“JUDY.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 12

“JUDY.”

If anyone is a disbeliever in the doetrine of original sin (says a writer in the Glasgow’ Weekly Herald), I will with pleasure lend him Judy for a few days. A few days will be quite enough—he will then be quite convinced of it. Judy is one of our bull-terrier puppies, and she possesses more original sin than anyone would ever think a dog could hold. She is very sweet to look at, with one black ear which is already beautifully cocked, and bright little eyes that teem with intelligence. But don't be taken in by her when she comes up to you full of friendliness and amiability. She is just waiting to seize some tearable part of your dress in her strong little teeth and pull hard. It is usually the dress that goes. Silk stockings attract Judy, there is nothing that she loves better than to tear a ladder in one. And nothing but original sin could tell her invariably when I have a brand new’ pair on. Do we make barriers of wood and wire netting to keep the puppy family confined to barracks? Somehow Judy will circumvent us, and be found wandering somewhere she ought not to be. preferably the coal cellar. It is my firm conviction that the barrier doesn’t and couldn't exist that would hold Judy. When yesterday we learnt that one of the puppies had escaped from the garden and been found wandering by a kind passer-by, with one accord we exclaimed ; “Of course it is Judy!” Of course it was! If there is noise in the garden as if Bedlam had got loose? It is Judy—always! If one puppy finds a perfectly delicious bone and carries it off to gnaw in comfort, Judy will take it away. If anything is put away anywhere presumably out of the puppies’ reach, Judy will find it. A sure, unerring instinct guides her to it. Original sin, did I not say? And yet, when she has done everything she oughn’t to do and laddered my new stockings, and torn my dress, and eaten everything she oughn’t to eat, when she wags her dear little tail at me, and covers my hand with damp licks —well, I just forgive her. So would you!