The talking dog

Press, 18 October 1978, Page 8

The talking dog

' For voune readers •

One day a farmer, passing through a village, decided to buy some chocolate at the dairy. A large dog was lying outside the door and, looking up at the man, said: “Good morning, sir.” The farmer stopped in astonishment; he could not believe his ears. But the dog said again: “Good morning, sir.”

“Er . . . good morning,” the farmer managed to reply. Going indoors, he said" to the shopkeeper: “That’s an extraordinary dog of yours just outside.”

“Oh, I don’t know, sir,” replied the shopkeeper. “I don’t know of anything special about him.”

“Nothing special!” exclaimed the farmer. “The dog said ’Good morning, sir’ to me as I came in.”

“Impossible!” said the shopkeeper.

“But he did — he said it twice.”

“Oh no, sir, you must be mistaken,” replied the shopkeeper again. Then, after a moment, he asked: “Was there another dog there as well?” “I don’t think so,” answered the farmer. “But wait a minute — there was a small white terrier. He was lying quite a way off, though.”

“Ah!” said the shopkeeper. "That -would be it. He’s a ventriloquist.”