Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2317, 28 July 1898, Page 61

EDITOR'S WALLET.

Wonderful I Marvellous I

SUCH A PKKFORUANCE WAS NEVEK SEEN" BEXORE.

On the block where young Dr Plaster lives the rear yards are dhkled by a, very narrow alley This alley is the promenade of bictum a do? of the nondescupt genus, pretty well' grown, and of a dull yellow texture. Siccum is a canine policeman, and his post is a nocturnal one. It is his business to sec that the cats with which the ucigabourliood is infested keep reasonably quiet. As soon as they collect in Ihe rear yards and begin ro gossip at the top ot then' voices he comes along and says shortly: "Move on, there. You're difturbmg the peaco Move on, or I'll chew your ear. Thereupon the cats retird angrily to the tops of tho fences and make less noise, tor it is a ipefc, Ihe joke foundeis to the contrary notwithstanding, that a cat is m its best vocv.l trim when on the ground, being the opposite of tho spring robin 111 this respect, iicoaube of his .services as a promoter of nocturua quiet., Siccum U hold m high esteem by all th," residents ot tho block, and though ho is the propei ty ol nobody m particular, lie is well caicd for and led. Tho Plaster family in particular foster hiecum, and every day he comes through the little rear gate into their y:-rd, sure of findin" some morsel set out for him, or 01 having it "thrown out for him by Toodles, the pride of the Plaster household, aeUt five years or lh s£hTi» lU coming brought to Toodles internal ' cares for sUnch his fond papa, the doctor, prescribed v certain drug not vnrleasant in its effects, but quite exciting to take, owing to the fact that it is somewhat warmer upon the tongue than Tabasco sauce at the boiling point would be. lo oby Ate the difficulty ot taking this Dr Plaster rolled it up in two little balls of fresh bread ioi Toodles to swallow whole. Now Toodles disapproves of medicine on nrinciplo. When he was informed that he was to take tho bread pills he viewed tnom with unconcealed disgust. His father loft him in the dining room still viewing them, and with these instructions : "Put them down quickly and you wont notice them at all." , _ . But Toodles had hie misgivings. He was still staring indecisively at tho dope when hiecum came into the back yard, and the youngste. saw him through the Wow. Hero was an opportunity to try the pills. It they were all right more could be nitulo. ( "Here, Siccum," called Toodles. Here s somethin' to eat. Catch it, doggy. Siccum wagged au expectant tail. Down went the pills- into the back yard. Ihe clog mode investigation with an inquiring none. AVI seemed lo be well. He grabbed up one and then the other without delay. .At the fiisl bite an expression ol proiound amazement overspread his features, succeeded by one of extreme anguish. He lifted his fa«e to the blue heavens and tears poured from his eyes t ,. Then the red-hot, drug bit in deep, and biccum bean a performance the like of which has never boon equalled by tho most educated dog that has over earned a man s living for him. , First be rushed over, and, with tne utmost enthusiasm, tried to shin up the clothes pole, but, not being practised in this art, fell back on his very spiky tail and nearly broke it ott. With his month very wide open, so as to take in all the cool air possible, ho rushed around and around the yard, emitting dismal howls, and then began to throw hand&P The b sound of his lamentations was heard abroad in the land, and th« cats among which ho had preserved order gathered on the high fences adjoining and jeered him in a scandalous manner. , , "Well, did you evei I" said they, one to another. " Ciazy as a bedbug I " _ ■While his wind lasted Siccum careered At last, breathless and worn out. ho sank down moaning. The cats almost laughed themselves to death with unholy gleo. Toodles at his window was grieved at the brief duration of tha performance. •• Say, pop," he called "Siccum has been playiu' circus." Ur Plaster came atid looked out of the win11 Wlidt's the matter with the dog? " he asked Toodles described as well aa he could. "Ho ate. tho medicine you made for ;; m ®' he concluded accusingly. " Supposin' I d a taken it. an' gone an' done that? " ( # The doctor got a pail of water and toow- it out to Siccum. That animal made a bolt for it. swallowed half, wallowed in the other half, and then made a bolt for the contemptuous cats. Up the side of the fence he went as aHy goes up a-wall. When he went away there were two dead cats ou ths ground. He didn't come back. Toodlca is mourning because nowadays Siccum rassos theii back yard with un averted eyo. — New York World.