Part 10

THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.—A FABLE.

1. A dog with a fine bone in his mouth set out to cross a stream on a narrow bridge.

2. As he was crossing, he looked into the water and thought he saw another dog with a bone much finer than his own.

3. Being a very greedy dog, he dropped his own bone and made a snatch at the one he saw; and so, by trying to rob another, he got a good ducking and lost his dinner.

THE BOOT-BLACK AND HIS DOG.

1. In a great city a man had a place near the river, where he blacked boots and shoes.

2. To get more custom, he had a little dog who would roll himself in the mud, and would then rub against the feet of people as they passed by.

3. After a time the trick was found out, and the man and his dog were sent away where they could make a more honest living.

LESSON XVII.

HOW DOGS USE THEIR JAWS.

1. To-day we would like to find out about a dog’s mouth and teeth. John, have you something to tell us?

2. Yes! When playing with Rover, last night, he opened his mouth, and I had a good chance to see what was inside.

3. His teeth are like those of the cat, only larger and stronger, and his jaws are so strong that tramps run away when he offers to bite them.

4. When Lion, the old bull-dog, gets his grip on anything, the only way to make him let go is to open his jaws with a bar of iron.

5. The cat uses both its claws and teeth in catching game; but the dog can bite so much harder, that he does not need sharp claws to help him.

6. When a dog eats, he swallows large pieces of meat without chewing, and he will crush a bone to get all the meat and the marrow inside. After he has eaten off the meat, he often swallows the bone.

7. His tongue is not so rough as that of a cat, but he laps water and milk with it, and he loves to lick the hands and faces of his friends.

8. In summer, when it is very warm, the dog does not sweat as we do, but he opens his mouth and pants, and the water runs off from his tongue.

9. When the dog is well, his nose always feels cool; but if he is ill, his nose gets warm.

10. It is funny to see how old Rover will act when some one comes around whose looks he does not like.

11. He just stands up straight and his hair begins to rise. Then he raises his upper lip so as to show his long teeth, and gives a very low growl.

12. Next he steps forward a little and gives two or three short and snappish growls, and then somebody would better look out.

13. One day my mother was coming up the lane, and met a tramp, who made a motion to take hold of her. Rover made one spring, and his jaws snapped. The fellow yelled, and, as he ran away, he limped as though he had been hurt. Since then he has not been about.

LESSON XVIII.

LUPO AND TINY.

1. “Lupo” was a very large dog with a thick, white coat. He was so good-natured and faithful, that his master felt that the children were safe when Lupo was about.

2. In winter Lupo liked to stretch himself before the fire, and, when he did so, he took up the whole hearth-rug, and there was no chance for any one else.

3. “Tiny,” the little terrier, liked the fire as well as Lupo, but could find no place where it was not either too cold or too warm.