MARCH 14: The Pet Dogs
“There were five dogs,” said daddy, “who belonged to a boy who was named Jack.
“Brutus was the largest of all. He was a big Newfoundland dog. Next came Bogi, another Newfoundland dog, but not so large as Brutus.
“Third came Patty, an Irish terrier. Then came Ouji, a cocker spaniel, and last came Susy, a little fox terrier. When they all stood together they looked like a flight of stairs, and just as though one could walk from Susy right up to Brutus.
“‘Ah,’ said Patty, ‘I see something coming my way.’
“All the other dogs looked and Patty said, ‘There is a bug and I’m going to catch it.’
“But the bug said to itself, ‘I’ll play a joke on that dog.’ And the bug did play a joke, a very mean joke.
“Patty snapped at the bug and then was about to swallow it when she had gotten the bug on her tongue, when what should that mean bug do but turn itself over so that it attached itself to Patty’s tongue, and so Patty couldn’t swallow it or eat it or anything!
“Then Brutus had a fine idea. He ran for Jack, for he had seen Jack go to a near-by field to play baseball.
“He ran just as hard as he could and when he reached the field he didn’t even notice the baseball which had just been hit with the bat.
“The boys were awfully frightened for a moment as they thought Brutus might get hit by accident with the hard ball, and they called out to him, but Brutus wasn’t thinking of being afraid of anything.
“But luckily the ball didn’t hit Brutus, and Brutus went right on up to his master, barking, and showing by his eyes that he wanted to have Jack follow him.
“‘I guess Brutus wants me for something,’ said Jack, ‘for he wouldn’t come to the baseball field if it weren’t for something important.’
“So Jack ran quickly home, following Brutus. There he found Patty with the bug on her tongue and feeling most uncomfortable.
“Jack quickly took the bug off and then Patty no longer looked sick and miserable.
“She jumped up on Jack and wagged her tail and her eyes looked very glad and happy as she tried to thank her master. And then she did quite the sweetest thing ever a dog did. She suddenly seemed to know that Brutus was the one who had done everything.
“Jack had come quickly when Brutus had called him, for Jack was always so good to his pets, and Jack had been able to take the bug off her tongue because he had nice useful hands.
“But Patty knew that it was Brutus who had gone for Jack, and Brutus who had brought him back so quickly.
“And Patty went over to Brutus, looking so small beside the great big Newfoundland dog and she licked Brutus’ paws and rolled over on the grass, saying to Brutus that she was a very grateful, happy, little dog.
“And then, for a special treat, every one of them had a bone, and Jack gave himself a piece of cake!” ended daddy.