Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1895 — A Lion. [ARTICLE]

A Lion.

We think It would be an excellent thinjj if all children were as sensitive to praise and blame as the dog in the following story. And if Lion felt so much mortification over coming into the parlor with muddy feet, eannot otir boys be a little more careful than he was even? A Newfoundland dog owned by a New Orleans lady gave an entertaining Illustration of the fact that in some way dogs comprehend what is said to them. One day a lady called on his mistress, and during her visit Lion came in rather shyly, lay down on the parlor carpet, and went to sleep. The conversation ran on, and the visitor finally saidt “What a handsome Newfoundland dog you have." Lion opened one eye. “Yes,” said the mistress. “He Is a very good dog, and takes excellent care of the children.” Llou opened the other eye and waved his tail complacently to and fro on the carpet. “When the baby goes out lie always goes with her, and 1 feel sure tiiat no harm can come to her," his mistress continued. Liou's tall thumped up and down Violently on the carpet “And he is so gentle to them all, and such a playmate and companion to them that we would not take SI,(XX> for him.” Lion's tail now went up and down, to amj fro, and round and round with great, undisguised glee. “But,” said the mistress. "Lion lias one serious fault.” Total subsidence of Lion’s tall, together wiili the appearance of an expression of great concern on his face. "He will come in here with ills dirty feet'and lie down on the carpet when 1 have told him time and nguin that he mustn't do H.” At this point Lion would doubtless have remonstrated If lie could; but, being speechless, he arose with an air of the utmost dejection and humiliation and slunk' out of the room, with ills lately exuberant tail totally oroktfalleu. —Our Dumb Animuls.