DOGS I HAVE MET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1342, 18 August 1877, Page 19

DOGS I HAVE MET.

(Written fob the Children's Corner.)

By Uncle Hakby.

I must tell you now of a trick that Dash has taught himself,- or at any rate has perfected. Hi 3 master, when playing with him, would roll him over on his back, and, after a time,got into a fashion of giving a piece of bread or meat at the end of the romp. Dash soon learned to calculate on this, and now, when his master holds up some food, down goes the old dog on his back, and roils over frantically. If not rewarded at once, he will .throw himself down, roll again, and finally spring to his feet with a look as much as to say, " Come, old fellow, you aurely can't resist such as that." Not only does he practise this stratagem at .home, but if he happens to be hungry, he walks into the town, goes to a butcher's shop, and V rolls over " in front of any one that may be there, and very seldom fails to get his wants supplied. It is strange to observe the difference that the dog makes in his way of performing this trick. If it is a stranger who asks him to do it, Dash will just lie down on one side and only roll half over, and, if not hungry, would not even do that. Lela, too, has evidently taken note that the trick is a useful one, for lately she has begun to roll over ; but she does not do it with half the vigour and finish of the old dog. It happened that I was a close neighbour of the two dogs for some time, and whenever, as often happened, business. required their master to go away from home, they would come and stay

with me till his return. The first time they came, I was rather taken by surprise. I was sitting alone one evening when I heard a sharp scrape at the front-door, followed by a dog's low impatient whine. Of course, I thought my friend was there, and called out, " Come in ;" but as there, came no reply, I opened the door. There stood Dash and Lela on the steps alone. I went out, looked round everywhere for their master, but he was not to be seen. When I returned to the house, I found Mr Dash had taken up his position before the fire. Seating myself near him, I said, " Well, sir ?" At this he got up, gravely lifted his right paw, and put it on my knee. When I had shaken hands, he wagged his tail a little, and then returned, to the hearth-rug with an air of one who said : " You see, old fellow, our master has gone away ; and the nights are rather damp and cold for sleeping out just now, so we have come to Btay with ' yon. Make your mind easy— it's all right !" Then turning himself round and round till he found an easy position, he | prepared to enjoy a snooze. Lela, however, put both feet on my lap, and tried to lick my facej-and-thrusther- cold nose into my hand, uttering all the time a short pleased whine. Seeing how sure j they had made of a kind reception, I could not dream of disappointing them', i so I patted their heads, and said somei thing about "good dogs," an action which' Dash- acknowledged by thumping his tail I on the floor, and a pleased softening of ! his intelligent brown eyes ; and Lela, more demonstrative, after the fashion of her sex, frisked about me jand whined, then curled herself close up .by my feet.i On inquiry, next day, I found that their j master had been called away on urgent business, and no one knew when he would come back. So the dogs remained my guests, following me regularly when I went for a walk — Dash trotting sedately behind, with a stick in his mouth, while Lela bounded on in front, or paused now and then to try to rob Dash of his prize. .But in this her efforts were vain, for when force proved useless, and she tried: by licking his face and caressing him to makeihim give it up, the old dog would merely wag his taxi, while the merry twinkle of his eye showed he knew and understood too much of female flattery to p be so taken in. . They remained with me ■ for a week, and one day suddenly disappeared. When I met them in- the evening walking with their master, Dash gave me a very cool reception indeed. 1 So they lived. happily. enough, with the best of/ homes, the kindest of masters, and nothing to do. But the dolcefar niente of Dash's existence has been interrupted of late, for .his master has sent him away to .join a pack of rabbit dogs. The . hard work and regular discipline will do him good, for he will appreciate; the comfort, and ease of his home, all the better when' he, returns. Lela was not long: ago the proud and happy mother of .eight puppies. ,Hert family has, been scattered to the four winds, but I cannot say she seems to , grieve much. We possess one of her sons ,-r-a great lolloping brown fellow, with j'Head and legs out of all proportion, . who seemsjfco think that the whole duty of life 'consists in worrying the cats and devouring everything eatable that he comes [ across. But his wise eyes and broad fore- ! head are signs of a good intellectual capacity ; and we hope . that in time he will prove as handsome and intelligent as Dash and as fond and faithful as his mother Lela. , i