LESSON XX.
1. Puff was a tiny little terrier and a great pet. He came by his name from a way he had of making a great fuss, and getting out of breath about nothing. Baby was crazy to get hold of him, and, when she saw Puff, she would wriggle out of any one’s arms to get to him.
2. The children needed only say, “Baby, Puff is coming,†when she would give a crow of delight, and out went her little arms, fingers, and legs, all working together.
3. But Puff’s hair was long and his skin tender, and, when baby’s fingers got hold of him, his howls were dreadful, and he never got away without leaving some of his coat in baby’s fingers.
4. One day baby was asleep on the sofa, and Puff thought it was a good time to look at her, now that he could do so without fear. It was funny to see him creep along, peering into the little sleeping face, but ready to start back in a moment.
5. He went closer and closer, until his little cold nose touched baby’s mouth, when she woke with a sudden start, threw out her two little fat hands, and seized him by the whiskers.
6. Puff pulled and howled and backed off the sofa, dragging the baby after him; but she fell on top of him, and was not hurt.
1. When Puff would lie quite still out of doors, with his nose pointed one way for a long time, the children knew what was the matter.
2. There was a rat somewhere about, and Puff had seen him go into his hole and was watching for him to come out.
3. The boys would get a spade and begin to dig, and, when they had got in a little ways, Puff would take the matter into his own hand, and dash into the hole.
4. His little, short paws would make quick work, and he would dig in until even the tip of his tail could not be seen.
5. Then a squeak would be heard, and Puff would back out with a rat in his mouth, which he knew what to do with to prevent being bitten himself.
6. He would fling the rat into the air, and, as it would come down, he would catch it by the nape of its neck, give it a shake or two, and it was dead.
7. How proud he was then! He would lay the rat down in different places to see where it would look best, and then he would carry it round to each one in the house, until somebody took him and scrubbed the dirt off, so he was fit to be seen.