A Dark-Brown Dog
A CHILD was standing on a street-corner. He leaned with one shoulder
against a high board-fence and swayed the other to and fro, the while
kicking carelessly at the gravel.
Sunshine beat upon the cobbles, and a lazy summer wind raised yellow dust
which trailed in clouds down the avenue. Clattering trucks moved with
indistinctness through it. The child stood dreamily gazing.
After a time, a little dark-brown dog came trotting with an intent air
down the sidewalk. A short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally he
trod upon the end of it and stumbled.
He stopped opposite the child, and the two regarded each other. The dog
hesitated for a moment, but presently he made some little advances with his
tail. The child put out his hand and called him. In an apologetic manner the
dog came close, and the two had an interchange of friendly pattings and
waggles. The dog became more enthusiastic with each moment of the interview,
until with his gleeful caperings he threatened to overturn the child.
Whereupon the child lifted his hand and struck the dog a blow upon the head.
This thing seemed to overpower and astonish the little dark-brown dog,
and wounded him to the heart. He sank down in despair at the child's feet.
When the blow was repeated, together with an admonition in childish
sentences, he turned over upon his back, and held his paws in a peculiar
manner. At the same time with his ears and his eyes he offered a small
prayer to the child.
He looked so comical on his back, and holding his paws peculiarly, that
the child was greatly amused and gave him little taps repeatedly, to keep
him so. But the little dark-brown dog took this chastisement in the most
serious way, and no doubt considered that he had committed some grave crime,
for he wriggled contritely and showed his repentance in every way that was
in his power. He pleaded with the child and petitioned him, and offered more
prayers.
At last the child grew weary of this amusement and turned toward home.
The dog was praying at the time. He lay on his back and turned his eyes upon the retreating form.
Presently he struggled to his feet and started after the child. The
latter wandered in a perfunctory way toward his home, stopping at times to
investigate various matters. During one of these pauses he discovered the
little dark-brown dog who was following him with the air of a footpad.
The child beat his pursuer with a small stick he had found. The dog lay
down and prayed until the child had finished, and resumed his journey. Then
he scrambled erect and took up the pursuit again.
On the way to his home the child turned many times and beat the dog,
proclaiming with childish gestures that he held him in contempt as an
unimportant dog, with no value save for a moment. For being this quality of
animal the dog apologized and eloquently expressed regret, but he continued
stealthily to follow the child. His manner grew so very guilty that he slunk
like an assassin.
When the child reached his door-step, the dog was industriously ambling a
few yards in the rear. He became so agitated with shame when he again
confronted the child that he forgot the dragging rope. He tripped upon it
and fell forward.
The child sat down on the step and the two had another interview. During
it the dog greatly exerted himself to please the child. He performed a few
gambols with such abandon that the child suddenly saw him to be a valuable
thing. He made a swift, avaricious charge and seized the rope.
He dragged his captive into a hall and up many long stairways in a dark
tenement. The dog made willing efforts, but he could not hobble very
skilfully up the stairs because he was very small and soft, and at last the
pace of the engrossed child grew so energetic that the dog became
panic-stricken. In his mind he was being dragged toward a grim unknown. His
eyes grew wild with the terror of it. He began to wiggle his head
frantically and to brace his legs.
The child redoubled his exertions. They had a battle on the stairs. The
child was victorious because he was completely absorbed in his purpose, and
because the dog was very small. He dragged his acquirement to the door of
his home, and finally with triumph across the threshold.
No one was in. The child sat down on the floor and made overtures to the
dog. These the dog instantly accepted. He beamed with affection upon his new
friend. In a short time they were firm and abiding comrades.
When the child's family appeared, they made a great row. The dog was
examined and commented upon and called names. Scorn was leveled at him from
all eyes, so that he became much embarrassed and drooped like a scorched plant. But the child went sturdily to the center of the floor, and, at the top of his voice, championed the dog. It happened that he was roaring protestations, with his arms clasped about the dog's