TYKE AND FIDO.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 191

TYKE AND FIDO.

Tyke was an old and homely bulldog. He was the pet of Miss Sophy Staples, who believed him to be as intelligent as he was ugly. He belonged to the people with whom Miss Staples was boarding, but was not the pet of the family, all their attention being lavished upon Fido, a little blackand-tan terrier. Miss Mary Staples, who was also boarding in the bouse, was not so fond of animals as her sister. ‘ You talk to that Tyke as if he had human motives and feelings,’ she said one

day. ‘lf you must pet something, why don’t yon pet Fido ? He is bright and pretty.’ Miss Sophy looked down into the ugly face of the dog, who was standing by her side. ‘ We are not beautiful, but we know what we are about, don’t we, Tyke?’ she said, stroking his head. The dog lazily blinked his eyes and wiggled his short tail feebly. ‘ You see he has an affectionate heart.’ she said, laughing at bis awkwardness. ‘ He thinks everything of that silly little Fido. You will notice that he shows real animation when Fido comes in.’ The smaller dog at that minute came through the open door, whining pitifully. He scratched at his face with one paw, and wiped it along the floor. Miss Sophy took him up into her lap and bathed his eyes, which seemed to be hurt, with warm water and milk. Tyke stood by and whined and scraped the

floor sympathetically. ‘ You see they are talking together now,' Miss Sophy said to her sister ; * I haven't any doubt that Fido is telling Tyke how he got hurt.’ ‘ I really believe that you think he is,’ her sister answered, sarcastically. Fido scrambled to the floor and ran out of the house. Tyke following him. It was hardly five minutes before both dogs were back, Tyke running, and carrying in his mouth a cat that had the appearance of having had the life recently shaken out of her. Fido followed, still scratching at his face.

Tyke brought the cat and laid it at Miss Sophy’s feet, wagging his stump of a tail enthusiastically. Both sisters were greatly interested. They went out into the shed, where the man was sawing wood, carrying the cat with them.

‘Do yon know where Tyke got this cat ?’ they asked the man.

‘My gracious ! I should say I did. He got her in here. That scamp of a Fido had been worrying her. She was that stray cat that has been hanging around here for some time. Fido seemed to think it his business to drive her off', and they had it out this afternoon, and the cat beat, and he ran away whining like a good fellow.

‘ First thing I knew here comes Tyke, and quick as a flash he dashed at that cat and shook her life right out of her, and Fido stood by and barked to see him do it.’

Miss Sophy laid the cat down on the wood, and turned to her sister.

‘ There, now I hope you are convinced that dogs have human motives anti feelings !’ ‘ This doe- surely look like it, but it is a question whether it is a worthy motive to emulate.’ Tyke, meanwhile, had surreptitiously taken up the .-at and darted out of the door, Fido after him.

The two women and the man followed. They were curious to see how the thing would end. They followed the two dog- to a little wooded knoll at the back of the barn.

Laying the cat on the ground, the dogs began rapidlydigging a shallow hole, and after laying the cat in and imperfectly covering her with dirt, they chased each other joy fully back to the house.