THE TALKING DOG.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 20, 5 September 1884, Page 15

THE TALKING DOG.

It was in a Market street restaurant. A solemn man entered, followed by his dog, seated himself, and asked for the bill of fare. It was given him. " What would you like to have, sir 1 " asked the waiter, flipping the table with his napkin. The dog meanwhile had climbed upon the chair on the other side of the table, and was gravely regarding his master. " Well," eaid the solemn man, reflectively, " gimme two fried eggs, turned over. " Gimme the same," said the dog. The waiter gazed at the animal with amazement mingled with horror. The solemn man continued :—: — " Then I guess you can gimme a sirloin steak, very rare, with fried potatoes. " Gimme the same," said the doer. The waiter Bhuddered, and, turning, fled for the kitchen. A man with a equint, at an adjoining table, was much interested in the scene. He had observed it closely, and finally spoke to the solemn man :—: — " It must 'a been a fearful lot o' work to learn that doe to talk, mister." " It was," said the solemn man. " I should smile," said the dog. " What 'ud you take for him now 1 " said the man with the squint. " Wouldn't sell him." said the solemn man. " You'd better not," said the dcg. The man with the squint was much impressed. He begm making wildpffeis, and when he reached a thousand dollars the solemn man relented. ' Well, " eaid he, " I can't refuse that. Ijhate to part with him, but you can have him." " He'll be sorry for it," said the dog. The man with the squint drew a check for the amount, which he gave to the solemn man. The latter was about leaving when the dog cried out : — " Never mmd — I'll get even. I'll never speak agaiD. He never did. The gentleman with the squint was proprietor of a Dime and Freak museum on Market street. The solemn man was a ventriloquial crook. — American paper.