Why The Little Dog Laughed

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Why The Little Dog Laughed

—PRIZE— There was once a little dog that was very unhappy. Everybody tried to make it laugh. The cat said he would make the dog laugh. “If you do,” said the fairy, “I will give you a golden crown to wear on your head.” The cat tried all his tricks, but the dog would not even smile. “Cock-a-doodle-do,” said the rooster, “I will manage better than that.” He flew up on to the dog’s head, an'd began to crow. Still the dog didn’t laugh. At last, along came the guinea-pig. “I will make him laugh till he cries,” shouted the guinea-pig. He tried all the antics he could think of. He was about to give up, when he thought he would stand on his tail. All at once the dog started to laugh. “Why are you laughing?” they all shouted. “Look at that silly creature trying to stand on his tail, why he has no tail to stand on,” he said. Then the guinea-pig ran away to tell the fairy that he had made the dog laugh. The fairy gave him the golden crown to wear on his head. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Margaret McCleery (11), 193 Ritchie street.

—PRIZE— One day Tim, a little fox terrier pup, was playing in the garden when he found an old bone. Along came another dog who wanted the bone, so puppy ran inside to the bedroom. Here he saw another dog in a looking-glass. He dropped his bone, thinking he would get two, but to his surprise the other dog dropped his also. “I’ll beat him,” said puppy, but bang went his head on the glass. While Tim was fighting, in came the other dog and he ran away with the bone in the mirror. Puppy smiled to himself, and went to finish his bone, but it wasn’t there. That is why the little dog laughed. —Prize of 1/- to Cousin Yvonne Hall (9), Aparima R.D., Otautau.

—VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— There was a large sum of money offered to the first one who could make the king’s dog laugh. People came from far and near to try their luck. None succeeded until a farmer came along with an old cow. He waved a wand and the cow jumped over the moon. It made the little dog laugh very heartily. The king

was so pleased that he gave the farmer the sum of money. —3 marks to Cousin Alexander McCleery (9), 193 Ritchie street. —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— There was once a farmer, who had a cat named Kristy, a dog named Jock and a cow named Jenny. Every night the three animals would have a party. Kristy would play her little flute, while Jock and Jenny romped and danced about. One night they were very wild, they were playing at jumping to see who could jump the highest. Jock jumped as high as the house. Then Jenny jumped up, and with one great leap, she went sailing over the moon. Little Jock thought the sight of Jenny sailing over the moon was the funniest thing he had seen for a long time. He began to laugh, and he laughed so loud, and so long, that he awoke the old farmer, who came running out with a stick in his hand. But by that time everything was quiet again, and the farmer thought he must have been dreaming. —3 marks to Cousin Wallace Baillie A.C., (9), 216 Nelson street. —VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED— It was about six o’clock in the morning, and Jock, the black and white fox terrier, was having his morning stroll in the garden. When he cam? to the tall rowan tree, he met Fluffy, the proud Persian cat. On seeing Jock, she arched her back

and glared at him. He, however, took no notice, but just walked on.| Before- he had gone very far, he, stopped short, and gave a funny little' bark. Fluffy, noticing this, came up and she also stopped, for there, not far in front of them, lay a funny, round, spikey thing which they had not seen before, a hedgehog. “Aren’t you going to fight him?” asked Fluffy. , “I don’t like the look of it,” said wise Jock.

“What a coward you are,” scoffed Fluffy. “Watch me.” In an instant she sprang on the hedgehog, but the next moment she leaped away with a cry of pain. How Jock laughed. Fluffy has never recalled that unlucky incident for she is rather ashamed of being, laughed at by a dog.

—3 marks to Cousin Raynor Huffadine (11), 439 Tweed street.