. Just look at your shaggy coat. Sheep Dog: What do I cara for that? I love my master as he loves me and my greatest pleasure is to fulfil my duties hastily in the way my master desires. Pomeranian: I am sure my mistress loves me. as she fulfils her duties to me, such as to make a bed of downy, velvet cushions, at the fireside every night so as I may enjoy my twelve hours' rest without interruption, while my mistress often lulls me to deep slumber with her soft sweet voice. When I am ill, a special nurse is summoned to nurse me. while I am almost invisible because of the cosy blankets, which are neatly tucked around me. On such occasions, I have a small cradle which is made to measure. Sheep Dog: How absurd! Who ever heard of a dog being treated like a patient, by having to have a special nurse, and a made-to' measure cradle? Why. I never get illnesses, as I live everv day in the fresh, pure country air. not in a I stuffy house, and I most certainly ] don't carry infectious diseases with me, wherever I go. or breathe impure, smoky air as you do. ! Pomeranian 'indignanthO: How Idare you say I live in "a stuffy i house, when I am fed with sausage ! savoury, fish pie or slewed steak. ! with a quarter pint of milk given jto me at morning tea, afternoon : tea and supper, while also I re--1 ceive half a pint of milk at break- ; last, lunch and dinner, and in ad- ■ dition my mistress kindly gives 'me cream with dog biscuits for i supper on Sundavs. ! Sheep Dog (bursts out laughing loudly at the thought of being treated in such a human-being fashion): You poor little baby. I have raw meat which is good for my teeth, and drink mv fill of milk when I desire it. (Here the sheep dog concludes suddenly, as a very beloved and familiar voice calls anxiously, "Here, Joe!:. Here, Jock! ) With one joyous bound. Joels j leaps to his much loved master, : wno is coming round the corner, and to say who is mo-;* jovful would be very difficult lomeranian (with a <!<■!"■ I wish j my mistress loved me a"s much as 1 that.