LESSON XVIII.
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.
4. So she would climb up on to Lupo, and use him as a bed. It was very funny to see her tread round and round, as dogs do when they make up their bed, and then nestle down into his long hair and go to sleep.
5. When Tiny had her bed all right, she would not let Lupo move. If he stirred, she would fly at his head and bark and growl in a most spiteful way.
6. Then, if he did not stop at once, she would bite his long ears, and Lupo would sink back and lie as quiet as a lamb.
7. When out following the carriage, Lupo did not seem to notice little dogs, and, when a half dozen at once set upon him, he just shook them off and kept on his way.
8. But he was not always so good-natured. When a big dog came in his way, he seemed to feel that it was a duty to whip him.
9. There would be a growl and a snap, and away would go the other dog over Lupo’s head, with a piece of his hide gone or some of his bones broken.
10. As Lupo could not be broken of this habit, whenever he went out his master would put a muzzle on him so he could not bite.