Only a Waster.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XVI, 15 October 1904, Page 60

Only a Waster.

(BY

FLORENCE BEACH.)

Brown-Boots sat in the corner of the yard, and felt very depressed'and wretched. His mother had just told him that he was a disgrace to his family, and that she was ashamed of such a puppy, and when your mother is ashamed of you things are pretty bad. He told himself that it wasn't his fault; he couldn’t help having been born a waster. Now, “waster” is a term applied to a dog who has some defeet, and is not a wellmarked, straight-standing animal, and out of all his mother’s family BrownFoots was the only “waster,” so that, naturally, she was very much ashamed of him. All his brothers were fine foxterrier puppies, and a credit to the fa mily. Jim, the stable-boy, had taken a fancy to Brown-boots, or he would have been drowned. Jim called the puppy Brownboots because his two front legs were brown just at the paws, so that he looked as though he had brown boots on. Brown-boots sat in his corner and watched his mother giving lessons to Kit, his sister, in the art of pricking up her ears. He knew he could prick up his ears as well as Kit, but nobody took any trouble to teach him anything; he was of no account at all. His meditations on hi- sad lot diil not make him angry and bad-tempered; but, on the contrary, made him very anxious to bo a good dog and make himself useful. “I wouldn't mind,” he said to himself. “if Mother would only love me a lit t ie.” “What do you moan by taking the coolest corner of the yard?” said his brother Rufus, coming up and roughly edging him out of the way. ‘I am very sorry,” said Brown-boots humbly, “I didn’t know you wanted it.” “Of course,” said Rufus, “it doesn’t make any difference to you, because you arc a ‘waster,’ but with me. now, it’s different. I have to be careful of my complexion, and, besides, the sun gives me a headache. lam going to be exhibited at a show next month.” “Are you, indeed!'’ said Brown-boots, “but what for?” “What for?” said Rufus disdainfully, “how silly you are! Why it's a beauty show—a dogs’ beauty show. I am considered a very handsome fellow.” “I wish I was a handsome fellow.” said Brown-boots wistfully; “I suppose I am very ugly?” “I should think so. indeed,” said Rufus, complacently licking one of his paws, “your hair is too long and rough, and you have nasty brown patches where you shouldn't, and one leg is shorter than the other. Ugly, indeed!” and Rufus laughed. “Jim likes me,” said Brown-boots. “Oh, Jim!” laughed Rufus, "he would like anything. He isn’t any judge of beauty.” Just then Brown-boots stood up and shook himself. “Ha ha, ha!” laughed Rufus, “your tail will be the death of me; I krfow it will. Why it will soon be long enough to use for a clothes-lina” Now Rufus and his other brothers and sisters had all had their tails docked long ago, but Brown-boots, who was of no account at all, had not had his docked, so that instead of having a little stump like Rufus he had a long wavy tail. “Well, I don’t see why Nature gives me a tail if it is going to be taken away,” said Brown-boots. “And that little dog who comes here sometimes with the tall, grey gentleman has a long tail with hair like a brush, so what’s the difference?”

Rufus didn't quite know, so lie said Vaguely, “Oh. well! you see that dog is a I’omeranian. Il makes all the difference.”

Just then Kit, the belle of the kennels, strolled up. “So you think you are going to win prizes at the show, do you?” she said to Rufus. “Don't be too sure, though! Now, 1 think Brown-boots,” looking at him with a mocking laugh; - “your brother here, would win a first

prize. Rufus burst out laughing, and Brown-

hoots felt very uncomfortable. “What do you get for n first prize?” he said. “Oh! money generally,” said Kit. “Well, wlmi do you do with it‘(” psked Brown-boots.

••What a stupid puppy you are!” said Kit. “We don’t have the prize—the master gets it.”

Just then they heard their mother calling: “Kit! Rufus! come here; I have something important to say to you.” She didn’t call Brown-boots, but ha thought he might as well go and hear, the important news. He found his mother in a little flutter of excitement. “A very great honour has been done us,” she said to her puppies. “A lady—a very great lady indeed is coming down this afternoon to choose a dog. It will be a beautiful place to live in, a most superior place. The one whom she fancies will be able to turn up his nose at all’ the other dogs in the streets.” She looked at Rufus as she spoke, for she thought Rufus would most likely be chosen. Rufus immediately began to practise the upward curve of the nose. In faet, he turned his nose up so high in the air that hq couldn’t see, and fell into the watertrough. Brown-boots couldn't help laughing. His mother pulled Rufus out of the water and gave him a good spanking. "Now we must all make our toilettes!’’ she said. “I am sorry we haven’t mold time, there is only four hours, and a full toilette takes at least- eight. But we must do the best we can. Don’t get flurried, but take things calmly; and Brown-boots.” catching sight of'him in the background, “you can help your brothers and sisters.” Soon they were all so busy that they hadn t time to talk. Rufus secured the looking-glass first, although he wasn’t the eldest, and shouldn't have had it. Of course, you know a dog’s looking-glass is his water trough; if you bend over the water you can see yourself quite plainly. Rufus practised the little toss of the head which the deportment master had taught him, until he had just got the right mixture, of sauciness and humility. Unfortunately, he had recently had a bad eold. so that his eyes were not quite so bright as they might be, hut he blinked water into them to give a little more sparkle to them. “Now-, where’s that big bone for my teeth?” lie called out. Here you are,” called Brown-boots, bringing it to him. So Rufus sharpened and cleaned his teeth on the bone with great vigour. “.Mother, shall I bark when I see the lady? he asked of his mother. Certainly,” she replied, “we are going to practise a welcoming chorus of barks in a minute, and you can take the solo.” "Ahem!” said Rufus, clearing his thioat, niy cold has not improved niv, voice, I'm afraid.” He barked a little scam to try. “Hum, tolerable—tolerable. I bark too?” said Brown-boots. Oh, yes, if yon like,” said his mother nuu iedly, for she was just giving the finishing touches to Kit’s' coat. ° At last they heard voices coming the way of the yard. They all struck appropriate attitudes, all except Brown-boots, who sat in a corner. “One last instruction,” said the mother, “don't be too profuse with your kisses, especially if the lady has niee white gloves on.” “Here they are, your ladyship,” they heard the master’s Voice saying; “it’s rather a rough way to them.”' She came along the yard daintily picking her way, holding her fluffy white skirts in her hand.

“Oh, what niee dogs.” she cried; “oh! aren’t they sweet!”

They all barked the welcoming chorus, but Rufus, Brown-boots noticed, was a little Hat in the solo, but the lady didn't seem to notice it. Rufus to.ssed his head and looked sprightly, while Kit put on a pensive air, which rather became her. Brown-boots watched the lady, for he thought he had never seen anything so pretty and deli cate before. The mistress sometimes came to the kennels, but she wasn’t in the least like this lady. The lady had such a sweet voice, so gentle and kind, and her smile reminded Brown-boots of the sunshine. “Oh, dear! 1 shall never be able to choose, they all look so nice!” she said after a little inspection.

The master laughed. “Well, here’s a very good dog,” indicating Rufus, who gave a little bark of agreement. “Oh! what’s that dear little dog in the corner!” she cried, suddenly catching sight of Brown-boots. Brown-boots didn’t thing she could possibly mean him, although she looked in his direction, for nobody had ever said anything nice to him before. “Oh! that,” said the master, “ought not to be here at all. He’s only a waster.” The lady didn’t understand, so he had to explain to her that a waster was a dog that was of no use. “But he has such a jolly little face! Come here, little dog.” she called.

Brown-boots knew she meant him this lime, so he ran up to her, waving his long tail and jumping with excitement, making, as his mother said after wards, a fearful exhibition oi himself. Brown-boots forgot that he was not to be profuse in his kissing, and covered her hands with them. They were so soft and pretty, and had a fai*xt perfume on them. “You dear!” said the lady, “he’s sweet, isn’t he?’’ turning to the master. The master laughed. "He’s not a good dog.” he said; "he hasn’t even been docked.” "I am glad he hasnt.” said the lady; "I think its a cruel practice. 1 have made up my mind. I am going to have i his little dog. I like his jolly little

face and bright eyes. Doggy, dear, she said, bending down to him, ” will you be my little doggy And wouldn't Brown boots? Hr was so delighted that hr felt quite light headed. In spite of .he master's protests the lady insi*ird «m having aim. and carried him oil to her carriage, where he lay on a soft fur rug. with the lady's hand on his head. Ih was just the happiest litlle dog in the world. As he left the kennel he barked “goodbye” io his mother ami brothers and sisters, but they were so jealous and cross that they wouldn’t even say good-bye.” “Why.” said Rufus contemptuously when he had gone, “he'* only a waster!”