Minnie's Pet Dog
Page 3
CHAPTER III.
LEO AND THE MONKEY.
Leo had two very strong friends at the stable, with whom he passed muchof his time. These were some large pigs, occupying a nice, warm pen onthe south side of the barn.
When Leo left his own house to make them a visit, they received him witha grunt of welcome. One cold night, the hostler went, at a late hour,into the stable with his lantern, to see that all the animals werecomfortably bedded. As he approached the pig-pen, he was surprised tohear a loud snoring, unlike the noise pigs make in their sleep. Heentered cautiously, fearing a straggler had sought shelter there. Thisfear was quickly changed to mirth, however, as he saw Leo lying on hisback between the two pigs, his feet extending some distance below them,while they were pressed closely up to his body, to impart to him as muchas possible of their warmth.
A few weeks after this, one of the pigs was carried away by the butcherto be killed. Leo mourned for his friend, and paid redoubled attentionto the one who was left, as if to make up to him for the loss of hiscompanion.
I don't know that I have described Leo.
He was a large, shaggy dog, of the Newfoundland breed, black as jet,with a white tip to his bushy tail, and three white feet.
Leo's eyes were very bright, and his whole countenance remarkablyintelligent. He was a most useful animal about the stable, always givingnotice by a loud, fierce bark, when a stranger, and particularly anill-dressed one, tried to enter. He was good-natured, too, and was neverbut once known to bite or seriously injure any person.
One day, the hostler, having gone into the city, left Leo in charge ofthe stable, as usual. About noon, a man entered and began to walkaround.
After a few loud, prolonged barks, which brought no one to his aid, Leoconcluded he must take care of the man himself. Every step that thestranger went he followed him, not molesting him in any way until theman took down a handsome fur robe from the shelf, and secreted it in thehay, near the window. He then proceeded to leave, when Leo caught himand held him fast.
Nearly an hour later, when the hostler returned, they were still in thisposition, the robber frightened almost out of his wits, and not daringto move lest the dog should kill him.
Being closely questioned by the hostler, he acknowledged his theft, andsaid that he had intended to come in the night and take away the robe,which he knew was valuable, by removing the window.
While he was talking, Leo watched him narrowly, and then followed himfrom the barn, growling continually.
Leo was very fond of his young mistress, whom in her babyhood, he hadmany times carried on his back around the gravelled walks near thehouse.
Minnie was fond of him too, and sometimes put her arms around his neckand kissed him.
When he saw her coming, he always ran to meet her, wagging his tail withpleasure.
But there was one member of the family Leo did not like at all, and noinducements which his master could urge would bring him on even decentlyfriendly terms with him.
This was Jacko, the monkey, who by his grinning and chattering, anduncouth gestures, so disgusted the great dog, that he kept as far fromhis cage as possible.
One morning, about three months after Minnie's cousin Ida had come toreside with them, the little girl was taken suddenly ill. When she waspartially recovered, it was curious to see her sitting bolstered up inbed, with so many pets around her.
First, there was Poll, hopping up and down from her perch to the floorof the cage, chattering continually between her fits of coughing, "I'msick! I'm sick! O, what a cold!" and then, changing her tone, "betternow! better to-day!"
On the bed were Fidelle and Tiney, the latter nestled closely under hislittle mistress's arm.
By the side of the couch, with his fore paws resting on the whitecounterpane, stood Leo, grave and dignified, seeming to realize morethan any of them what a sad thing it was for Minnie to be lying there,instead of running over the grounds as usual.
Just at this moment, Anne came into the room bringing Jacko, who beganto grin and chatter with delight.
Mrs. Lee directed the woman to fasten the monkey's chain tightly to thepost of the bedstead, and let him have his liberty; but she soonregretted having done so, for Leo, who had bristled up the moment Jackocame in, with a deep growl sprang upon him, and would have torn him inpieces, had not the united force of several persons present caught thelittle fellow away, and shut him in a closet.
The excitement proved too much for Minnie, and she began to sobhysterically.
Leo came to lick her hand, apparently aware that he had done wrong, butshe cried out,--
"Go away, you naughty dog. I don't love you at all now."
Leo was presently sent from the room. Jacko, after overturning everything in the closet, was returned to his cage, and then, in order tosoothe the little girl, Mrs. Lee proposed that Ida should bring thebook, and read some anecdotes about dogs.
The first one she read was this:--
"Rev. James Simpson, of Edinburgh, had a large Newfoundland dog. At onetime he resided at Libberton, about two miles out of the city, in apleasant house surrounded with a garden.
"One sacrament Sunday, the servant, who was left at home in charge ofthe house, thought it a good opportunity to entertain her friends, asher master and mistress were not likely to return home till after theevening service, about nine o'clock.
"The company assembled, and wandered together over the house andgrounds, the dog accompanying them wherever they went in the mostattentive manner, and seeming greatly pleased.
"As the time approached for Mr. and Mrs. Simpson to return, the partyprepared to separate, and at last proceeded to do so; but the dog, theinstant they went to the door, interposed.
"Planting himself firmly before the entrance, he would not allow one ofthem to touch the handle. While they were quiet, he offered no force;but the moment they attempted to move, he became furious; and with deep,angry growls and a menacing manner, drove them back into the kitchen,where he kept them till the arrival of his master and mistress.
"The surprise of the good clergyman and his wife may be imagined, when,on entering the house, they found a party assembled there at so late anhour, and the dog standing sentinel over them.
"Being thus detected, the guilty servant acknowledged her crime, whenher friends were allowed to depart, after being admonished by the worthydivine in regard to the proper use of the Sabbath.
"Soon after this, Mr. Simpson was obliged to leave his country residenceon account of his children's education, and remove into Edinburgh.Speaking one day to a friend, he said, 'I regret extremely that I shallbe obliged to part with my faithful dog, as he is too large to be keptin a city house.'
"The animal was present, and heard him say this, and must haveunderstood what was meant, for he disappeared that very evening, and wasnever afterwards heard from."
Minnie was silent a few minutes when her cousin ceased reading, andthen said, half crying,--
"I'm afraid Leo will go away, for I told him I did not love him."
Ida gayly approached the window, expecting to see the dog, as usual atthis hour, sunning himself in front of the stable; but as she did not,she offered to go and find him. She had scarcely reached the hall whenshe met him coming up the stairs. He looked wishfully in her face, andthen went to Minnie's door, and began to scratch upon it.
Ida opened it, wondering what he wanted, when Leo, with his tail betweenhis legs as if conscious he had done wrong, went directly to the couch,and putting his cold nose into Minnie's hand, asked, as well as hecould, to be forgiven for his offence.
"I do love you, Leo," she exclaimed, caressing him; "you're a real gooddog; and you won't hurt Jacko again. Poor Jacko!"
On hearing these words, Leo began to wag his tail joyfully, and then,putting his paws on the bed, licked the hand she playfully held out tohim.