A LITTLE: DOG'S DAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 15

A LITTLE: DOG'S DAY

! It was certainly Spot's unlucky day. There were times in his short ' ■\ life of four months when all the things he wanted most to do were those which Mastery with his strange likes and dislikes, which were very difficult ifor a little dog to understand, objected to so strongly arid expressed so •forcibly. . " Early-one sunny morning he woke up, opening first one eye and then the other, and immediately feeling wideawake. The first things he spied were Master's boots, and, really he didn't mean any harm, but before he quite realised what he was doing, there was one perfectly good boot all ■ chewed up. . "Younaughty dog!" cried his mistress. "What are you doing, Spot? ' Then a good slap followed. All the same,1 when the kitchen door, was opened, out S,pot darted. Troubles soon fly. away on a bright sunny morning. Seeing Joey, the Aberdeen terrier, who was Spot's closest friend, in the distance, he ran to overtake him. "Hello!" said Joey. "I am going hunting in the toood. Come along."1 A pheasant enjoying his breakfast was first disturbed, but he quickly flew away with a great whir of wings to a tree, where he sat scolding. Meanwhile, the sun rose higher in the sky; midday was-reached and past, and still the naughty little dogs had no thought of returning home. They were beginning to feel very hungry, when they heard in the distance the sound of fowls and ducks, which told them a house was near. They approached warily, and soon came to a clearing, where a farmhouse stood. Not a soul could they see, so they crept nearer and went into the outhouses, searching for something to eat. >• ■ ■■ :; ■■ . . .- "We"must be careful," Joey said. "There might be a dog about; farm people generally have big ones." .. . Spot, being only a youngster, hadn't thought of that, but he followed Joey's lead and made no sound. He was the first to make a find, a nest full of eggs. .■'..■"■ ' - : • . .■- "I say, Joey," he. whispered, "what are these?"';- '. I "My tail and whiskers! What luck!" said Jdey.-: "Here's a dinner; fit for a king. They're very mean with these things at home, and I never have any unless I steal them. They're called eggs." So saying, he cleverly rolled one out of the nest, held it between his paws, cracked it, and ate it ■up. Spot watched him, and, seeing Joey licking his lips and preparing to attack another egg, he imitated him, and soon they had demolished all the lovely, shining eggs. As Joey was licking out the last eggshell'he stopped,; sat up on his haunches, and sniffed. .. ' ;, :; -' ,'■ :% t "There's a queer smell here, Spot."; ; . ;;:i' r;;.*.. -:, V' •'"■ 3?;'. ■ Spot sat,up, sniffing, too. "What is-it,'Joe^vvsjttsrmakiiigniy,'tllfoat;: ; sore"-'" x'■*'■■'■ vf • ''<•.: : ' ' '"' '-?'r ..;•'' . '■■ '■■ "Danger!" growled Joey. "Fire—-I've known it before. We must give the alarm?' And he ran out quickly, every hair bristling, and growl- : ing deep in his throat. There certainly was a quee.r smell, and Spbt:£ollowed Joey, who, barking loudly, was running towards the house./•••■■■,- ; ..'i\ : " '"j3a n ger! "Danger!" tliey barked in cfiorus. ■l^oirtfe'quickly* v^6\i-WOW-WOW-WOW!?? th ■/ .-i ff •. •■.■ . * .• ■ .'..;.' '■' '': The farmhouse door opened, and the farmer's wife appeared. Joey ran to her quickly, barking and looking anxibusl^ into her face. '' . . "What.can be the matter with these dogs?" the'fanner's wife said to the servant "girl who had followed her. •■ •.. ;.; ■ . , They barked more loudly,than ever. Suddenly Joey ran a liltle way towards the stables, 1 then ran, back, seized the 'skirt .between his teeth, and tried' to,drag her forward.' Then her::eyes fell,on the stables, • from which a thin wreath of smoke was issuing, i;^' '.-.'■; ; , Soothe alarm was given. The two women ran for the farmer; who, ; with his men, was working in.a field nearby^ and between them all they succeeded in putting out the fire. .••■-■':■ "Come on, Spot," said Joey, who had just remembered his master. "It's all 7 safe now and we simply must go home." .-., ;"What a pity our masters can't talk dog language," Spot panted. "If . we could only tell them what we've done perhaps they wouldn't be so angry.". ./"■.,■■ ' i " ■■■■:'■. -■■■■. .:■-.-:. -';■ '■;■■•■ •'' But-they couldn't explain, and two sad'^ little dogs went to'bed that . night. ■•.■■.•• :-. : -'.i. ■.-.■•■■