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Show A MISCHIEVOUS DOG.- Some dogs delight in mischief, and will play pranks on their young masters when opportunity offers. They also enjoy games. An ancient friend of my own, Carlo by name, a shaggy water-spaniel, used to play hide-and-seek with the children of the family with apparent enjoyment, regularly taking his turn to hide; and his short sharp bark on being discovered rings in my memory yet. No one was cunning enough to conceal himself from Carlo for any length at time, he was always first to find the hidden playmate, and greet him with every demonstration of canine delight. One of our neighbors owns a fine Newfoundland dog. He is so large and strong that they call him Megatherium (generally "Meg" for short), which is a name the scientists give to an animal of very large size that lived on the earth many thousands of years ago, but which is now extinct. This gentleman is the father of a little boy for whom Meg acts as playmate, protector and servant; and he usually proves faithful and careful in each capacity. I frequently see them out together, when Meg walks gravely along, often carrying something in his mouth - a basket or a package - as though impressed with the importance of his post. I happened to see them in company one day last winter, just after heavy fall of snow. As they reached the corner of the street, Meg was seized with a sudden desire for mischief, and, drawing back a few steps, with evident purpose in the movement, he quietly trotted forward and gently knocked his little companion backward into a snow-draft, and then stood looking at him as though greatly amused. But when the little boy got up whimpering at the trick that had been played upon him, Meg was evidently penitent, and by every means in his power strove to show his remorse and sympathy. |