A Dog that Held a Grudge.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 218, 3 September 1887, Page 7

A Dog that Held a Grudge.

An artisb owned a little Scotch terrier that wa.s endowed JMh with brains and With an uncertain tompor. Usually it was playful and affectionate, but, like some people we know, it had bad moods. The artist made » ££?!# p# f- SzZucny, as he called the dog, and taught it sevoral tricks. Ho taught it to stand between its master's legs and leap over his clasped hands and then leap back again ; to sit back on its haunches and shake hands j and to spring into the artist's lap, put its paws on each cheek, and kiss him like an affectionate child. When ohe artist went to the country in summer he took Soctchy with him, and the dog usually was his companion ou sketching expeditions. As is generally the case with evil tendencies that aro not overcome, the bad, snappy moods became more frequent, and the artist began to debate in his mind whether he ought to keep the dog, fearing lest in one of these irritable moments it might bite his little boy. One day, when out sketching, this question was settled. The dog lay beside him as he worked, and pausing a moment, he reached out his hand to give it a caress. The terrier's response was a snarl and a snap. Believing now that a well-deserved lesbon was needed, the artist cut a switch, and seizing the dog by the collar, gave it a sound whipping. The moment his grasp was relaxed, the em aged little beast turned upon him, and taking hold of the leg of his troupers, shook with all its might. "(Jo home, you bad dog!" ciied the master, gixing it a cut with his whip. Yielding, Seotchy started oil" in the^ mo«t leisurely, independent manner imaginable, venting his spleen by ill-tempered barking right and left. In manner the dog vii tually said, " 1 11 go, but I'll take my own time, and you can't help it." A surly man could not have shown more temper than Seotchy, going slowly homeward, barking and growling all the way. An appaienv reconciliation took jolacc when the aiti.->t returned, but he had decided that he would not take the dog back to the city. Soon after, ho gave it to a friend in the village where he was sojourning. This slight was ncxev for. given, and it would seem that Scotchy brooded over it continually. A year later the artist wont to call on the friend who had received the dog. The ladies of the household were on the piazza, and so was the terrier. As soon as it t-aw its o'.d master coming up the walk, it scorned in a most wild rage. Every hair on it& back btood upright/and its eyes became green with anger. Snailing and growling, it showed its t eth and looked as if determined to use them. " Scotchy, come here !" said the artist sternly. As if compelled against its will by the ok! voice of authority, the dog .slowly obeyed, giowling at eveiy step. " Position !" said the aitist, in his sex crest tone, and Scotchy growled his way between his former master's leg^. "Now, jump !" Fairly trembling and yelping with rage, the dog sprang over the aitist's clasped handh as it had been taught long before. " Jump back !" Snarling hi* bitter protest, back ib sprang. " Sib up !*' Scotchy ro&e on his haunches, meanwhile gnashing his teeth. " Shake hando !" Out came the paw and a most portentous giowl at the same instant. " Oh," ciied the ladies, " do drive the dogaway : he will surely bite you. Heic, Scotchy, come heie, come away P " Sit btill," said the mti&t. " U-r-r-r-r," responded Scotchy, yet seeming unable to disobey. The artist now sat down and commanded, " Come and kiss me !" "No, no!" cried the ladies ; "he will bite your nose off." So probably Scotchy would have done had the artist relaxed his stern quiet demeanour, or .shown the least feai\ He only repeated the command moi o severely, keeping his eyes fixed on those of the dog. As if compelled by some mysterious, irresistible power, Scotchy sprang into the artist's lap with a teniiic snarl, and with all his white teeth exposed. " Kiss me !" thundered the artist. Scotchy could not resist. The spell of the stronger will kept the mastery, and the dog did as he had been wont to do in earlier days. " Now go lie down and keep still." Scotchy drew the line at keeping still. That he would not do, but growled and snarled at his old master throughout his entire call. The same scenes were enacted whenever the artist came to the house ; and though Scotchy, in spite of all protests, was compelled to yield obedience, lie never abated one jot oi his deep-rooted grudge. — From "St. Nicholas."