True Stories About Dogs and Cats | Page 6

till to-morrow evening," said Harry; "and I like the dog and
hen stories very much."
"Harry shall have his turn, then, to-morrow," said Mrs. Chilton; "and I
will tell you some more stories of dogs, for I now remember some more
that are perfectly true.
You never know how intelligent an animal is till you treat it with
kindness. All animals are easily frightened by human beings, and fear
makes them stupid. Children naturally love animals, but sometimes a
foolish boy loves to show his power over them, and so learns to be
cruel.
A little boy of my acquaintance, when he was told that he might ask
some friends to pass his birthday with him, and was asked who should
be invited, named over all the dogs in the neighborhood, and was much
grieved when his choice was greeted with laughter.
I have seen a little fellow of three years of age with his hand in the
mouth of a large, hungry dog, trying to get a piece of bread out of it,
and the dog not resenting the liberty at all, but merely trying to retain
his share of the bread, and allowing the child to take a part.
We all know that dogs have chosen to die upon the graves of their
masters, refusing food even when it was brought to them. We look at
such animals as if we saw in them an angel in prison. We feel as if such
a nature could not die.
There is no doubt that dogs understand language. My friend, Mr. S. P.
Miles, who was remarkable for his tender love for animals, as well as
for many other noble and lovely qualities, told me some remarkable

facts which came under his own personal observation, and which I am,
therefore, sure are true, showing that intelligent dogs understand
language.
He said that in his father's house was an old dog, to whom they were
much attached, who however became liable to fits. The dog was very
fond of hunting, and the moment he saw any one take the gun, to go
into the woods, he would show his ecstasy by leaping about.
Mr. Miles's mother one day, when caressing the dog and lamenting that
he was subject to these fits, told her son that he had better shoot him the
next time that he went out hunting with him. A few days after, Mr.
Miles went hunting; but the moment he reached up for his gun, which
was laid up on hooks in the wall, the dog, instead of showing joy by
jumping about, ran directly to the good lady who had condemned him
to death, got under the table at which she was sitting, looked up in her
face, and would not move from that place. Never after could the poor
fellow be induced to go out with any one who had a gun in his hand.
The same friend told me of a still more remarkable instance of
intelligence in a dog, though I confess it does not prove that this dog
had much conscience.
Mr. Miles said that he knew the man who owned the dog, and knew the
truth of the whole story. He said that a neighbor had an uncommonly
fine dog, well trained, and, as it seemed, perfect in all things.
One day, a man came and complained that the dog killed his sheep. The
owner said he was sure that it was impossible. Hero was so well trained,
he was always in his kennel at the right hour, and he knew that he must
not kill sheep. After a while, the neighbor came again with the
accusation. The dog was then tied in the barn. The man came again
with the same charge against the dog.
Hero's master now told the accuser that the dog was tied in the barn on
the very night when the sheep were killed. He now made much of his
dumb favorite from the feeling that he was unjustly suspected.

He was, however, much surprised when the owner of the sheep came
again and declared that he had seen his dog kill a sheep that very night;
that he knew the dog, and was sure of the fact. He, of course, thought
he must be mistaken; but said he would watch the dog. He did so.
At a certain hour of the night, when the dog supposed no one saw him,
the cunning fellow put up his two fore paws, pushed off the collar to
which a chain was attached, darted through the open window close by,
and made for the sheep pasture. He returned in good season, put his
nose into his collar, pushed it down into its place with his paws, and lay
down to sleep.
The master