LESSON XV.
1. To-day, John, we should like to hear something about the dog’s feet and how he uses them. Have you something to tell us?
2. Yes! One way the dog gets about is by swimming. Last summer little Harry fell into the river when no one was near by, and Rover swam in and brought him out.
3. The folks made a great fuss over him then; but he did not mind it, only he seemed glad that Harry was not hurt.
4. I find my dog has just as many toes as a cat.His nails are longer than those of the cat, but not so sharp. They are big and strong, but he can not draw them back into his foot.
5. He can not climb a tree, as his nails are not sharp enough, but he can dig a big hole in the ground when he is after a rabbit or a squirrel.
6. The bottoms of his feet are harder than those of a cat, and he can run all day in rough places without hurting them.
7. With his hard feet and long nails he makes more noise when walking than a cat; but then it is no matter, for he does not have to catch mice and rats.
8. Rover can not open a door, but he raises his paw and raps or scratches until somebody comes and opens it for him.
9. Ask him to shake hands, and he will hold out his paw as well as anybody can, though he has not learned which is his right and which is his left paw.
10. When Gyp is hungry, it is funny to see him. He will whine a little, and then sit up straight and hold out his paws like a little beggar.
11. Then, if you offer him something to eat, he sniffs at it, and, if he does not like it, turns up his nose and goes off. He likes candy as well as I do.