CHUMS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1929, Page 5

CHUMS

The rain was pitiless, a real tropical storm, but just ahead of me in a city street two terriers were showing me the right spirit. One was an “All Black ” terrier, the other just a very ordinary little shaggy-coated thing with a big black spot over one eye. They were playing so happily together, chasing one another round and round, double tracking with lightning speed, intent only on chasing each other, alternating with a mutual chase after a few stray sparrows. They were uttering .short, breathless yaps in joyousness of. spirit. “ Oh, life was great even though it deluged with rain, They rush into the road. A passing car swerves. There is a sharp cry . . . . then silence. An hour later I returned. The little shaggy-coated terrier is still sitting disconsolately, with tongue out and brown eyes full of questions by the side of his playmate, who lies stiff and cold in a pool of blood in the gutter. Hie terrier, wet and shivering, whimpers to his chum, who, foi the first time, probably, takes no notice. The terrier is nonplussed. He cares not for rain, sparrows or anything now; his doggie brain is pushing over bis playmate’s attitude, and what a wealth of love shows in his eyes'. At last the awful truth seems to penetrate his doggie mind. With lowered tail he rises and wanders dejectedly away.

—Norali L. Dash, in the Auckland “Star.”