THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Mrs. Ben B. Lindsey 
 
GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
'^Is s/;e talked to me, I could understand what she meant." 
 
GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 BY 
 
 MARTHA MORLEY STEWART 
 
 CHICAGO 
 R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS CO. 
 
 1912 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1912 
 
 BY 
 MARTHA MORLEY STEWART 
 
T 
 
 TO HUGH McBIRNEY III, the bearer of 
 an honored name, and the worthy scion 
 of a goodly lineage, whose native qualities of 
 mind and heart, under the gracious nurture 
 Providence has accorded him and the chrism of 
 the noble church within which his life is unfold 
 ing, already find utterance in an ideal boyhood 
 and give promise of a high and godly manhood, 
 this book is dedicated with tender affection 
 and appreciation. 
 
 1106196 
 
PREFACE 
 
 THE writer of this book, it is needless to say, loves 
 dumb animals, and shrubs and flowers, and boys 
 and girls also, and has that intelligence about them 
 which love begets. 
 
 "Greyhound Fanny" tells an interesting tale about 
 herself, now glad, now pathetic, that will hold the 
 attention of the boys and girls who read it, as it has 
 done for those who heard it before it saw print. 
 
 Life and variety are found in its chapters by the 
 introduction of Fanny's friends, and she has a host of 
 them, horses and cats, and monkeys and rats, and birds 
 and other dogs, to say nothing of human beings. And, 
 O, what a lot of queer stories she is able to repeat ! 
 
 Mrs. Stewart exhibits skill, but lays no claim to high 
 literary merit; her motive being simply to instill in 
 the minds of the young the primary duty of treating 
 the lower animals, as well as one another, with sympa 
 thy and kindness. Was the lesson ever more needed? 
 To write this word of introduction or commenda 
 tion is not to pass in every case on the natural history 
 here inculcated, but only to express our opinion that 
 the work, as a whole, will make a useful and entertain 
 ing text-book for our public schools. Their priv 
 ileges in these modern days make so different a picture 
 from what some of us used to know, and which Lowell 
 crystallized in his "charcoal portrait of the school- 
 dame," 
 
 "Who 'mid the volleyed learning, firm and calm, 
 Patted the furloughed ferrule on her palm, 
 And, to our wonder, could detect at once, 
 Who flashed the pan, and who was downright dunce." 
 
 JAMES M. GRAY. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. MEANDERINGS .... . . . 1 
 
 II. THE NEW HOME ...... 8 
 
 III. THE WHITE RATS 14 
 
 IV. BLIND BILLY 21 
 
 V. THE FIRE 29 
 
 VI. ANOTHER MOVE 34 
 
 VII. BLACK PRINCE . . . ."...,. 40 
 
 VIII. SUMMER REST 49 
 
 IX. POLLY AND DICK ...... 58 
 
 X. Miss GIFFORD'S ANGORAS .... 63 
 
 XI. THE TEA PARTY ......' 71 
 
 XII. OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS .... 85 
 
 XIII. Two POLISHED DOGS 102 
 
 XIV. THE MONKEYS 106 
 
 XV. AT THE SEASHORE 123 
 
 XVI. PEACEFUL DAYS 130 
 
 XVII. THE SAD VISIT 137 
 
 XVIII. HUMAN ERROR 146 
 
 XIX. DEPTHS OF SORROW 148 
 
 XX. INTO THE GREAT CITY 155 
 
 XXI. THE WANDERER . 161 
 
 XXII. PROVIDENCE ... 170 
 
 XXIII. TRACINGS . 175 
 
 XXIV. A KIND FAMILY. . ... . . 178 
 
 XXV. A CHRISTMAS GIFT . 182 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Facing page 
 "As she talked to me, I could understand what she 
 
 meant" Frontispiece 
 
 MRS. EMMA BRADLEY ........ . . xiii 
 
 "She would picture for you a splendid old 'English 
 
 House'" 10 
 
 "Harry and I passed many long hours that winter" . . 18 
 "And other songsters lived in cages whose doors were 
 
 often left open" 21 
 
 " Poor Blind Billy! How sad it is!" ...... 24 
 
 Mrs. White related all that had happened in regard to 
 
 the fire . : . . . 32 
 
 After a little, the boys found just the right place to build 
 
 a dam 50 
 
 "She spoke of our Snow Ball who loved flowers, but 
 
 plainly expressed his preference for hyacinths" . . 69 
 The children always knew where to go for their lost pets . 78 
 "I know you, old fellow. Come over here to me!" . . 125 
 " Oh, how beautiful and consecrated was her love for my 
 
 master!" 139 
 
 "My beautiful puppy grew, becoming playful just as 
 
 little puppies do" 154 
 
 "When he was hitched to the willow cart, he reminded me 
 
 of Black Prince" 179 
 
 "Into a room where the glow of a soft red light fell shadowy 
 
 everywhere" 186 
 
A TRIBUTE 
 
 I CANNOT send this little volume forth on its 
 mission to the dear children without paying a 
 tribute to "The Beautiful Lady" through whose 
 guidance I learned to do the work in the humane 
 cause which has led to the writing of the story of 
 "Greyhound Fanny." 
 
 I can never forget how, toward the evening hour of 
 a day in my young life, a carriage drawn by a superb 
 span of horses drew up before my door and a footman 
 in livery assisted Mrs. Emma Bradley, who is the 
 beautiful lady of my story, to ascend the steps leading 
 to my home. 
 
 The low, musical tones of her voice fascinated me, 
 and when she told me that her call concerned a 
 humane cause dear to her, and in her winning manner 
 asked me to form a band of mercy among the children, 
 her personal charms were sufficient, apart from the ap 
 peal of mercy to my heart, to enlist me in this great 
 work, and I at once promised to do all that I could 
 under her guidance. The many years which she 
 devoted to her beloved philanthropy and the wealth 
 she gave to it lent an invaluable aid for a broader 
 sympathy for all living things, and the story of 
 "Greyhound Fanny" will not have been written in 
 vain if it brings aid to the mute appeal of the helpless. 
 
 MARTHA MORLEY STEWART. 
 
 April 30, 1912. 
 
GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 MEANDERINGS 
 
 // 7 have borrowed from a friend, 
 I borrow but to lend again. 
 
 I WAS born in a kennel owned by a wealthy gentle 
 man, and am a descendant of the English race of 
 greyhounds. My breed runs back to antiquity; we 
 are the only race of dogs that has retained its natural 
 shape and characteristics, and I am justly proud of 
 my ancestry. 
 
 While a puppy, I was taken away from my kennel 
 and placed in the home of a doctor, where I lived but 
 three months. I do not remember much of this home, 
 except that the doctor's mother kept house for him, 
 and that she was white-haired, and very gentle and 
 good. It is a satisfaction, though, to learn that there 
 is a time in the lives of even young children when they, 
 too, cannot remember. I think that having to leave 
 the kind doctor must have awakened my memory- 
 sense, for with that change came my first vivid recol 
 lection. It was the beginning of what I am pleased to 
 call my companionship with my Beautiful Lady, of 
 whom you will learn much from the lines of this book. 
 
 For several years my Beautiful Lady's home was at 
 Mills Dam; but her husband, who had become my 
 master, had decided to locate his business interests 
 at Somo City, the place where I was born, and also the 
 
 i 
 
2 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 home of the kind doctor, my second master. It was 
 on a business trip to Somo City that my Beautiful 
 Lady's husband first saw me, and a crisp ten-dollar 
 bill took my place in the doctor's affection. 
 
 My new master did not wish to move his family to 
 Somo City until he had built a house there. So my 
 Beautiful Lady, her son Arthur, eight years of age, and 
 Harry, only two years old, were still in their old home. 
 My master soon found a chance to send me to Mills 
 Dam. A slender chain was clasped to my collar, and 
 I took my first ride on the cars. When the train 
 stopped at the station, the gentleman who had brought 
 me here led me to my new home, and there I saw for 
 the first time my Beautiful Lady. She was lying on a 
 couch, and I learned afterwards that she had never 
 been strong. There was a manner about her that 
 entirely won my heart as no other has ever done. 
 
 She asked my name, and when the gentleman told 
 her, her eyes filled with tears and she said: "Flossie! 
 I can never call her that, for it is the name of a dear 
 little friend of mine who has just been laid away 
 forever. I shall call her Fanny. Then she put out 
 her hand and patted my neck, and I did not care what 
 she called me, for her soft touch made my heart so 
 happy that I loved her at once. 
 
 Now that I have made you acquainted with my 
 lineage and birth, I wish you to know how I came to 
 write this book, near the close of my long life. One 
 evening I heard Arthur say, as he looked up from his 
 reading, "Mother, why don't you write a book?" 
 
 "Would you like me to do so?" she asked. 
 
 "Yes," he answered. 
 
 I saw by the anxious expression on her face that this 
 was not a new thought to her. The idea pleased me, too, 
 
MEANDERINGS 3 
 
 for I had heard much talk about a book that was written 
 by a horse, and I wondered, if that were true, why a 
 thorough-bred dog could not do so as well. Though I 
 could not quite understand how it could be done by 
 either, I began to listen, with great interest, to the 
 conversation of people on humane subjects, and I knew 
 that my Beautiful Lady's library contained many 
 books and leaflets, written, as I supposed, by different 
 animals, for at the top of one little monthly paper 
 it read, "Our Dumb Animals." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady often spoke of the sagacity of 
 animals, and I learned to think very highly of them. 
 One day while talking to some ladies she said: "The 
 meager knowledge which many people have of animals 
 comes simply from a lack of observation." After that 
 I decided to look deeply into the matter. One day I 
 heard her say there is a great work to be done for all 
 living creatures, and I noticed that her happiest 
 moments were when she was correcting some wrong 
 or doing an act of kindness. I think now that the 
 Spirit of Great Love must have shed his sweet influence 
 over me, giving me a desire to pattern after her, and 
 I decided that my own animal kingdom was the place 
 for me to begin my work. 
 
 I felt anxious to know what "sagacious" meant. 
 One day when I heard her use the word I walked over 
 to Arthur, wagging my tail and whining softly to 
 attract his attention, just as I do when I am thirsty. 
 Arthur seldom caught my meaning as quickly as his 
 mother did, but this time he asked: "Fanny, what do 
 you wish to know what mamma is talking about? 
 I have noticed that you are always uneasy when we 
 use that word in your presence." I must have had 
 a glad expression in my eye, for he said, and that 
 
4 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 without looking into any book: "One of the wisest men 
 tells us that sagacious means 'quick of thought, acute 
 in penetration, wise in foreseeing things/ and I think 
 this is true of you, as you seem to be ever on the alert 
 when we are talking, and your eyes follow the face of 
 each speaker as though you understood and only lacked 
 the gift of speech to join in the conversation." Since 
 then my Beautiful Lady and Arthur have so often 
 explained words to me that I have become a very 
 knowing dog. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady smiled at Arthur's remark, and 
 walked slowly out of the room and I could not find her 
 for some moments. At last I spied her sitting quietly 
 looking out of the window, a shade of sadness on her 
 face. I decided to delay no longer, and tried to make 
 her understand that I wished to talk with her about 
 writing a book. But, oh, how could I? I tried to 
 speak, but my words sounded like the bark of any 
 dog. I leaped to and fro, showing my agitation as 
 well as I knew how, and then finding myself powerless, 
 I laid my nose upon her hand and tried to look what 
 I could not speak. 
 
 "Fanny," she said, "what are you thinking of? 
 You are restless, and your eyes are very wistful. 
 I wonder whether your thoughts are following mine, 
 about a book for dumb animals?" 
 
 I wish that I could tell you how my heart beat with 
 joy to know that she understood me. I wagged, not 
 only my tail, but my whole body, and whined in loud 
 tones which must have expressed much, for she asked : 
 "Do you know what you and I will do? You shall 
 come every day and lie down by my side while I write 
 out the story, just as you would if you could use a pen. 
 As great authors have given their thoughts to others, 
 
MEANDERINGS 5 
 
 you shall be my inspiration, and thus really and truly 
 be the author. Our book shall be given to little children 
 and to grown-up children to read, just as if written by 
 an intelligent dog." 
 
 Could it be true? My own Beautiful Lady to write 
 for me! I was thrilled with delight. Yes, she under 
 stood dumb animals if anyone ever did. And her hand 
 was to write the words for me! Oh, I was so happy, 
 for I knew that if she could arouse the same deep 
 feelings in the hearts of my readers which her hand 
 aroused in mine, when it lay in kindness upon my 
 head, then my book would stir the love and pity of 
 all who should read it, and do far more good for my 
 race than I could ever have done. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady went on talking more to herself 
 than to me: "There are several threads that might 
 be used in writing this story," she said. 
 
 Now this talk about threads worried me, for I had 
 noticed that pen and ink were used in writing books. 
 "But," she continued, "two threads will be enough 
 a thread of truth and a thread of sympathy, which 
 may be thrown by the shuttle of charity through 
 every life which God has created." 
 
 Then in her quiet and beautiful way she repeated 
 some verses which I have heard her tell Harry he 
 would find in the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians, 
 in that Book which so often lay open upon her lap. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady wondered whether I would like to 
 have the history of my own life written, saying, "The 
 links which have formed its chain are those of joy and 
 sorrow." This partly explained to me what had never 
 been clear before. I remembered that sometimes when 
 a chain was clasped to a collar about my neck, I 
 would bound with delight; so I supposed that the 
 
6 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 links of that chain were made of joy. But again when 
 a chain was clasped to a collar about my neck my 
 heart was heavy, and the sounds of those links were 
 like funeral peals to me. Those were the links of 
 sorrow, I suppose. The thought that the book should 
 contain the story of my life had not occurred to me, 
 and I looked up with an inquiring face to know whether 
 there had been anything notable in my career, the 
 career of a dog. Taking my face in her hand, my 
 Beautiful Lady said: 
 
 "All life is noticed by God, even that of a little 
 sparrow; and, if the Father of all wisdom can notice 
 so small a thing, surely there must be something 
 worthy of notice in the life of every creature." 
 
 She told me that my life reminded her of the lives 
 of some great and wealthy people, at whose door 
 sorrow had knocked and entered without being bidden. 
 As she talked to me, I could understand what she 
 meant, for I was born in the kennel of a wealthy gen 
 tleman, and for a time had lived in the home of a kind 
 doctor, and now had been ten years with my Beautiful 
 Lady. Nothing that money could buy had been 
 lacking in any of these homes, and so great trials might 
 come to me unbidden. My Beautiful Lady talked of 
 the sorrows that come to the flesh and cannot be 
 understood until the mysteries of God are rolled away. 
 She said: "There are afflictions put upon creatures, 
 dumb and human, by cruel hands, which would not 
 be if there were love in the hearts of the people." She 
 spoke of the Golden Rule, and how dogs would often 
 kiss the hand that struck them, and of horses that 
 would stand for hours in the pitiless storm and cold, 
 waiting to carry home safely the drunken master 
 who would cruelly lash and kick them, an unjust 
 
MEANDERINGS 7 
 
 return for their kind and faithful service. Then 
 my Beautiful Lady's face would light up as she told 
 me of the great work being done to teach children, 
 as well as older people, that Christian duty and justice 
 demand that we show mercy to all creatures. 
 
 I shall put in my book a picture of my Beautiful 
 Lady, that you, too, may look upon her kindly, love-lit 
 countenance, which is the result of loving thoughts and 
 a pure heart. I know that you will think her as 
 beautiful as I do. 
 
 Dog-fashioned, I have meandered from one subject 
 to another, trying to tell how I became an author. 
 But my Beautiful Lady thinks you will all understand 
 by this time, and she comforts me by saying that I 
 shall soon set off on a dog trot, and then my story will 
 run more smoothly! 
 
 I only wish I may live many more years to help my 
 race. I have often heard my Beautiful Lady say she 
 hoped she would live to be as old as her grandmother. 
 I have looked into her face and wondered how she 
 could say that, when she suffered so much pain; but I 
 have learned now something of that desire to help 
 others, and what it is that brings the actual meaning 
 of life into the heart yes, into the heart of even a dog. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 THE NEW HOME 
 
 See! the summer days are dying, 
 
 The sun bends low to kiss the ground, 
 The murmuring wind is softly sighing 
 
 When autumn leaves their bed have found. 
 But within the home a firelight splendor 
 
 Reveals a picture of warmest hue; 
 The hearts that gather there are tender, 
 
 And home is fair to the loved and true. 
 
 DURING the delightful summer months, my 
 Beautiful Lady, Arthur, Harry, and I lived at 
 Mills Dam, while the dear husband and father was 
 absent in Somo City attending to business and the 
 building of the new home. In the beginning of autumn 
 it was completed, and the family made preparations to 
 move. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady was sad indeed to leave her old 
 home and friends. Her grief touched me deeply, for 
 I had never seen her cry so hard before. That night 
 we stayed with friends who lived just opposite our old 
 home. After Harry had gone to sleep, my Beautiful 
 Lady said, " Come, Fanny," and led the way across the 
 street, through the gate, and up to the great hall door. 
 
 We went in; our trunks stood in the dining-room. 
 The moonlight fell in broad sheets upon the floor, 
 through the uncurtained windows, casting its ghost 
 like shadows into the corners. My Beautiful Lady 
 stood for a moment with her hand pressed to her fore 
 head, then, sinking to the floor and resting her head 
 on a trunk, gave way to her grief. To show my sym- 
 
 8 
 
THE NEW HOME 9 
 
 pathy, I thrust my nose in her face, licked her cheek, 
 and whined. After a while she raised her face, now 
 so beautiful to me, and, laying her hand on my head, 
 said: "Fanny, my good and faithful friend, I hope 
 you may never have to leave a home that has become 
 so dear to you as has this one to me." I kissed her hand 
 again and again; but as I was not yet old, I did not 
 fully understand her words, nor did I dream that I 
 would ever pass through the same painful experience. 
 Finally my Beautiful Lady arose and walked slowly 
 through the bare rooms, while I was close at her side. 
 She repeated softly the lines of a poem which I did 
 not understand. Her conduct made me sad and rest 
 less. Ever watchful of me, however, she said: "Fanny, 
 you do not like this, do you? Let us say good-bye to 
 the place which has held so much of life for me and for 
 
 you." 
 
 We passed into the open air, and for the last time my 
 Beautiful Lady locked the big brown door. On her 
 way out of the grounds, she paused beside the pansy 
 bed, which was flooded with the bright moonlight, and, 
 sitting down on the edge of the walk, caressed the 
 blossoms, and murmured to her flower pets: "Pretty 
 faces! How precious you are to me! I wish you could 
 come out of your beds and go with me. I love your 
 pure lives and the lessons of patience and duty you 
 teach me. If some unkind hand plucks you and you 
 die before the autumn season marks your length of 
 days, still you have lived out your mission here, with 
 your faces ever turned God-ward." 
 
 I had often, in the early morning or cool of evening, 
 lain contentedly at my Beautiful Lady's side while 
 she talked with her flowers; but for some reason that 
 night I longed to have her go and leave them. I 
 
10 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 began teasing her; she smiled through her tears and 
 said: "You do not understand all of this, do you, 
 my dog? No one knows the bitterness of any cup 
 until it has been drained, and yet God is kinder than 
 we can ever realize." 
 
 We walked slowly toward the gate, my Beautiful 
 Lady looking upon either side, and softly repeating 
 again those lines which were so strange to me. As she 
 passed out into the street, she pressed her hand upon 
 her forehead and I heard her whisper, "Help me to be 
 strong." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady did not look at me, but straight 
 upward; yet thinking she may have meant me, I ran 
 and jumped and barked, and leaped as high as I could, 
 because I knew that always pleased her. I was glad 
 when she went and we reached our room and prepared 
 for slumber. She put my soft warm blanket over me, 
 and then lay down upon her own bed. I was so close 
 beside her I could rise at any moment and touch her. 
 
 After a refreshing sleep we took an early train for 
 Somo City. Would you like a picture of our new 
 home? 
 
 Were my Beautiful Lady an artist, she would take 
 her brush and paint one for you on this very page. 
 She would picture for you a splendid old English house, 
 with long sloping roof toward the front, studded with 
 small, well proportioned dormers for the second and 
 third stories, with their groups of small windows. 
 
 She would also show you a winding path, extending 
 through a well-kept garden, and up the wide steps to the 
 front porch with its heavy interesting timber effects. 
 
 Next she would paint the massive entrance door, 
 with its long iron hinges, leading to the large reception- 
 hall, an example of exquisite harmony. 
 
A A 
 
 'She would picture for you a splendid old English House." 
 
THE NEW HOME 11 
 
 You would see here the grand staircase and beams 
 with their handsome carving, the wide brick mantel 
 with its cheerful fire, and at one end, the fine old stained- 
 glass windows, where my master and mistress planned 
 so many happy hours. 
 
 The East side of the house would show the heavy, 
 wide projecting cornice of the gable, with brackets 
 and beam work throwing their shadows in fantastic 
 shapes. 
 
 On the South were groupings of wide windows, with 
 their deep tracery transoms, at which were two English 
 ivys trailing their dark glossy leaves from two large 
 bronze vases. 
 
 Here, too, was the long South porch, with its easy- 
 chairs and soft rugs, where I used to lie and watch my 
 Beautiful Lady. 
 
 The North side of the building was plainer and of 
 little interest, except for its long, cool, inviting porch. 
 
 At one of the windows my Beautiful Lady would 
 probably paint my face beside Harry's, as we often 
 stood there together. Nor would she forget the pretty 
 yard of clover, with its pink and white blossoms, which 
 filled the air with sweetness. The low, wide, hedge 
 fence divided the yard from the busy street beyond. 
 
 At the South of the house was my new kennel; it 
 corresponded in style and outline with the house, and 
 had a door through which Harry could stand erect, 
 for he was still a little fellow. There I was to sleep, 
 and I was locked in it for several nights; but as I was 
 used to living with the family, I felt so strange and 
 lonely that I moaned and whined the night through. 
 Then my Beautiful Lady declared that I should suffer 
 no longer, and after that I abandoned my kennel and 
 slept in her room, as had before been my habit. 
 
12 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 As so many lines in my book have been written with 
 as yet hardly more than a reference to my master, 
 I am somewhat ashamed. My Beautiful Lady said he 
 should always have the preference, because he is the 
 head of the house. I trust my readers will consider 
 the fact that until our removal to Somo City I had 
 seen very little of him. I fear I cannot understand 
 his virtues; therefore I might not do him justice as 
 I should present him to you. My Beautiful Lady, I 
 know, would say many kind things about my master, 
 for she is not only fond but proud of him. 
 
 He is a large man, very handsome, and I have often 
 heard people say, when they little suspected that I was 
 listening, that he was honest and upright in all of his 
 business dealings. He provided richly for his family. 
 He is especially fond of greyhounds, and I was the 
 second that he had purchased. I suppose he expected 
 me to choose him for my favorite friend. Perhaps I 
 should have done so, but my Beautiful Lady won my 
 heart first. Doubtless I have been selfish in my love 
 for her, but I notice that little children like her, and 
 that her eyes are full of tenderness when she speaks to 
 them. 
 
 When I came to be with my master every day, he 
 tried to persuade me to go to the office with him. He 
 would play with me in the yard, and I always enjoyed 
 the frolic; still I could never make up my mind to 
 accompany him. After a while he knew there was no 
 use in trying to win me from my Beautiful Lady, and 
 he gave me to her altogether. 
 
 The one I loved next best was Harry. He was a 
 handsome little fellow, with long golden curls. When 
 the cold days and the snow came, and I needed a 
 warm place, I chose the rug by the fireside, and there 
 
THE NEW HOME 13 
 
 Harry and I passed many happy hours that long winter. 
 Often we would lie together, his curls about my head, 
 his arm around my neck. Sometimes he teased me, 
 for he had a naughty habit of pulling my ears, and it 
 was quite hard for my Beautiful Lady to break him 
 of this trick. Still I never thought of biting him, I 
 loved him too much. Besides, I heard my Beautiful 
 Lady say that if I should bite Harry it would cause 
 her pain. Harry was very fond of his mother and we 
 three made a happy trio. 
 
 Arthur, of course, attended school. He was good 
 to me, when at home, and I liked him, but only as 
 I liked his father. Sunday was our happiest day. 
 On these afternoons we all gathered in the parlor. 
 My master and my Beautiful Lady drew their chairs 
 into the Oriental window to rock and talk, while I lay 
 near the grate watching them. It mattered not to 
 me whether the sun shone or the snow fell or the wind 
 howled, I was loved and sheltered like a child, and I 
 knew no thought of worry. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 THE WHITE RATS 
 
 There's a lesson in the sunbeam, 
 
 There's a lesson in the flower, 
 There's a lesson in the moonbeam, 
 
 There's a lesson in every hour. 
 
 As we look at God's creation, 
 
 From the tiniest to the great, 
 There's a parable for every one 
 
 Who watcheth at Life's gate. 
 
 ONE day, as my Beautiful Lady and Harry and 
 I were busy in the sitting room, we heard a 
 great commotion outside, and running to the window, 
 we saw a number of boys. Arthur seemed to be the 
 ringleader. He was naturally boisterous a "genuine 
 boy," his mother called him and whenever he 
 appeared on any scene an awakening was sure to 
 follow. He and another boy were carrying between 
 them a large wooden cage, which they set down on the 
 North porch. We opened the door, and Arthur ex 
 claimed in a loud voice: "I've got some white rats, 
 mamma, and dandies they are, too! Just come and 
 look at them. They have pink eyes and their coats 
 are as soft as silk. They are a regular circus, for they 
 can do many tricks." 
 
 Rats! Why, any woman is supposed to run away 
 at the very sight of a rat or a mouse. My Beautiful 
 Lady had been able to make a pet of nearly every 
 creature, but against rats she shared the prejudice 
 of her sex. She did not come very near to the cage, 
 and was doing her best to control her fear. She always 
 
 14 
 
THE WHITE RATS 15 
 
 tried to show that she could be both brave and tender. 
 Arthur took two of the largest rats in his hands and 
 started towards my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "Don't come any nearer, Arthur, or I shall scream," 
 she said. 
 
 Arthur laughed and exclaimed: "Afraid of a tame rat ! 
 What harm could they do you? See how they cuddle 
 up to my cheek! They are different from wild rats, 
 but no rat will harm anyone if he is not first attacked. 
 Come, mamma, lay your hand on them and see how 
 cute they are." 
 
 But my Beautiful Lady was doubtful and bade 
 Arthur not to come any nearer. 
 
 "What!" he exclaimed, trying to tease her. "You 
 are a teacher of a Band of Mercy, and yet afraid of 
 these little creatures which are as harmless as kittens, 
 and just as good pets." 
 
 "But, Arthur, you cannot understand how I feel," 
 my Beautiful Lady protested. "I am ashamed of 
 my fear, but I must first become accustomed to them. 
 Perhaps then I shall overcome my timidity. I am sure 
 I shall try." 
 
 "Well, please, mamma, say that:! shall keep them." 
 
 "I promise that you may for a few days at least, 
 until I learn more of their ways and shall then be 
 better able to decide what is best. Now let me see 
 some of their tricks. Have I ever told you of the 
 musical rat? It used to come up through a hole in the 
 floor of a garret, where a poor young man who after 
 ward became a great violinist, first practiced music. 
 At first the rat would sit motionless, on its haunches; 
 but as, the music went on, its little body would sway in 
 rhythmic motion." 
 
 "What became of the rat?" asked one of the boys. 
 
16 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "A better fortune than living in a garret soon came 
 to the player. A great master heard of the young 
 man's talent and took him away to be his pupil. The 
 young violinist's delight was so great that it was a 
 number of days before he thought of his faithful 
 little friend. When he did, he was so sorry that he 
 had forgotten his mutual companion, that tears came 
 to his eyes and a flush of shame to his cheeks. But 
 as he had no money to go back to his garret-home he 
 only wished to see his little rat. 
 
 "Now, it happened as the master was listening to 
 his pupil that the boy often missed a chord, and there 
 were tears upon his cheeks when he failed to execute 
 a perfect chord. One day his master exclaimed: 'What 
 ails thee, lad?' An explanation followed, upon which 
 the master said: 'It will soon forget, or has already. 
 You must think of higher things than a rat. Come, 
 cheer up! This weakness is beneath you.' But the 
 heart of music was also the heart of love and fidelity, 
 and after a few days the lad broke down completely, 
 sobbing, 'It is of no use, master, my power is dead 
 within me.' 
 
 "Thi was serious, indeed, for wonderful things had 
 been hoped for him. The great musician saw that 
 something must be done. So he gave the boy some 
 money, saying: 'Take that, go and satisfy yourself 
 that only a foolish thought has crept into your head.' 
 
 "The young lad traveled back to his miserable garret. 
 It was too late. His little friend lay dead upon the 
 floor. It is said that in the great player's notes in 
 after years there were strains of pathos and tenderness 
 more touching than those of any other violinist." 
 
 The boys looked at my Beautiful Lady, and asked 
 whether she thought the story was true. 
 
THE WHITE RATS 17 
 
 "It is certainly true," said my Beautiful Lady, 
 "that rats and all other dumb creatures have been 
 charmed by music, and that they have died of broken 
 hearts as have God's higher creatures." 
 
 Arthur was tender-hearted, but when touched with 
 pity, boy-like, pretended not to be, so he said: "Don't 
 get sentimental, boys; mamma knows enough such 
 stories to fill a book. I don't want her to get started 
 now, for a rat circus is really a funny thing, and we 
 want to have a good laugh." 
 
 "Oh, yes," shouted the boys; "let's have the circus 
 right away." 
 
 Harold, the boy who sold Arthur the rats, was to 
 play trainer and Arthur was to do the outside bossing. 
 
 "Now, Harold, show mamma how the rats can 
 climb a ladder," said Arthur. 
 
 So Harold called: "Here, Dick, here, Dick!" Then 
 putting his hand down into the cage he drew his 
 finger slowly up the ladder, and the rat followed 
 promptly, putting his little feet first on one rung, then 
 on another. Belle, his mate, came up, too, and then 
 they both went down the other 'side of the ladder 
 together. 
 
 Next a hoop was held up and Dick jumped through 
 it, Belle following. There was a swing in the cage, 
 and Harold lifted Dick into it, held him until he 
 balanced, and gave it a gentle push, when the rat sat 
 swinging to and fro, evincing no signs of fear, but 
 upon the contrary showing great delight in the per 
 formance. 
 
 "Let's have some music," Ward suggested. "That's 
 the way they do at real circuses. Walter has a mouth- 
 organ and he can play very pretty waltzes." 
 
 "Yes," assented Arthur, "as manager I ought to 
 
18 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 have thought of that before, but Harold has kept the 
 best act for the last." 
 
 Walter began to play upon the mouth-organ, and 
 Harold called again, "Here, Dick; here, Belle!" Both 
 the rats came forward, putting their feet slowly down, 
 and turning their heads from side to side, in an attitude 
 of listening, while Harold's call seemed lost to them, 
 in the superior charm of the music. 
 
 "You play too loudly," complained Harold, "they 
 can't hear my voice." 
 
 So Walter played more softly, while the rats listened 
 more intently to the music, just as if no Harold were 
 calling, or their names were not Dick and Belle. 
 The boys were convinced that it was no use to try 
 to claim their attention, and so they were all quiet 
 until Walter had finished playing, when Ward said : 
 
 "I think the last act is the best, because it has taught 
 us that there is something in their little hearts which 
 is so like that of delight in ours. For my part I shall 
 never again do an unkind act to any of God's crea 
 tures." 
 
 "I think we have all learned a lesson to-day," 
 said Arthur. 
 
 By this time my Beautiful Lady was so interested 
 that she drew near the cage and exclaimed, as she 
 peeped in: "What are these tiny ones, baby rats? 
 I did not know that you had these little fellows here, 
 or I would have been tempted to look much sooner." 
 
 Arthur picked up a very tiny one and said: "Hold 
 out your hand, mamma." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady seemed now to have overcome 
 her fear. She took the little creature at once, and 
 pressing it to her cheek said: "I know I have been 
 foolish to fear, but really I think that when Father 
 
" Harry and I passed many long hours that winter." 
 
THE WHITE RATS 19 
 
 Adam was naming the animals, Mother Eve must have 
 been frightened by a mouse or a rat, and all of the 
 generations since have handed down her timidity. 
 I have seen women with as strong nerves as men who 
 would instantly mount a chair if any one said, 
 "Mice." 
 
 The boys laughed, and I barked loudly, so that there 
 was little left to say on the subject. The rat cage was 
 taken to the carriage house, and the boys went their 
 ways. 
 
 The little rats soon became acquainted with my 
 Beautiful Lady, and would hang on the wires, when 
 she approached the cage, reaching out their little paws 
 to her; and she would take them out and set them on 
 her shoulder, and let them ride about the room, Harry 
 and I tagging after her. Every day she would place 
 them in her lap while she played the piano, and they 
 would sit so still and listen so attentively, that my 
 Beautiful Lady would say, "Watch how they are 
 enjoying the music." 
 
 One day when Arthur was at school and his mother 
 was out of the room, Harry took out one of the baby 
 rats, put it on my back, and said: "Get up, Fanny! 
 Take the baby a ride." So I trotted off at a nice little 
 pace, wishing to please him, but the little creature 
 rolled off and fell on the floor and when it was picked 
 up it was quite dead. 
 
 When Arthur came home from school he cried very 
 hard; but, at the same time, he gave Harry an awful 
 scolding. My Beautiful Lady did all that she could 
 to soothe Arthur's grief by telling him that she did 
 not know that his pet was in danger, and that Harry 
 was too young to understand the peril he had placed 
 the little rat in. 
 
20 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 We all received some humane lessons* from the little 
 rat: Arthur, that he should have guarded his pet 
 more carefully, and Harry that he should not have 
 attempted to do anything without his mother's con 
 sent. My Beautiful Lady said, "If one has true 
 heart-culture, one has no fear"; while I learned that 
 the smallest and most insignificant of God's crea 
 tures inspires love or sorrow. 
 
 * As my Beautiful Lady explained to the boys, to be really humane 
 means having a disposition to treat all creatures, both human and dumb, 
 with a feeling of compassion, benevolence, and that tenderness which will 
 develope true heart-culture, and help every one, young and old, to be fear 
 less in acts of mercy, which spares all from needless sufferings, and inflicted 
 pain. 
 
"And other songsters lived in cages whose doors were often left open." 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 BLIND BILLY 
 
 " I have not lived in vain 
 
 If I but stop one tear or heal a wrong, 
 Or lift a fainting robin into her nest again, 
 I have not lived in vain." 
 
 A FEW blocks from our lovely home in Somo City 
 lived Mr. White and his family, whose acquaint 
 ance my Beautiful Lady and I made shortly after 
 moving there. Their home was a place where the 
 weary might rest or the sorrowing find comfort. 
 There was a bond of sympathy between Mrs. White 
 and my Beautiful Lady. They called on each other 
 often. I became a great favorite of Mrs. White's and 
 was often allowed to go alone to see her. 
 
 The home was a pretty cottage, tastefully furnished, 
 and bore an air of perfect neatness a characteristic 
 of Mrs. Whites. She was a lover of nature, and 
 especially of those things which God has created for 
 the use and companionship of man. One day during 
 a conversation concerning these things, she said: 
 
 "I think of this world as one of the many mansions 
 provided for me, and all created things as its furnish 
 ings. If I am ungrateful for even the least useful 
 gift, how can I expect those of a higher order?" 
 
 Mrs. White's windows and porches were filled with 
 plants and flowers, where canaries and other songsters 
 lived in cages whose doors were often left open while 
 she was near. 
 
 The cages were not made of brass or painted in 
 
 21 
 
22 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 colors, because both are injurious to life; but the various 
 colored foliage and flowers caused one to forget the 
 appearance of the dull wires. 
 
 These birds were taught many interesting and intelli 
 gent things. One pretty one, when asked what ailed its 
 foot, would draw it under its wing and hop off on one leg. 
 
 This dear cottage faced a shady little park, and many 
 happy summer hours were passed there Mrs. White, 
 my Beautiful Lady, the birds and I the ladies 
 sitting in a low seat with their hand-work, I lying 
 close to them, and the birds in their cages hanging 
 amidst the thickest branches of the trees, which made 
 them feel quite free. We all noticed how enthusiastically 
 and in what wonderful long, enchanting notes they 
 sang while there. 
 
 When Mrs. White called them, I did not wonder 
 that they fluttered down upon her hand; and when she 
 raised them to her face, they softly pecked her lips; 
 I supposed it a bird- way of kissing, the same as I have a 
 dog-way of doing to one I love. 
 
 One of those precious hours lives vividly now in my 
 memory. It was filled with a discussion between these 
 most humane friends, as to whether it is right or wrong 
 to cage birds at all. 
 
 Mrs. White said: "How could we now free the domes 
 tic canary which once naturally wild, through change 
 and habit, has become helpless and timid, unwary 
 of the untrained cat or dog or heartless hunter. Are 
 not their present characteristics of peace and content 
 ment in their so-called prisoned lives, lessons to us 
 of wisdom and patience?" 
 
 "But, Mrs. French," said Mrs. White, "I have 
 wondered why you do not have any birds. Did you 
 ever keep them?" 
 
BLIND BILLY 23 
 
 "Only once. A little English robin fell out of the 
 nest in the honeysuckle bush near my door. The 
 birds always nested in these bushes because they liked 
 the red berries for their young. The little thing was a 
 weakling, so I took special care of her. For some reason 
 she did not leave with the others, and I took her into 
 the house so much that she learned to live indoors. 
 Yet she was free to fly to the bushes and trees, and often 
 did, returning only as she chose. I named her Annie, 
 and she answered when I called her name, even from 
 the trees. 
 
 "When I was a little girl I read a legend: how the 
 goddess of music became very sad because there lived 
 in her soul a melody a cadence that by mortal ear 
 had never been heard. She dwelt much upon this 
 theme. How could those strains be produced? Where 
 could she find a voice to express it? No golden stringed 
 harp had yet touched it. The wooing wind sang but 
 few notes. The laughing waters did not murmur 
 all she had felt. If she could gather from somewhere 
 this music, she would pour its great power with its 
 most perfect enchantment, over all the world. 
 
 "At last, discouraged and weary, the goddess fell 
 asleep, but one day she awoke, for that delicate music 
 had reached her. It came from the throat of a bird. 
 She listened until he had finished his song. He had 
 compassed every strain of that song in her soul. 
 'Twas that music which sings of the soul. Radiant 
 more radiant than ever before, the goddess arose and 
 smiled as she said: 'Go, little bird, with thy soul-filling 
 message thou hast learned of the angels in the clouds, 
 and sing it in thine own gifted way o'er the land and 
 the sea ever free, ever free to awaken and fill 
 with unspeakable praise every life on this earth and 
 
24 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 attune it with the celestial above; no voice of man nor 
 instrument shall ever fully possess that sweet benedic 
 tion held secret in the charm of bird song.' 
 
 "To my childish heart this was not a legend, but very 
 fact; its influence can be likened to that of a blue 
 covered book which my now dear angel mother read 
 to me in childhood days. Its story lessons, impressed 
 upon my young spirit through the repeated rehearsals 
 of its most touching parts, exerted an influence upon 
 my life which eternity can never efface." 
 
 But I must ask pardon for this reverie upon an 
 hour so dear to me, for I know my readers must have 
 become anxious to hear about blind Billy. 
 
 Now we will step around the corner of the house and 
 look into the broad-open door of the barn to see Billy, 
 the handsome, patient horse standing in his stall, 
 blind. He hears our footsteps, and as he has never 
 known any unkindness he has no fear, but whinnies 
 loud and long, which means in our language, "Come 
 in and pat my neck and stroke my coat. Did you 
 bring me a crust of bread or an apple?" Poor blind 
 Billy! How sad it is! Yet are we not glad to know 
 that much kindness is shown him, to make his 
 darkened life brighter? 
 
 I hear a little voice asking, "Is Billy ever taken out 
 of the stable?" "Yes," I answer, for I have spent 
 many a pleasant hour leaping and running along by 
 his side, while he drew Mrs. White and my Beautiful 
 Lady in the carriage. I remember the first time we 
 went together; Mrs. White would say: "Take care, 
 Billy, and lift your feet, for there is a bad place in the 
 road." Then he would walk more cautiously until she 
 would say, "All right now, trot along." Then he would 
 
v 
 
 . 
 
 'Poor Blind Billy! how sad it is!" 
 
BLIND BILLY 25 
 
 quicken his pace, never afraid, for he depended upon 
 every word his mistress said. 
 
 One day we went into the woods to gather the 
 sweet trailing arbutus. Did you ever see it growing, 
 or have you ever bought it from a little flower-girl? 
 No doubt some of my readers have not, so I will tell 
 you something about it, for I have lived where it 
 grew plentifully. It has tiny pink or white bell-shaped 
 flowers, which lie very close to the ground, half hidden 
 under a thick fall covering, for it is found even as the 
 snow is going. I have been in beds of it, and its sweet 
 perfume made me wish to lie there forever. It was 
 while I was resting in one of these beds of arbutus 
 that I learned, from the conversation between the 
 ladies, something of Billy's life and how he became 
 blind. 
 
 In answer to my Beautiful Lady's question, "How 
 long have you owned Billy?" Mrs. White replied: 
 "Let me think. Why, it is twenty-one years. We 
 bought him when he was three years old, and now he 
 is twenty-four. Mr. White was sheriff then, and 
 needed a swift horse. One day a man accosted him 
 on the street, and asked if he knew where he could sell 
 a colt, to which question my husband answered, *I 
 can find a buyer if your colt is quick-footed.' The 
 man invited Mr. White to get into the carriage and try 
 the horse for himself. After an hour's drive he was so 
 pleased with the horse that he bought him, paying 
 a good price." 
 
 "He has not been very valuable to you on account 
 of his blindness, I suppose," my Beautiful Lady said. 
 
 "Oh, yes, indeed he has," said Mrs. White, "he 
 more than paid his price in one act before he became 
 
26 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 blind, and since then his intelligence has seemed 
 almost human." 
 
 "How did he become blind?" 
 
 "Well, perhaps I ought to say from having pink 
 eye, but I always feel more like saying through the 
 ignorance and carelessness of a so-called veterinary. 
 Pink-eye raged that fall among the horses. When 
 Billy caught it, we sent for a doctor. He said it was 
 only a slight attack; that he could be cured in a day or 
 two. This statement satisfied us so that Mr. White, 
 who was very busy, did not pay much attention to 
 Billy's eyes. But on the third day I discovered his 
 eyes were much worse, and he was suffering great pain. 
 I sent for our family physician, who said the medicine 
 we had used in Billy's eyes was very injurious, and 
 must be discontinued at once. It was too late, however, 
 and poor Billy's eyes were so inflamed and irritated 
 that he became totally blind." 
 
 "Did you not feel like punishing the veterinary?" 
 my Beautiful Lady asked. 
 
 "Indeed, we did, and he was punished to the extent 
 of the law. We determined he should suffer for his 
 malpractice, even though his victim was only a horse. 
 We found out that the doctor had no diploma. Just the 
 day before his arrest, he administered the wrong remedy 
 to another valuable horse, that caused its death, 
 and this proceeding put a stop to his practice. The 
 law should look after diplomas of physicians for animals 
 just as closely as of those for the human family. 
 
 "Nothing could bring back Billy's sight?" my Beau 
 tiful Lady asked, with a pathetic sigh. 
 
 "No; he has been blind now for ten years," said 
 Mrs. White, "and twice during that time we have not 
 been able to buy grain for him; but we would not part 
 
BLIND BILLY 27 
 
 with him, and he has never suffered for a warm, clean 
 bed. I found that he could live on vegetable parings, 
 stale bread, some hay, and plenty of water. I do not 
 think that any one can say he ever lacked for flesh 
 on his bones." 
 
 "You will never sell him, I suppose?" questioned my 
 Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "No, no, no indeed, I shall never allow a strange 
 hand to pull his reins. His affliction came to him while 
 he was doing valuable service for us and humanity 
 and I could not be so ungrateful as to turn him away 
 now." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady took her friend's hand and ex 
 claimed: "Our Saviour's pictured Heaven surely dwells 
 in you." 
 
 Mrs. White replied: "I have tried to let His kingdom 
 come into my heart. When occasions for mercy come 
 before our attention, and actually into our own lives, 
 demanding our becoming servants to our Saviour's 
 mission left to us, if we would only think of how Jesus 
 came down the mountain path, bearing a wounded 
 lamb upon His shoulder, it would not be very long 
 before that tender spirit would evangelize the world." 
 
 Their talk was very interesting and elevating, but 
 as the sun was low I knew it was time to start for 
 home, so I rubbed my nose against my Beautiful 
 Lady's hand, and let her know in my dog language 
 that it was time to go home. In answer to my request, 
 she laid her soft hand on my neck, and taking out her 
 watch, said: "It is five o'clock and our baskets are 
 running over with flowers. We must start so as not 
 to hurry Billy, for we want to go around by the 
 Cripples' Home and leave these cheering tokens of 
 love." 
 
28 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 Billy had been unhitched and allowed to nibble the 
 tender boughs and grass. It was but a few minutes 
 before we were ready to start. I was glad to run ahead 
 alone, and enjoy the things which delighted me most. 
 I heard no more conversation, but when I lay down to 
 sleep that night I felt the day had been one of unusual 
 profit and pleasure, even to a dog. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE FIRE 
 
 ONE August day my Beautiful Lady decided to 
 close the house for a short time and take the 
 children away for a visit. As we were getting ready 
 to go, Mrs. White called to say she would be glad to 
 have me stay with her. After some talk the invitation 
 was accepted. I was not exactly pleased with this 
 arrangement; but, as I was fond of Mrs. White, I went 
 with her uncomplainingly. 
 
 Nothing of particular interest occurred until the third 
 night of my stay. I had begun to feel very lonesome, 
 and could eat no supper. In the evening I took 
 a run down to our house, and lay for a long time on 
 the front porch, wishing for the return of the family. 
 About nine o'clock, Mr. and Mrs. White came to the 
 gate calling, "Fanny, Fanny, here Fanny!" I ran 
 out to meet them, when Mr. White said: "I guessed 
 rightly, didn't I? You gave us quite a scare by taking 
 French leave. We would not have anything happen 
 to you, for it would grieve us as well as your mis 
 tress." 
 
 I was rather glad that they had called me, for the 
 house was dark and lonely. When we arrived at Mrs. 
 White's it was bed-time, and she covered me with 
 a warm blanket. The shades were drawn in all of 
 the rooms but one. Through the windows of this 
 the pale moonlight flooded every object with a soft 
 shimmer. I walked about, trying every corner for a 
 nap, but all in vain, I could not sleep. Late in the 
 
 to 
 
30 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 night I was conscious of something urging me to go 
 to my own dear home. I went to the window from 
 which I could plainly see the spot I loved so well. 
 Oh, what a howl of terror I set up, followed by anoth 
 er and another until the inmates of the house were 
 awakened and Mrs. White came running in to see 
 what ailed me. My dear home was in flames, and in 
 my frenzy I tried to leap through the window. Then 
 Mrs. White discovered the raging fire. She threw up 
 her hands and screamed: "The flames are in full power. 
 Poor Mrs. French will feel terribly." This brought 
 to the room Mr. White, who said they must hasten 
 over and assist Mr. French. 
 
 I was tearing madly about, in a wholly vain attempt 
 to get out. As Mr. White unlocked the door, he said 
 to his wife, "Don't let Fanny go. I fear she will run 
 into the flames and be burned." 
 
 But his warning was too late, and I dashed away, 
 covering the distance with leaps which far outstretched 
 any others of all my life. How I was filled with terror 
 as I heard the hollow sounds of the firemen's voices 
 amid the clash and rattle of falling things. When I 
 reached the house, people were gathered from all 
 around, and were trying to check the flames which 
 were eating up so much beauty and comfort. I ran 
 from one to the other, moaning and whining. Some 
 noticed my anguish, but most were too excited to 
 think of a poor dog. No one seemed to know just 
 what to do, but ran here and there, telling others 
 to "hurry, hurry.' ' There were only three who worked 
 with keen presence of mind. 
 
 My Lady's pastor had carried out a few choice things 
 which his wife had told him where to find, and a young 
 girl and a grocery boy had carried the china and 
 
THE FIRE 31 
 
 silver through the back way and across the road, and 
 not one piece was lost or broken. 
 
 Mrs. White was surprised to find that she had been 
 thoughtful enough in her excitement to bring my 
 chain with her, and when at last I heard her voice 
 above that awful din, I gladly dropped down at her 
 feet, while she clasped my collar around my neck. 
 My poor master stood beside us with heavy tears in his 
 eyes, and something I had never felt before drew 
 me to him. 
 
 The house burned till the first red dawn of day. 
 The Oriental window stood out to the very last, as 
 though to mock us with the thoughts of those happy, 
 happy hours which memory still pictures. Many 
 wept as they spoke of the many pleasant entertain 
 ments in that once lovely home. Every one felt so 
 sorry for my Beautiful Lady, and grieved as though 
 her loss was a personal one to them. 
 
 After every part of the house had fallen into the 
 smoking mass, we all went to breakfast. I could 
 not eat, but kept up a low and constant moaning. 
 After a while I crept back to the scene of the fire. 
 There were some women there, and as they tried to 
 make the yard look better, for my Beautiful Lady's 
 sake when she should come, I heard them say: "We 
 will put these in the corner of the yard, for they are 
 keepsakes of hers and she may want to treasure them, 
 soiled and scorched as they are." 
 
 When Mrs. White went back to the ruins she told 
 the ladies that Mr. French had telegraphed for the 
 family, who would probably arrive at noon. 
 
 My readers will hardly believe what I am going to 
 tell them, but it is true. I went to the station and 
 waited there until the train came in. When my 
 
32 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 master had assisted my Beautiful Lady from the train, 
 I raced around and around her, barking and showing 
 my delight just as plainly as though I had said, "I am 
 so glad to know that you are safe." It was a sad sight 
 to see my Beautiful Lady, Harry, Arthur and my 
 master in tears. My Beautiful Lady said she could 
 not understand how or why all of this had happened, 
 but no doubt it was for some good purpose, and as 
 we were all safe and unharmed, she would with patience 
 bear all loss. 
 
 We went to Mrs. White's home for dinner, and in 
 speaking of the fire she said: "I think few could have 
 witnessed the intelligence displayed by Fanny last 
 night and to-day without feeling a deep respect for 
 dumb animals." 
 
 "What did she do?" questioned my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 Mrs. White related all that had happened in regard to 
 the fire, and added, "While I was attending to my 
 morning work I missed Fanny and thought perhaps 
 she had gone back to the ruins. Presently I saw her 
 crossing the park with something in her mouth. Once 
 or twice she laid it down and looked cautiously behind 
 her. Reassured that no one was following her, she 
 ran until she reached my door. I discovered she had 
 one of your shoes in her mouth, which she laid at my 
 feet, then, raising her head, she howled so madly that 
 I was startled. In a moment she became calmer, and 
 laid her nose on the shoe and moaned so pitifully that 
 tears ran down my cheeks. It seemed to me that 
 because she had found your shoe she thought you 
 had been burned, and was trying to ask me, 'Is this all 
 that I have left of her?" 5 
 
 "Dear Fanny," my Beautiful Lady said. "I shall 
 try as long as I live to remember her rightful rank of 
 
"Mrs. White related all that had happened in regard to the fire." 
 
THE FIRE 33 
 
 intelligence and the bond of sympathy between us. 
 She has grown wiser from day to day, and I have often 
 remarked to the boys that she seemed more like a 
 child about the house than a dog. I presume many 
 people would doubt what you said of her, and I think 
 it is too bad that they do not look more deeply into the 
 instincts of these affectionate dumb servants and 
 companions. Fanny, come here and let me look into 
 your face." 
 
 I jumped up quickly, wagging myself prodigiously, 
 kissing her hands and nibbling at her sleeves to express 
 my joy at being talked about so kindly. 
 
 Then, turning to Mrs. White, my Beautiful Lady 
 said: "Look at her intelligent eyes. Do they not speak 
 a silent language? Are they not as full of meaning as 
 any human being's? I hope God will help me to 
 understand this dear friend and companion better than 
 I have, and teach me to respect her rights, and thus 
 assist in teaching others to treat animals kindly." 
 
 Just here I wish to whisper, not a secret, but a truth 
 in your ears. My Beautiful Lady has kept her vow, 
 and she will never have to answer to God for any 
 cruelty, neglect, or indifference to anything, whether 
 high or low. This is the reason why everyone who 
 knows her loves her. Wherever she is, her actions 
 reveal the noble character that is hers. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 ANOTHER MOVE 
 
 ON the day following the fire, my master found a 
 boarding place at Mrs. Roberts', for which we felt 
 very grateful, as my Beautiful Lady was thus enabled 
 to avoid the unpleasantness of being in a hotel or a 
 public boarding house. Two large pleasant rooms on 
 the second floor and a sitting-room on the first floor 
 made convenient and comfortable quarters. But al 
 most before we were settled my Beautiful Lady began 
 to look around to see where I was to sleep. My master 
 did not think it right to ask to have me sleep in the 
 house, and suggested that I could have a very com 
 fortable bed in the carriage house. 
 
 "That would be very desirable for some dogs," my 
 Beautiful Lady said, "but Fanny is not used to such 
 surroundings. As the flames have spared her kennel, 
 why can it not be moved over here and placed in the 
 back yard? I think that Mrs. Roberts would not 
 object, and I shall feel better if Fanny is comfortably 
 housed in that." 
 
 My master, who was at all times willing to please 
 my Beautiful Lady, consented to ask of Mrs. Roberts 
 this favor. 
 
 I knew that I was the one most concerned, and wanted 
 to talk, too. I ran from one to another, looking anx 
 iously into their faces, and giving low, short barks. A 
 new feeling had been awakened in my breast, which I 
 could not explain for lack of words. Ever since the 
 night of that dreadful fire a deep fear had seized me, 
 
 34 
 
ANOTHER MOVE 35 
 
 making me feel that I could not bear to be away from 
 my Beautiful Lady for a single night. 
 
 When Arthur came home at noon his papa told 
 him of the plan that had been decided upon and told 
 him to move the kennel and have it ready by night. 
 
 "Oh, a house moving!" shouted Arthur. "That will 
 just suit Ward and me. I think now that Fanny will 
 appreciate cast-off favors, and show herself a worthy 
 dog by sleeping soundly nights in her own kennel, 
 and letting people rest undisturbed in their com 
 fortable beds. Won't you, old dog?" 
 
 The boys felt they had a big undertaking on hand, 
 and blustered about in their haste to get started. 
 
 I did not go about with Arthur very often, but I 
 decided to follow him, for I was anxious about my 
 kennel. As I leaped out of the door and dashed after 
 him, I heard Ward say: "I do believe that Fanny 
 knows where we are going, for she has been very 
 attentive to all that has been said." 
 
 "She knows that she was a naughty dog not to 
 sleep in her pretty castle, and wants to tell us how 
 good she will be," answered Arthur. 
 
 As I heard this conversation, I stopped trying to 
 make Arthur understand, and did feel ashamed as I 
 followed the boys that afternoon, watching their work, 
 which was all on my account. 
 
 After supper we gathered in the sitting-room and 
 the Roberts' family was invited to sit with us. I crept 
 close to my Beautiful Lady's side, where she could 
 lay her gentle hand on my head, and listened attentively 
 to the general conversation. 
 
 "How did you like your afternoon's work?" asked 
 Mr. Roberts of Ward. 
 
 "Finely," he answered promptly, "but it was no 
 
36 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 work at all. Charles got leave of absence for an hour, 
 and came with his delivery wagon and horse and we 
 called some boys who were going along the street 
 to help us lift the house. It took only an hour, after 
 we got started, to get it in shape for Fanny." 
 
 I tried to look pleased, but waited for my Beautiful 
 Lady to speak. 
 
 "I think Fanny will be a good dog now," she said, 
 "and sleep in her comfortable quarters. There are 
 many little children in this place who are not so well 
 cared for. I will cover her to-night with her own wool 
 blanket." 
 
 I gave a long sigh, and felt that I must be good, for 
 I saw tears on my Lady's cheeks, and knew that she 
 was thinking of her loss. I had seen her cry many 
 times the last few days, and my master had frequently 
 put his arm about her slender waist, trying to comfort 
 her. 
 
 "Dearest," she would say in these moments, "I 
 have lost so much that money cannot replace gifts 
 and keepsakes from my precious dead that I cannot 
 feel reconciled in this short time. 
 
 "Last night I dreamed that everything was just as 
 it had been. When I awoke I thought I would ask 
 you to build the house again, exactly as it was, but that 
 seems wrong to me now. I cannot feel that God would 
 have permitted this loss, except for some good, so I 
 must, and I will, try to bear up and comfort myself 
 that you, my strong support, and my beautiful boys 
 are still left to me. It is wrong to weep so over these 
 temporal things." 
 
 My master kissed her then, saying, "It is just like 
 you to find some sweet solace for every trouble, and a 
 bright spot in every dark sky. You are always an 
 
ANOTHER MOVE 37 
 
 inspiration to me to be a better man." Then I saw her 
 look into his face with the devotion of a pure, sweet soul. 
 
 In the evening we were all gathered in the parlor, 
 and as the Robert's and my master's family were close 
 friends, things in general were discussed. After a while 
 their voices seemed to fade away, and I was oppressed 
 with the thought that some invisible power had 
 snatched my Beautiful Lady from me. I gave a sudden 
 start, and found I had been dreaming. You may not 
 know it, but dogs in their sleep often live over their 
 past life, just as people do. Springing to my feet, I 
 heard her welcome voice saying, 
 
 "We thank you all very much for this delightful 
 and interesting conversation. It is getting late and 
 Fanny has finished her nap. Arthur and Ward and 
 I will take her to bed.'* 
 
 Perhaps I dozed again, for it was not until I heard my 
 Beautiful Lady say, "I will go with Fanny and see 
 that she is well covered," that I rose to go to bed. 
 
 "I will carry her blanket," said Arthur. 
 
 When we reached the kennel my Beautiful Lady 
 remarked: "You have fixed it very nicely, boys. I 
 will cover Fanny so that I shall know that she is warm 
 and comfortable." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady and the boys said good-night 
 and the door was closed. I could not lie still, but got 
 up and turned around a dozen times, and every now and 
 then I would peep out of the little window, and so I 
 passed a most miserable night. 
 
 In the morning my Beautiful Lady let me out. I 
 leaped through the door and put my paws on her 
 shoulders, trying so hard to tell her what a miserable 
 dog I was. She, too, seemed to have had very little 
 rest, and I was anxious lest she was sick. 
 
38 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 My Beautiful Lady took me into her bed-chamber, 
 and my master petted me for having been so good a 
 dog. I was pleased to be petted, but I was sure I 
 should not be good at all another night, for I had been 
 so wretched and miserable during those lonely hours. 
 
 I was now just three years old, and was becoming a 
 wiser dog. After I had eaten my dinner I lay on the 
 grass in the warm sun, and thought over my future 
 prospects. After a little reflection, I went quietly 
 up the stairs into my Beautiful Lady's room, and 
 crawled under the bed, close to the wall. I thought 
 if I could keep still until every one had gone to bed, 
 I would be left all night in the room with her. I 
 knew no other way to do. A child could have told 
 her how it felt and begged her pity, but I could not. 
 I felt rather guilty, yet I kept very still. I could 
 not remember having been so naughty since I was a 
 puppy. I was determined, however, to show myself 
 a bad dog, if necessary to gain my point. 
 
 When at last my Beautiful Lady found me under 
 the bed, I laid my nose close to the floor and whined 
 softly as I looked at her almost defiantly. Finally 
 she said: 
 
 "I will let Fanny stay there for a while; I think she 
 will come out before bedtime." So they left me and 
 went to the sitting-room, but when bedtime came 
 I was still there, close against the wall, and no amount 
 of coaxing could induce me to venture out. The boys 
 tried, my master tried, and my Beautiful Lady, she 
 whom I loved best of all, tried, but all in vain. Then 
 Mrs. Roberts said: 
 
 "Fanny is not going to be bothered any more while 
 she stays in my house. A dog that can show reasoning 
 power shall be counted human so far as sleeping is 
 
ANOTHER MOVE 39 
 
 concerned, and she shall lie right by this bed every 
 night. Come, Fanny. Come and get into your blanket. 
 Where is it?" 
 
 "It is out in the kennel," said Harry; "I will bring 
 it." 
 
 I knew Harry's sympathy was with me, he spoke so 
 gladly and started so quickly. 
 
 Presently he returned, as pleased as could be, spread 
 ing out the blanket and patting it with his chubby 
 white hands. "Come, Fanny, good dog!" 
 
 I did not need to be called twice, for I was only too 
 glad to get into my place, and accepted, with great 
 delight, the compliments and caresses that some 
 might think I did not deserve. 
 
 "Mamma," said Ward, "I wish that the dog we 
 used to have had been as smart as Fanny." 
 
 Mrs. Roberts replied: "Perhaps he was and it was 
 our fault that he did not show the same intelligence. 
 You know that he was whipped and made to live alone 
 in his kennel. We never tried to make a companion 
 of him. I never realized until to-night the perceptions 
 of dumb animals. If a child were deprived of education 
 and the best influences, and never taught anything, 
 it, too, would grow up stupid and surly." 
 
 After the family had bidden each other good-night 
 and all had given me a parting caress, I lay thinking 
 of the kindness that had been shown to me, and wished 
 that the dog-star would shine through countless 
 peaceful nights for all such good people. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 BLACK PRINCE 
 
 "Speak gently! it is better far 
 
 To rule by love than fear; 
 Speak gently! let not harsh words mar 
 
 The good tee might do here. 
 Speak gently! 'tis a little thing 
 
 Dropped in the heart's deep well. 
 The good, the joy, which it may bring. 
 
 Eternity shall tell." 
 
 IT seems odd, but about two weeks after the fire 
 Mr. Roberts suggested the sale of his home to my 
 master. It was a very pleasant and desirable place 
 and he soon came into possession of it. It had been 
 proffered as a shelter to our family immediately after 
 the fire; consequently no other place could have been 
 more home-like to us, and we settled ourselves at once 
 by procuring servants and furnishing the house as 
 soon as possible. 
 
 In a few days more the pleasant rules and customs 
 of our family ways were well adjusted. Arthur 
 said it reminded him of the pretty ribbons of a merry- 
 go-round, each one taking up his own color and moving 
 round and round the pole. Arthur had sayings quite 
 his own. My Beautiful Lady called them original, 
 and I too, noticed that like his father, he often made 
 people laugh with his droll and peculiar sayings, while 
 not even a smile was visible upon his face. 
 
 The next incident of particular interest occurred a 
 month later and on my Beautiful Lady's birthday. 
 It was during the noon hour. My master sat oppo- 
 
 40 
 
BLACK PRINCE 41 
 
 site my Beautiful Lady, while Arthur was at her right 
 and Harry at her left and nearer his papa. One could 
 see a smiling, gladsome thought expressed in my 
 master's face as he asked my Beautiful Lady,' 'Would 
 you like a nice driving horse?" 
 
 Over her countenance there flashed a look of delight 
 as she answered: 
 
 "Do you mean it, dear?" 
 
 "I really do," my master said, "and I have made 
 an offer for one this morning; upon your answer rests 
 my decision." 
 
 "Well, just at present I do not know of any greater 
 pleasure than driving through the woods and surround 
 ing forests," my Beautiful Lady answered. 
 
 My master was, on all occasions, a man of very 
 few words, and so nothing more was said about the 
 horse. That afternoon, about three o'clock, we heard 
 the master's voice calling out, "Whoa!" Going 
 quickly to the door, we saw him sitting in a carriage, 
 holding a black horse, which had a very long mane and 
 tail and sharp-looking eyes. It seemed nervous and 
 fretting, I thought, but my Beautiful Lady was 
 wonderfully pleased. 
 
 My master said: "Get your hat and come for a ride 
 and see how you like your birthday gift." 
 
 "Ah, then you have bought him for me! How very 
 kind and thoughtful you are. Wait a moment and I 
 will be with you," my Beautiful Lady answered in a 
 happy, cheerful voice. 
 
 When she came nearer to the horse, she laid her 
 gentle hand on its neck and caressing him said, "You 
 look like a prince, among your kind, and Prince shall 
 be your name." 
 
 I had always found it mere play to outrun all of the 
 
42 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 dogs I had ever met; to leap over half a dozen at a 
 time, and running on, leave them far behind. But as 
 we sped down the street, I found it not so easy to 
 outrun my new acquaintance. 
 
 On our way I heard my Beautiful Lady say something 
 about "Fleetfoot," and my master told her that 
 Prince had won many a prize on the race-track. 
 
 I must say that from the first I felt uneasy about 
 the disposition of this prince, who was to be so closely 
 related to my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 I noticed that my master spoke often in a quieting 
 way and an assuring tone, for the horse was fretful 
 and, I feared vicious, too. I had heard my Beautiful 
 Lady often tell the boys about the horses she had 
 driven, especially a large valuable bay, whose name 
 was Cub, owned by her father. He was fractious 
 and would never allow any horse to pass him, yet he 
 was gentle under her management; and when she 
 was a little child and sat upon his back for a ride 
 around the yard, he would lift his feet most gently 
 with an almost human care, lest she should fall. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady was an excellent judge of the 
 nature and disposition of horses, and I was anxious 
 to know what she thought of Prince, for I did not 
 like him, and feared for her safety. 
 
 After a long time we came back home, and Prince 
 was put in the stable. I stayed near him, and watched 
 him closely to learn all I could. I heard my Beautiful 
 Lady say: "Prince's blinders must be removed, to 
 give him a full view of everything he passes, so that 
 he will not be so nervous; and his check-rein must 
 also be removed, for a high-spirited horse naturally 
 holds his head high, with the support of just the reins." 
 
 We found Prince very refractory and treacherous, 
 
BLACK PRINCE 43 
 
 and my master was disappointed in him, as he had 
 expected my Beautiful Lady would enjoy driving him, 
 taking the children and her friends often for a ride. 
 Prince seemed to grow even worse, and it often 
 required two men to get him into the harness. 
 
 One day, my Beautiful Lady succeeded in coaxing 
 my master to let her take the reins and when she had 
 driven Prince a little while, he really grew more gentle 
 and seemed to respond to her touch. My master 
 became discouraged, though, for it took two men to 
 put Prince in the harness, and he was on the point of 
 selling him, when my Beautiful Lady did what seemed 
 a dangerous thing. 
 
 When a little girl, my Beautiful Lady's brother 
 taught her how to harness and unharness the horses, 
 because he said to be perfectly familiar with every 
 buckle and shoe would often save a persons life, and 
 prevent injury and fright to even a well-trained and 
 trusted horse. 
 
 Feeling sure of managing the horse safely, she went 
 alone into the stable. It was wonderful to see how 
 Prince did not flinch once as she harnessed him, and 
 how he stepped with knowing reason from side to side 
 in the stall, making it all as easy as possible for her. 
 
 When she would say, "Whoa! Gentle Prince," he 
 would rub his nose in her hand, or lay his head against 
 her shoulder with a peaceful, human-like look in his eyes. 
 
 I did not feel content as I saw him do these things, 
 and hugged so closely to her skirts that she said, "Well, 
 Fanny, jealous nature is awake in you, I see, for my 
 feet are getting tangled in these close quarters between 
 you and Prince." Then I heard that low, sweet mellow 
 laugh of hers, and her beautiful eyes gave forth that 
 charming light, which had so often before stirred some- 
 
44 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 thing within me, and I had heard her friends say held 
 some indescribable power to win both the dumb and 
 human heart; and after a little time Prince walked out 
 meek as a lamb, my Beautiful Lady holding the reins 
 most lightly, not to disturb the sensitive nerves in his 
 pink-fleshed mouth, and he and I trotted amiably down 
 the street together. 
 
 Going to the home of a friend, Mrs. Foote, who was 
 also a good horse-woman, my Beautiful Lady besought 
 her to take the risk of a drive into the country, and as 
 I followed closely at Prince's side, I was pleased to 
 see that he was gentle, and did not once exhibit any 
 excitable or dangerous manners, nor indeed display 
 any of the faults my master complained of. 
 
 Some two miles out of the town lived Mrs. Drusille. 
 Here we stopped for a drink of water and a chat. Prince 
 was tied to a post, near the carriage-drive and back of 
 the house. 
 
 After a pleasant call, Mrs. Drusille ordered the coach 
 man to assist the ladies in starting, but when they 
 undertook to get into the carriage, Prince reared up 
 and tried to dash away. My Beautiful Lady quickly 
 said to the man, "His mouth is very tender, and holding 
 him by the bit hurts him. Will you please let go of 
 the bit." The man did not obey, and my Beautiful 
 Lady said, "It is impossible to quiet him if you do 
 not do as I say." 
 
 The horseman still was persistent, but fortunately 
 Mrs. Drusille, who had gone into the house for some 
 thing that was left there, appeared just in time, and 
 my Beautiful Lady said, "Your horseman refuses to 
 obey me, and I anf becoming greatly alarmed." 
 
 "But my horseman is French, and does not under 
 stand English. I will speak to him." 
 
BLACK PRINCE 45 
 
 Then Mrs. Drusille tried to explain to the man, but 
 he was so frightened, or stupid, that he still firmly 
 held to the bit, Prince rearing upon his hind feet, 
 then plunging forward again until it seemed he might 
 drag the man to his death. 
 
 In some mysterious way my Beautiful Lady suc 
 ceeded in getting the Frenchman to release his hold. 
 Feeling the gentle touch of the reins in her kind hands, 
 Prince quieted down without another plunge. 
 
 "Noble Prince," my Beautiful Lady said, "be quiet 
 now, gently now, Prince." We expected Prince would 
 dash away with her, as she stood with her slender form 
 seemingly immovable, her delicate hands firmly hold 
 ing this animal over whom men had no control. 
 For a moment the horse showed signs of further 
 rebellion, but as though a miracle had been performed, 
 he suddenly lowered his head in subjection, his quiver 
 ing nerves relaxing, and as my Beautiful Lady stroked 
 his head and face, saying, "My Noble Prince, nothing 
 shall harm you," whinnied softly like a sobbing child. 
 
 Do you believe he understood her? Well, I know he 
 did. It may seem very strange and improbable to 
 many that my Beautiful Lady could control that 
 willful horse when a strong man could not, but I 
 understood it all. 'Twas the magic touch of the hand 
 of love, and the music of a gentle voice, speaking from 
 the depths of a great and tender soul. 
 
 When we were starting, I heard Mrs. Drusille say, 
 "After all, the gentlest hand is the strongest." I 
 knew that was true, too, for when my Beautiful Lady 
 laid her hand upon my head, I obeyed her sweet will. 
 
 Now, I will tell you another secret reason why Prince 
 was submissive to her control. Every day since he 
 came to live with us, my Beautiful Lady had gone 
 
46 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 to the stable and given him lumps of sugar, apples, 
 and bread. She had caressed him and petted his 
 curved and sensitive neck, thus binding his trembling 
 and nervous heart to her through sympathy's own 
 truest bond love. She had won him just as she had 
 me and every other living creature she had met since 
 I had known her. 
 
 Strangers looked upon her with respect, which was 
 almost reverence, but while her husband and children 
 did not always understand her peculiarly sensitive ways, 
 yet their constant devotion expressed how much they 
 loved the gentle influence she shed around them. 
 
 But I must tell you how our trip ended that day. 
 Prince had recovered from his fractious starting, and 
 was traveling at an easy pace, and my Beautiful 
 Lady was so pleased with her successful management 
 of him that she wanted to surprise my master, and 
 drove up to the office at a rapid pace. 
 
 It seems some one on the street had noticed her driving 
 away alone, and fearing she was unable to control the 
 horse had rushed into my master's office with the word 
 of alarm, but no one seemed to know which way she 
 had gone, and for two hours he had walked his office, 
 hoping each moment to hear some tidings of his wife. 
 So when my Beautiful Lady dashed up to the office, 
 so gallantly, she was met by a man whose white and 
 trembling lips could hardly express his fears. Ex 
 planations followed, and my master grew calm. Getting 
 into the carriage he and my Beautiful Lady went for 
 a long drive, so that she might show him that he need 
 not fear for her safety with Prince. 
 
 As they were riding alone my master said, "I cannot 
 yet comprehend what should make Prince so different 
 with you." To this remark she replied, "Do you not 
 
BLACK PRINCE 47 
 
 know that the attributes of the mind of a horse are 
 much like that of a man. Our kindness and love always 
 secure the good will of animals, contribute to their 
 happiness, and alleviate their distress. Gentle ways 
 and words tame their wildness and soothe their temper. 
 Justice to them in all things teaches them to trust 
 us at all times. The low sweet tones of the voice will 
 always soothe them, while our firmness will control 
 and quiet them." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady was never again refused per 
 mission to drive Prince. When he came dashing up 
 to the door, driven by the horseman, she would pet 
 him, and taking the reins in her own hands would 
 dismiss the man for she wanted to start alone and 
 drive by herself. 
 
 No harm ever came to her or any one when she was 
 driving, and many a delightful day we passed riding 
 through the winding forest roads, some of them old 
 and grass-grown, now useless to the lumbermen, 
 the branches of the trees touching over our heads as 
 we passed under them. 
 
 How I enjoyed those long, cool drives, with white 
 lilies and other woodland flowers along the roadside. 
 Harry and Arthur loved them as well as did their 
 mother, and were allowed to get out and gather enough 
 bunches of the beautiful and fragrant flowers to fill the 
 space in our carriage. I watched the pretty rabbits 
 and squirrels those cunning little creatures, which some 
 boys delight to torment and hurt with sticks and stones. 
 Did you ever think how their nests show that they have 
 an architect's skill? And what wisdom they show in 
 storing away in summer their winter's food! My 
 Beautiful Lady taught me that I had no right to molest 
 them, so while I enjoyed meeting them in my path, I 
 
48 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 never chased or harmed them. Prince always had 
 time to stop and nip the tender boughs, and never 
 seemed to feel the burden of his harness. I believe 
 that Prince, like myself, had found duty a yoke of 
 love, for no one felt anything a burden that was done 
 in the service of my Beautiful Lady. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 SUMMER BEST 
 
 OUMMER REST was the name of the place where 
 ^ my Beautiful Lady, Arthur, Harry and I passed 
 our summer vacations. 
 
 An old-fashioned house, set well back from the road, 
 stood in the center of the spacious grounds, which were 
 shaded by great locust and maple trees. On hot and 
 sultry afternoons we lay upon the thick, green grass, 
 or lazily swung in hammocks. About this house there 
 were bunches of white mountain lilacs and bush honey 
 suckles, where flocks of birds came to nest and to eat 
 the little red berries. There were silver maples, too, 
 that turned their white velvet leaves to listen to the 
 whisper of the gentle wind. Hundreds of roses bloomed 
 in the yard, and flowers of other fragrance and beauty 
 made it an inviting place. 
 
 The tall, slender poplars along the road in front of 
 the house looked to me like sentinels, guarding the 
 large white house, whose green shutters were never 
 closed. 
 
 Back of the house stood the barn, where Grandpa's 
 noble horse, Cub, had lived and died. Beyond there 
 was a little strip of clover for the cow, where a pet 
 lamb had also grazed. Through this ground ran a 
 stream with brook-willows along its banks. Large 
 oaks also grew here, casting their grateful shadows 
 over those who came this way, and under one of these 
 trees was a moss-grown stone, on which my Beautiful 
 Lady used to sit when she was a little girl. 
 
 49 
 
50 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 Now I am going to tell you of some of the many 
 happy and interesting times that Arthur, Harry and 
 I had at this delightful place. 
 
 One July morning Arthur said, " Come, Harry, this 
 is going to be a cool day, a little hard work will do us 
 good; bring a hammer and some nails, and I will carry 
 the boards left from our playhouse, and we will go 
 down to the stream and build a dam." 
 
 "All right," said Harry; "but what shall Fanny 
 carry?" 
 
 "Oh, she may carry her body on her long legs and 
 bark to keep us company," he answered. 
 
 "Yes, she will bark at the bull-frogs and pollywogs, 
 and get her nose stung with the bumblebees she will 
 stir up," said Harry. 
 
 "I shall not let her do that," Arthur said, "for it 
 would hurt her, and that would make Mamma feel 
 badly." And so they chatted, I keeping close to 
 them. Harry had his hand on my neck, a habit he 
 learned when he was quite small. 
 
 After a little the boys found just the right place 
 to build a dam, and they set to work right merrily to 
 construct a wall to dam back the water, and while 
 they were sawing and hammering, my Beautiful Lady, 
 who had missed her children came to look for them. 
 She soon heard them chattering and giving orders in 
 loud voices, and splashing in the water with their 
 bare feet. They were trying to secure the wall with a 
 gate cut in the center that they had made, but the 
 stream kept pushing its way through the stones and 
 sod, and floated the wall beyond their reach. The 
 boys not discouraged, kept on with their work until 
 they had constructed a wall they could at last securely 
 fasten. 
 
"After a little, the boys found just the right place to build a dam." 
 
SUMMER REST 51 
 
 By this time it was lunch hour, so leaving the work 
 we all went back to the house and had lunch. After 
 lunch, Arthur and Harry laid down in the cool ham 
 mocks and had a nap, and when they awoke, they 
 went back and finished up the dam, I sitting on the 
 bank watching them. 
 
 After the evening meal, we all went down to see the 
 pretty dam to please the boys. We found the 
 water falling over the gate in a pretty stream of 
 crystal sheen. The sun was about to set, and the 
 beautiful rainbow colors doubled the mimic reflection 
 upon the water of the evening's beauties. 
 
 "Oh see the pretty ducks eating grass! I want to 
 drive them into the stream and see them float over 
 the dam," said Harry. "Will it hurt them, Grandma, 
 and may I help drive them in?" asked Arthur. 
 
 "If you will not hurry them, you may, as the fall 
 of the water is neither very deep nor very great," 
 answered Grandma. 
 
 The boys started to drive the ducks, and I wanted 
 to help, too, but my Beautiful Lady called me away 
 from the chase, saying, "The ducks are not accustomed 
 to a dog's company and you must lie by my side." 
 
 I did not like to obey her, for it would have been 
 great sport for me, but when I looked at my Beautiful 
 Lady, I knew that my disobedience would grive her, 
 and so I nestled at her side. 
 
 After some urging, with Grandma's help, the ducks 
 were launched and sailing along quite contentedly. 
 As they floated over the dam they ducked their breasts 
 under the water and pointed their bills at each other, 
 as if gabbling in their own duck language telling 
 us how they enjoyed the frolic. 
 
 Arthur headed them off and on to the grass, and 
 
52 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 undertook to guide them again into the water, but 
 Grandma said, "That's enough," and then we all 
 sat down on the cool grass for a little chat. 
 
 "Mamma, isn't this where your pet lamb used to 
 play?" asked Harry. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady answered, "Yes, my child, I 
 suppose there is not an inch of this ground that her 
 little feet have not touched." 
 
 "Please tell us all about her, and how cute she was," 
 said Harry. 
 
 "Oh, please do, Mamma," chimed in Arthur. "I 
 often imagine I can see her innocent white face, and 
 it almost seems as if I could see her coming towards 
 me now, just as you have pictured her to us." 
 
 "I love to talk of my childhood pets, so I will tell 
 you the story again," said my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "When Uncle Nelson was in the stock business, and 
 he was driving a herd of sheep, one little lamb had her 
 leg broken. This accident happened more than three 
 miles from here, and Uncle did not know what to do, 
 as he had too tender a heart to leave her suffering by 
 the roadway, and he could not think of having her 
 killed. Suddenly he remembered me. Taking the little 
 helpless thing in his arms he leaped again upon his 
 horse and brought the lamb to Summer Rest. 
 
 "When I saw the pitiful little thing, I cried, for she 
 was bleating, and I knew she was in much pain. I ran 
 quickly to Grandpa and asked him if he would mend her 
 broken leg. After a moment's hesitation he got some 
 strong pasteboard, and I some strips of linen cloth, 
 and we went to the barn where we found Grandma 
 bathing the swollen leg in warm water. At last we had 
 it splintered and bound, and Grandpa said it was quite 
 a successful piece of surgery." 
 
SUMMER REST 53 
 
 "Did the lamb get well and strong again?" asked 
 Harry. 
 
 "Yes, after a time, but she always limped a little, 
 and in consequence, Grandma called her Lamie. 
 Because she seemed to mind the pain less, I sat many 
 hours under the locust trees and rocked her in my arms 
 while the bone was knitting and the tendons and 
 muscles were mending. While she was helpless, I 
 often carried her into the pantry, giving her generous 
 lumps of sugar and tastes of salt and bits of bread, all 
 of which she ate with a relish. When she was well, 
 she would often steal in alone, and with her little pink 
 nose smell out the relishes in the pantry to suit her 
 taste, causing Grandma much trouble, so at last 
 she was made to stay in the clover-field all the time. 
 
 "When we first put her there she seemed to think that 
 I must stay with her, and would stand by the gate 
 bleating. This so touched my childish love for her, that 
 often I would stay with her hours, lying on the grass, 
 or skipping my rope as she gamboled by my side, until 
 tired out she fell asleep. Then I would steal softly 
 away for a little rest." 
 
 "Did you get tired of staying with her so much, 
 Mamma?" asked Arthur. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady replied, "Sometimes I wanted 
 to do something especially for myself, and then I felt 
 it quite a cross, but her piteous bleating always con 
 quered me, and I know now that my first lesson in 
 self-sacrifice came through my care and attention to 
 this poor lamb." 
 
 "Perhaps that is what has made you so dear and 
 unselfish," said Arthur, as he crept up and snuggled 
 his hand into that of his mother. 
 
 "I wish I had a broken-legged lamb," said Harry. 
 
54 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 He was too young to understand how ridiculous this 
 wish was, but we all laughed so loudly that Harry 
 thought he had said something wrong, and so he 
 hid his face on my Beautiful Lady's shoulder. 
 
 "Let me tell you, dear children, as you grow older 
 you will find many opportunities to be kind to helpless 
 and dependent creatures, and through these acts of 
 kindness you will learn your own lessons of individual 
 unselfishness. Culture of the brain does not amount 
 to much without culture of the heart. 
 
 "There is in England a school where many kinds of 
 pets are kept, their treatment and care being made a 
 humane object-lesson for those little ones who attend. 
 A statement has been made that not one who ever 
 went to that school has been known to do a cruel 
 act or been punished for law-breaking." 
 
 "Are not English laws very strict?" asked Arthur. 
 
 "England not only 'has strict laws, but it enforces 
 them," was the answer of my Beautiful Lady. "In 
 fact," she continued, "the Americans are the least 
 law-abiding of any people. While our laws are very 
 commendable, they are less strictly enforced than in 
 other nations. '. 
 
 "England is the parent of laws which provide for 
 humane education through the school system. Nearly 
 every European nation has proved that such instruction 
 lowers the criminal record. There are now not a few 
 states that have a compulsory course of education on 
 the subject in their elementary schools, and some pro 
 vide that it shall be included in the curriculum of the 
 highest grades, and in the programs of state teachers' 
 associations." 
 
 "Yes, Mamma," said Arthur, "do you remember 
 last term how the former practice of mounting the 
 
SUMMER REST 55 
 
 gorgeously beautiful butterflies in our nature study 
 class was changed? The law protected them and 
 other insects and also birds from being thus treated, 
 even though it took but a few seconds for the poison 
 to destroy their lives. O, how we enjoyed the study 
 classes in the very woods where one saw the butter 
 flies alight upon the flowers and moss-covered logs. 
 They remained so quiet at times we could paint them 
 from life. What a blessing doing away with the old 
 custom will prove to them." 
 
 "Your tender thought for these helpless things," 
 said my Beautiful Lady, "is very commendable. But 
 the object of the humane law is twofold: the teach 
 ings of mankind to be kind to the lower order of 
 animals, and also the influence of the act of mercy itself 
 upon the conscience of the student. " 
 
 "I have often thought, Mamma, "said Arthur, "how 
 interesting stories of animals are to children, and have 
 wondered why it is that I feel so tenderly toward 
 everything when I think of Lamie, and of the white 
 hen that followed Uncle about the yard, and would 
 sit on the fence, or in the nest, if he put her there, 
 and stay quiet until he came for her. Why is it so, 
 Mamma?" 
 
 My Beautiful Lady answered Arthur by saying, "It 
 is because in every little child's life there are different 
 kinds of love over which angels are sent to keep watch. 
 One of these is love for mute and helpless things, 
 and the Angel of Mercy is the guardian of this senti 
 ment. If she is allowed to stay with the child, she 
 teaches what are called humane ideas and implants 
 feelings of tenderness and compassion for others, 
 which make one eager to relieve the sufferings of every 
 thing in distress. But it is getting late, the dew is 
 
56 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 falling, and we must go back to the house. Grandma 
 and the rest are already half-way there." 
 
 "Oh, look, Mother dear! Look at the pretty light 
 on the waterfall!" exclaimed Harry. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady called Harry's attention to the 
 change in the colors of the sky, and the soft light 
 thrown upon the water by the young moon. "It 
 reminds me," she said, "of the young and delicate 
 child, before it faces the struggles of life which develop 
 a strong well-rounded character." 
 
 Arthur wished his father, too, could see the pretty 
 scene, and my Beautiful Lady remarked, "He and I 
 used to walk here often, and he would love to be with us 
 now, I am sure." 
 
 "Why does he not come, then? asked Arthur. 
 
 "Because business cares keep him away, and some 
 times I fear we are thoughtless and do not appreciate 
 our rest and many pleasures, while he remains at home, 
 seldom taking a vacation." 
 
 "I love Papa, don't you, Mamma?" said Harry. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady caught Harry in her arms, kissed 
 his golden hair and said: 
 
 "Yes, my child, I truly do, and I want to keep ever 
 fresh an appreciation of his unselfish love for me." 
 
 By this time we had reached the house, and Arthur 
 asked to sit on the porch for a while before retiring 
 for the night. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady granted his request, saying, 
 "We will all sit here for a little while, as nature is so 
 beautiful and the air is so soft and refreshing. Uncle 
 Richie Tucker used to sit here, on this porch, when I 
 was a little girl, and take me on his knee and tell me all 
 about the stars. He would point out the different ones 
 
SUMMER REST 57 
 
 and teach me how to find them. He was a great 
 astrologer, you know." 
 
 Just at this moment the sweet notes of a guitar, 
 accompanied by voices, came from behind the lilac 
 bushes. Grandma said very softly, "It is the Lawrences 
 serenading us. We will keep very still and enjoy the 
 treat they have prepared." 
 
 When our serenaders had finished, we all clapped 
 our hands, and I ran and barked them out Mr. 
 and Mrs. Lawrence and their seven pretty children. 
 They had dressed like minstrels to give us this pretty 
 entertainment. Chairs were then placed on the lawn, 
 and they rendered more lovely music. Then Grandma 
 passed milk and cake, and while the grown folks 
 chatted, the young people played hide r and-go-seek 
 around the lilacs and honeysuckles, and I barked out 
 all those in hiding whom the others could not find. 
 
 The days at Summer Rest were not all alike, but each 
 and every one brought us sweet repose and dear lessons 
 of patience and love. 
 
 O Whippoorwill loved whippoorwill, 
 I seem to hear thy sweet notes still, 
 Which came my childish heart to fill 
 As evening's dusk fell 'cross the rill 
 Life's distanced path to-night doth thrill 
 With thy loved song, dear whippoorwill. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 POLLY AND DICK 
 
 MY dear little readers, perhaps the last pleasant 
 thoughts you had last night were after your 
 mother or the kind nurse finished a chapter in my book, 
 and now I am thinking how to-night you are gathering 
 in groups in your respective homes, some where the 
 evergreens look fresh and cheery even while the snow 
 has laid her mantle of white; others in sunny lands 
 beneath the sweet magnolia trees yes, in every place 
 and clime to listen to the lessons to be learned from 
 two wise birds. 
 
 One day my Beautiful Lady, Mrs. Porter, and I 
 went out calling, and on our way we stopped at Mrs. 
 Barrett's. Peggy, or Polly as she had been christened, 
 was a parrot of unusual interest. If any one said, 
 "Peggy, how do you do?" she would answer, "Are you 
 calling pretty Polly Barrett?" 
 
 Mrs. Barrett told us that one day a little girl came 
 to see Peggy, but insisted on calling her pretty Polly, 
 and that after the little girl's visit Peggy began calling 
 herself "Pretty Polly, Pretty Polly Barrett," and since 
 then if called "Peggy" she would shake her feathers 
 and say, "Do you want Pretty Polly?" 
 
 At last the family gave up and allowed the bird to 
 have its own way, and so it was that now the bird has 
 the new name Polly. 
 
 Mrs. Barrett also told us that each day just after 
 the clock had struck four the parrot begins calling, 
 "Nellie, pretty girl, come home," until Nellie comes in. 
 
 58 
 
POLLY AND DICK 59 
 
 Then Polly sings out, "Hang your hat on the wall, 
 get a cracker and piece of cake, and take your darling 
 out." 
 
 Nellie who is Mrs. Barrett's daughter, before prac 
 ticing her music lesson, eats a lunch, sharing it with 
 Polly, giving the bird a cracker and a piece of cake. 
 
 Just then Nellie came into the parlor and played 
 and sang for us, the bird joining in. At first the notes 
 were soft and so the bird sang low; presently the notes 
 grew plaintive, and Poll, with her head hanging down, 
 whistled like a mocking bird. Then Nellie played 
 very loud; it seemed as though the keys were bringing 
 out all of the notes at once. 
 
 Polly screamed and ran away into another room, 
 calling out, "Stop Nellie." Nellie ceased her playing 
 and everyone laughed, it was so funny. 
 
 Pretty soon Nellie called to the bird, "Come back 
 pretty Poll, and sing again." But the bird would not 
 return until Nellie began to play a soft and sweet 
 melody, and even then she did not sing with her 
 usual voice, but seemed to think the music had been 
 spoiled. 
 
 Mrs. Barrett told us that some days Polly would 
 join so often in the general conversation that some one 
 of the family would say, "Polly will you go to bed or 
 will you keep still?" To which request the bird would 
 answer, "I'll keep still," and she would for a long time. 
 
 Just as we were about to leave, Dick, the black crow, 
 passed the door. Mrs. Barrett said, "There goes quite 
 a prodigy. We think our crow displays an almost 
 human-like intelligence. He is a great study. The 
 principal characteristics of this crow are to steal and 
 to hide everything possible, and often when I have 
 been searching for the missing article, he has laughed 
 
60 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 at me in a coarse and discordant voice, showing plainly 
 that he had done this purely for mischief. Sometimes 
 he will turn a somersault as he laughs. 
 
 "The neighbors do not like him, because he pulls up 
 their vegetables and lays them in rows along the garden 
 path, and picks the bare feet of the children to see 
 them run and call 'Mamma, the crow is chasing me'." 
 
 "Evidently he does not like children," said Mrs. 
 Porter. 
 
 "I think he does," replied Mrs. Barrett, "for he 
 goes every now and then to the schoolhouse and pecks 
 one, two, three, with his beak on the door-sill; the same 
 signal he has when he wants the basement door opened 
 to get at his quiet roost. If he can, he gets into the 
 school and lights upon a desk near some child, and 
 sits quite still. The teacher soon found out that 
 he would not go out of the room until the children 
 were dismissed, and so she taught them to be quiet 
 and attend to their lessons, noticing him as little as 
 possible. While on the playground, he has run about 
 with the children and learned to call 'face tag' and 
 'I spy'." 
 
 "So many complaints had been made of him that 
 Mr. Barrett had decided to take him out to the farm. 
 The bird did not like country life at all, and the man 
 ager of the farm said it really was pitiful to see him 
 mope; he would seldom answer when any one spoke 
 to him. 
 
 "One day our delivery wagon went to the farm, and 
 soon after it returned I saw Dick in the yard. He 
 went to the kitchen door, and with his beak made 
 his usual one, two, three taps, asking to come in." 
 
 "Do you think he flew home by following the team," 
 asked Mrs. Hale. 
 
POLLY AND DICK 61 
 
 "No, he could not have done so, for his wings were 
 clipped very short. We decided he must have gotten 
 into the back of the wagon and ridden to the store. 
 From there he knew his way home, as he had often 
 gone back and forth with Nellie. He was very happy, 
 and talked constantly until he was sent to bed." 
 
 "Finding his way home was not an accident," my 
 Beautiful Lady said. 
 
 "Let me tell you one instance which certainly 
 showed wisdom," said Mrs. Barrett. "One day a 
 dog chased him about the yard, and when he was 
 cornered he turned around suddenly and screamed at 
 the dog, 'I'm going downtown'." 
 
 The ladies laughed, and Mrs. Porter asked if he had 
 said that before. "Yes, often," replied Mrs. Barrett. 
 "He would always say these words when he started 
 down the street, and this time it seemed to be wrung 
 from him as the only means of saving his life, and it 
 proved the right thing to do, for the dog ran away in 
 fright. Poor Dick, his one great fear was of a dog. 
 He has demonstrated it so many times, I can con 
 scientiously say that his words are always an evidence 
 of both feeling and wisdom." 
 
 "I do not doubt it," said Mrs. Porter. "The 
 Creator gave dumb creatures a way to show their 
 knowledge. We are so happy to notice a baby's 
 first expressions, and are so attentive to watch every 
 attempt to catch through its motions and inarticulate 
 words its every thought and wish. 
 
 "The difficulty with the so-called mute ones is 
 that we do not give them a fair chance. But those 
 who do not respect the rights of animals are not 
 appreciative of their own elevation in the creative 
 order. We are taught that we are only a little lower 
 
62 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 than the angels; the animal family only a little lower 
 than we are. In the divine plan there is a measure of 
 justice for them as well as for us." 
 
 "Yes," said my Beautiful Lady, "we speak of the 
 eyes as the 'windows of the soul/ let us speak of the 
 voice as the utterance of the soul; and without the 
 gift of the voice, who could know the depth of joy or 
 sorrow, of feeling or intelligence that dwells within 
 our souls?" 
 
 Then the ladies arose to go, thanking Mrs. Barrett 
 for the very entertaining hour they had with her in 
 her charming home. 
 
 "Now, little children, God bless you. Every morn 
 ing before you leave your mother's side, please repeat 
 our pledge of mercy, which is: 'I will be kind to all 
 living creatures, and protect them from all cruel 
 usage.' Good-night. Happy Dreams." 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 MISS GIFFORD'S ANGORAS 
 
 ON one of our trips, while my Beautiful Lady and 
 I were waiting at a hotel for the return of my 
 master and the boys, we made the acquaintance of 
 Miss Edith Gifford. We were delighted to know her 
 because she loved both children and animals. Angora 
 cats were her favorite pets, but she was so interested 
 in little children that she learned kindergarten work. 
 
 You know "kinder-garten" is a german word and 
 means "garden of little children." This gives the 
 thought of a place where children grow like tender 
 plants and flowers, while the skilled gardener care 
 fully tends them, each day uprooting the weeds and 
 replacing the spots with rarer and more beautiful kinds. 
 
 She knew if the seeds of love and mercy were im 
 planted among the attributes of other noble character 
 istics that the careless or adverse winds which might 
 blow over the garden spot in after years, could not 
 easily uproot or carry the beautiful plants away, but 
 the roots would live and grow perpetual flowers whose 
 sweetness and lasting odors would be wafted through 
 many a desert spot in the lives of all living creatures. 
 
 While the conversation concerning little children 
 seemed very entertaining, yet I pricked up my ears 
 and became more deeply interested when I heard Miss 
 Gifford say that mummied remains of the cat has been 
 found in Egyptian tombs two thousand years old, 
 and the representations in the wall paintings of that 
 period prove that the ancients made a friend of the 
 
 63 
 
64 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 cat, and that in certain places it was worshiped as 
 the symbol of the God Ptah, the Creator of Life. 
 
 You know I had been so proud of my lineage and 
 antiquity that I felt startled to learn that any other 
 animal could boast of any such blood or aristocracy 
 as I had, and I listened with marked interest as she 
 continued to describe the species found in Europe, 
 Asia and Africa, and the many varieties domesticated 
 and distinguished by name as the Angora, the Maltese, 
 the Tabby and others. 
 
 The Japanese cat has lost a good part of its tail, 
 while the Manx, unhappily, has no tail at all. One 
 theory is that some barbarians must have seized the 
 cruel idea that the cat would look more to their fancy 
 to be tailless, and so amputated the tail, until its gen 
 eration became what the poor Manx is now. 
 
 I saw the shudder pass over my Beautiful Lady 
 indicatng her delicately sensitive nature which was 
 ever moved to emotion by a conscious voice, as she 
 said she wondered if some one now should rise up 
 and declare that a foot, a hand, an eye or arm should 
 forever more be removed from the human family, 
 what would be the outcry against such a person? 
 
 It brought a vivid picture to us all and Miss Gifford 
 said that her whole heart was centered in the accom 
 plishing of this one righteous sentiment in the innocent 
 little children that some one somewhere would cry 
 out against their souls if cruelty to others, even the 
 smallest and most helpless, should be at any time 
 enacted in their lives. 
 
 I was glad to hear Miss Gifford speak of the yellow 
 cat and his mate, the Tortoise Shell, telling how they 
 descended from the Spanish cat. Then she spoke of 
 the Oriental variety, among which are the Persian 
 
MISS GIFFORD'S ANGORAS 65 
 
 and Angora groups, so silken and long-haired, conceded 
 to be the most beautiful of the cat race. They dis 
 play varieties of color, but the snow white seems the 
 most beautiful of all. The great ruff about their 
 necks grows sometimes ten inches long while the tail 
 is like a beautiful plume. Their eyes are remarkably 
 gentle in expression and their dispositions amiable, 
 and they are very intellectual. 
 
 I was pleased to learn that cats have certain char 
 acteristics, the same as dogs and people, and that one 
 particular one is their true love for home; that they 
 have died from homesickness when left deserted. 
 
 Some people think it bad luck to move a cat when 
 they move; but Miss Gifford said she thought it much 
 more reasonable to believe that bad luck would come 
 to those who left poor helpless cats behind to suffer 
 and starve and die. 
 
 Then my Beautiful Lady said that whenever she 
 saw a dirty, wretched street cat, she always thought 
 of some one whose soul-growth had been crippled, 
 because of their unjust act toward this defenseless 
 creature. 
 
 "Speaking of the home love of cats," said Miss Giff 
 ord, "I knew a family who had a yellow Angora. 
 They arranged at a side porch door a tinkling bell 
 with string attached so that * Persia' could pull the 
 string and so ring the bell when she wished to enter. 
 This family moved to another city eighty-five miles 
 away and took Persia with them. She was too home 
 sick to eat, even with the family about her. One 
 morning she was missing. They searched everywhere 
 for her. Even advertising did not reveal her seclusion 
 A week later the postman brought a letter with news 
 that Persia had arrived and announced herself, not 
 
66 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 by a card to the maid, but by ringing most vigorously 
 her own doorbell, at the same time calling 'Meow' 
 'meow* in most piteous tones, and whoever heard a 
 mournful, doleful wail that could compare with the 
 sorrowful appeal of pussy in her * unearthly' Meow? 
 
 "I also knew a manx cat whose name was 'Baby.' 
 His long fur was a jet black which glistened with the 
 electric sparks from his very magnetic body. His two 
 great eyes were a lazy green, but O so brilliant. When 
 he walked he had a very aristocratic poise with his 
 head, and perfect demeanor, which showed the blood 
 he truly was. 
 
 "The one he liked best, and the only one that he 
 showed particular affection for, was Miss Jennie, the 
 young lady to whom he was a birthday gift. Each 
 morning when the clock struck eight, Baby would 
 climb the stairs to his mistress' room, and pouncing 
 upon her bed he would begin his frolic to awaken her 
 for their usual morning play spell. 
 
 " His body was so long that often when Miss Jennie 
 went to a neighbor's on a very cold day, Baby was 
 wound about her neck and he would cuddle his head 
 close to her throat to keep her warm, as though he 
 were a lynx fur instead of a live black manx. On 
 these occasions he would purr his softest songs, per 
 haps with one paw laid affectionately against her cheek. 
 
 " One day Miss Jennie went for a visit, leaving Baby 
 at home. He wandered from room to room, crying 
 his plantive 'Meow.' When the usual hour came 
 when it was his habit to waken her, he went to her bed 
 and nearly tore the coverings in pieces in his frantic 
 attempt to find her dear form sleeping, and yet waking 
 to give him his morning play and exercise. 
 
 "Poor Baby. He cared very little for food, and be- 
 
MISS GIFFORD'S ANGORAS 67 
 
 fore the family realized his condition, he lay down on 
 the rug and with his last faint 'Meow* fell into his 
 last sleep." 
 
 "How strange," said Mrs. Field, a lady who sat 
 near us and had become interested in the conversation, 
 "that people have been so dumb and so slow in recog 
 nizing the almost more than human affection which 
 our nursery pets have for those to whom they can be 
 come attached." 
 
 "I think it is not so much that people have been 
 so slow," said my Beautiful Lady, "as it is that some 
 where there has been a broken strand between the 
 feline race and the human race. There is much in an 
 cient history to teach us that in this regard we are more 
 the barbarian toward pussy than were those of the 
 barbaric age. " 
 
 "I am reminded now," said Miss Gifford, "of a 
 kitten named 'Calico' who certainly disliked children, 
 even the one little girl of her household. The kitten 
 would scratch and spit and perch up her back if the 
 little girl came near her, just as she would have done 
 in terror of a dog. Calico had been punished not a 
 few times for such conduct, for not the little girl, but 
 kitten was the offender. 
 
 "A very remarkable thing occurred. One day the 
 little girl struck pussy. The mother wishing to teach 
 her daughter that it was as wrong for her to harm 
 pussy as for pussy to harm her, began inflicting a 
 slight punishment upon her child. Suddenly pussy 
 sprang upon the mother, taking the little girl's part. 
 After that, there came a perfect harmony and com 
 panionship between the pussy cat and the little girl." 
 
 This reminded me of one I knew and if you will 
 pardon my interruption, I shold like to tell you about 
 
68 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "Son." who was only a common breed cat, but he 
 looked wise and he was. When he wished to go out 
 he always went to the door, stood on his hind feet 
 while with one paw he would work at the door-knob, 
 talking in his low conversational way until some one 
 noticed and opened the door. He always expressed 
 his hunger by the same sign at the pantry door. 
 
 One of his chief delights had been to get into a clothes 
 closet for a long nap. While he had been strictly 
 forbidden this treat, he showed human nature in 
 persisting ever to have his own way, and at times would 
 work a long time at the door-knob, using one paw, 
 then changing by stretching to a more difficult position 
 of using two paws. One very remarkable thing, he 
 never called any one to help him when trying the 
 closet door, but worked in silence until tired out. 
 
 To show how deeply he could express like or dislike, 
 he expressed a real devotion toward one person only. 
 That was the grandmamma of his home. She did not 
 live in the home, but came frequently for a few days 
 or weeks. Son would leap and play about her when 
 she came, just as I did with delight around my Beau 
 tiful Lady, and his "Meows" were really musical 
 while he would go from one to another of the family, 
 talking to them in his cat language of accent in word 
 expression until they felt he said, "I'm so glad grand 
 mamma has come." While she was there, he never 
 went to sleep without finding her shoe or slipper or 
 some garment which he hugged in his arms as he slept, 
 and one day he managed to get her beautiful velvet 
 coat down and was found sleeping in that. 
 
 Then my Beautiful Lady said that among the char 
 acteristics of the cats, she had noticed them to be 
 romantic, esthetic and sensitive beyond all other 
 
'SAe spoib o/ our .Swou- #a#, wAo loved flowers, but plainly expressed his 
 preference for hyacinths." 
 
MISS GIFFORD'S ANGORAS 69 
 
 animals. One of the most marked and most beautiful 
 is their love of nature especially flowers, for she had 
 often noticed them in flower gardens and conserva 
 tories, to go smelling yet never destroying the blos 
 soms. 
 
 She spoke of our Snow Ball who loved flowers, but 
 plainly expressed his preference for hyacinths. He 
 often sat with delight amidst these sweet favorites, 
 talking his pleasure, and smelling them again and 
 again. Once we found him sleeping in a very large urn 
 which held several specimens. 
 
 I thought of how I loved the sweet arbutus beds 
 and how, when far away from them, I had loved to 
 even dream of resting my tired body there again. 
 And why should not cats and dogs enjoy the perfume 
 of the flowers when that joy or pleasure can only come 
 through the sense of smell? And not in any kind of 
 Creation is that organ so developed as in the faithful 
 companions of the home. 
 
 Their conversation then drifted to the playfulness 
 of little kittens. How they imitate every sport and 
 pastime of girls and boys; hide and go seek around 
 the lilac and honeysuckle bushes; wrestling; boxing; 
 games of their own with the ball; climbing trees; and 
 they were sorry to say how sometimes untutored cats 
 and kittens, like children, chase and harm little birds 
 and butterflies. 
 
 Miss Gifford told many instances of cats that have 
 expressed human-like intelligence. One was of Dante 's 
 pet, who sat upon the table beside him holding a candle 
 that the great poet, her master, might have light as he 
 wrote on his famous story, "The Inferno." 
 
 She told of cats who have sat with kings, and re 
 ceived both reverence and honor as the court people 
 
70 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 passed around the throne, and a long list of eminent 
 persons who have shown adoration for this most in 
 tuitive of dumb creatures. 
 
 I was so glad to listen to the very many instances 
 they, related about those humane-hearted and noble 
 minded people, who by some extraordinary act had 
 given a noted instance for all the world to think of, 
 where they had expressed their love, mercy and devo 
 tion to the feline race. 
 
 My dear little readers, have you ever heard softer 
 tones or sweeter notes than the cradle song of pussy 
 pur-ring, pur-ring as she lay cuddled close beside you 
 for a nap? When you hear her peaceful, soulful music 
 unlike all other kinds, let it bind your heart and hers 
 together with a sympathy which can never die. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 A TEA PARTY 
 
 THERE have been many tea parties given in honor 
 of ladies, but I know of only one that particularly 
 interested me, perhaps because it proved to be an honor 
 to me. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady was spending a few days with 
 a neighbor who had moved to another city. I had been 
 allowed to accompany her. While we were at this 
 friend's house a tea party was given for us. Mrs. Dame 
 was the name of our hostess a woman whose nature 
 was so cheery and mirthful that one never felt blue 
 in her company. I do not know how many guests 
 were invited, but there was a long table in the dining- 
 room and not a vacant chair. I was the only dog 
 present, and Mrs. Dame said that such a well-behaved 
 creature as I was, might take my place with the guests. 
 
 The ladies had a very pleasant time chatting and eat 
 ing, but I did not take much interest in anything, until 
 I was called out into the kitchen to have my portion. 
 
 Aunt Hattie broiled for me a beefsteak, and I had 
 a splendid meal. When I went back into the parlor 
 there were several gentlemen present who were not 
 there when I left. My Beautiful Lady called out, 
 "Here she comes now! Fanny, these people wish you 
 to shake hands with them." I never like to do tricks 
 or appear as a circus performer, but I did want to be 
 polite, so I gave my paw for a shake. Then I lay 
 down behind her chair, and heard the ladies and 
 gentlemen tell some wonderful things about dogs. 
 
 71 
 
72 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "I believe dogs remember some things as long as 
 they live," began my Beautiful Lady. "For instance, 
 they recognize their masters, from whom they have 
 been separated for years. I recall now one instance of 
 Fanny's memory. The fall that she was three years 
 old Arthur tried to teach her to draw him on his 
 sled. I did not favor the idea, as Fanny was very 
 unwilling to be harnessed. She was also very slender, 
 and I was afraid she was not strong enough, so I 
 told Arthur that he must not annoy her any more. 
 A year later, when the first snow came, my young son 
 said to me, as he left the dinner-table, 'Mamma, I 
 think it is too bad not to let me teach Fanny to draw 
 my sled. Some of the other boys have harnessed their 
 dogs and take great pleasure in riding behind them. 
 Please let me try her this afternoon.' 
 
 "As she was now a year older I consented, provided 
 she submitted willingly. Arthur had kept the harness 
 made on the former attempt to drive her, and when 
 he brought it into the room and called her to come to 
 him and be harnessed, instead of obeying, as she 
 usually did, she crossed the room and went under the 
 couch upon which I was resting. Arthur got a piece 
 of chicken from the table, hoping to coax her from her 
 hiding-place. I said nothing for a few minutes, but 
 when I was satisfied she would not come out unless 
 compelled, I told Arthur she remembered the attempt 
 a year before to harness her; that no doubt she had her 
 reasons for not wanting to play horse, and he must give 
 up the idea until he could have a dog better fitted for 
 the work. Then I called Fanny and told her she 
 need not go unless she wished to. Instantly her tail 
 went whack, whack, on the floor, and she drew 
 her body forward, so that her eyes were visible from 
 
A TEA PARTY 73 
 
 under the lounge. As I again assured her, she came 
 out, and if any person could have expressed more in 
 words than she did in actions how she appreciated 
 my protection, then I do not understand dog language." 
 
 When my Beautiful Lady finished telling this true 
 incident of my life, I kissed her hand an expression of 
 thankfulness. 
 
 Mrs. Corwith, one of the ladies, said, "I should like 
 to tell you of a dog that the Major and I owned by the 
 name Dash. He was a full-blooded setter, and a most 
 faithful animal. We let a friend of ours, who was 
 moving to Iowa, have him. He was taken on the train 
 to Charles City. There he was left, for a time, with 
 some other friends of ours, and they chained him, but 
 he broke loose and made a bee-line for home. He swam 
 the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, reaching our 
 home completely exhausted. When we first saw him, 
 he was lying under my husband's desk. His feet were 
 badly swollen, and indeed he was sadly changed in 
 many ways from our dear dog Dash. 
 
 "We also had a little dog named Skip, which I 
 should like to tell you of said the Major. By some 
 mistake he was left in Merrimac, where my wife and 
 I took the train for Reedsburg. The little dog followed 
 the train as far as we could see him from the rear car. 
 I felt very badly about this affair, but was quite happy 
 when a lady, who was also aboard the train, said to me, 
 'I live in Merrimac, and when I return this evening I 
 will try to find your dog, and if I do I will send him to 
 you by express.' I had little faith that I would ever 
 see Skip again, but was, however, thankful to the 
 lady for her kind offer. 
 
 "Upon the lady's return, she found Skip still waiting 
 in the depot; she took him home for the night. He 
 
74 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 would neither eat nor sleep, but kept up a pitiful 
 whining. In the morning Skip's friend put him into 
 a nice clean box and sent him to us at Reedsburg." 
 
 Mr. Smith always enjoyed telling stories, and he 
 began by saying, "In filling my place in this 'stage of 
 life' where dogs may take their part, I shall tell you of 
 a black-and-tan terrier owned by a friend of mine, 
 Mr. Swick, of Fort Collins. 
 
 "A traveling man, who was quite a dog-fancier, was 
 determined to own this little fellow, and at last he 
 made an offer of one hundred dollars, which was 
 accepted. The dog was taken a distance of over two 
 thousand miles. He remained six months with his 
 new master and traveled from place to place with 
 him. 
 
 "Then it happened that a trip was taken to Denver, 
 when the traveling man became separated from the 
 dog. Not being able to find him, our traveling friend 
 took the train for Fort Collins, some seventy miles 
 distant. When he reached the home of Mr. Swick, 
 he reported the loss of the dog, and said: 'If he comes 
 back to his old home, which I am inclined to think he 
 will, I shall not claim him. A dog so faithful and 
 intelligent shall remain with those for whom he has 
 grieved so much.' Mr. Swick gave a low whistle and 
 the dog came sneaking out from another room and 
 crouched at his old master's feet." 
 
 "This is getting to be very interesting," exclaimed 
 our hostess. "Won't you tell us another story, Mr. 
 Smith?" 
 
 "Oh, yes," he replied. "A friend of mine owned a 
 Scotch Collie named Sam. One evening Sam was 
 missing. The following day one of the farm hands, 
 chancing to pass to the further end of the field, found 
 
A TEA PARTY 75 
 
 a fence down. In the gap lay Sam, keeping back the 
 cattle which were pasturing in the adjoining field. 
 The farm-keeper's wife had a little baby, and when she 
 put it in its cradle Sam would rock it gently with 
 his paw. When the babe was restless, he would rock 
 harder until it lay quiet again. He loved little chil 
 dren." 
 
 "I believe that all dogs would show very marked 
 intelligence if better opportunities were shown them, 
 and more attention were given to their education," 
 our hostess said. 
 
 "I once knew a cute Scotch Collie," said Mrs. Scott. 
 "When dinner time came he would be given a bell, 
 which he would take in his mouth and going near the 
 men in the field would ring it until they would swing 
 their hats in answer; then he would trot back to the 
 house and give the bell to his mistress." 
 
 Then a tall, nice-looking lady said, " I never owned a 
 dog, or felt much interest in one until to-night, but 
 I have read of the training of dogs and have seen their 
 acting upon the stage." 
 
 "If anything can go beyond Fanny, let us hear it," 
 said Mrs. Dame. 
 
 "All right," said the lady, "A little dog named 
 Mexico, but called Mex for short, was required, season 
 after season, to play the part of Rip's dog in Rip Van 
 Winkle. Mex heartily enjoyed the scene in which 
 she strolled about the stage at Rip's heels, and entered 
 with great zest into that scene where she played with 
 little Meenie and Heindrick; but one part she detested, 
 and that was where Gretchen leaves her washtub, 
 and Rip takes up little Mex, dips her into the soapsuds 
 and gives her a scrub or two on the washboard. She 
 would watch the play closely, and when she heard 
 
76 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 her cue for this part she would never fail to run away 
 and hide." The tall, nice-looking lady continued: 
 "The beautiful little pug, named Beauty, the property 
 of Mrs. Kendall, took part in the play, *A Fool and 
 His Money.' In one portion of it she had to sit 
 in her mistress' lap and eat candy. In another scene 
 she performed clever little tricks. All this she liked 
 to do, and was always promptly in the flies awaiting 
 her cue, but when the scene occurred in which she 
 had to be suspended by a strap, she would take par 
 ticular pains to be in some out-of-the-way place where 
 it was difficult to find her." 
 
 And there was still another story by the tall, 
 nice-looking lady. It was about a Spanish poodle, 
 owned by Alice Wallace Villa, and used in "The World 
 Against Her." "This dog was eager to go on, for she 
 knew a chicken bone was awaiting her after the act. 
 Upon one or two occasions, however, the child Ned 
 had forgotten to bring the bone. Because of this over 
 sight, before he would perform Peko would walk de 
 liberately over to the little boy to assure himself that 
 the bone was really on hand. In that same company 
 was a Mexican hairless dog called Oyez. He, too, had 
 taken part in several plays, but was not needed in this 
 particular one, except as Peko's understudy. He 
 was present, though, at every performance, and would 
 watch Peko from a trunk tray in which he was kept. 
 Oyez was extremely jealous of Peko and when his scene 
 came on, he would clamber from the trunk and station 
 himself at the entrance to see Peko act. There he 
 would sit snarling in an undertone, trying to intimidate 
 her." 
 
 As the tall, nice-looking lady did not continue, our 
 hostess asked her if she could not tell another dog 
 
A TEA PARTY 77 
 
 story. Looking at a gentleman who sat next to her, 
 she said, "I have told more than my share, and I 
 know that Mr. Henry is impatiently waiting, so I pass 
 on the compliment to him." 
 
 "Thank you," said Mrs. Dame; "it is pleasant to 
 hear from one who has seen these dogs in their several 
 parts." 
 
 Mr. Henry bowed an acknowledgment and said, 
 "I recall one Jocko, a fine white bull-terrier owned 
 by a widow that I know. It would be impossible to 
 describe the human-like thoughtfulness this dog in 
 his constant companionship gave to his lonely mistress. 
 
 "To ascertain how capable he was in sensing deepest 
 feelings of sorrow or delight, his mistress would 
 throw her apron over her face and sob, giving expres 
 sion to deepest grief. Jocko would leap upward, and, 
 with his paws and nose, try to pull away the apron, 
 and actually moan, rubbing his face against hers in 
 an attempt to comfort her. Presently she would 
 drop the apron and begin laughing, when Jocko would 
 change the tones of his barking and leap playfully 
 over chairs and about the room, expressing his joy in dog 
 fashion to every one present. 
 
 "Another proof of Jocko's positive affection was 
 shown in his loving nature for babies, dolls, and Teddy 
 bears. He was a very obedient dog, with one excep 
 tion. If he saw a baby carriage on the street, it was 
 of no use to call him back, for he would not stop until 
 he had looked into the carriage. As surely as a doll 
 or Teddy was there, he waited until no one was looking 
 and then snatched it and ran. 
 
 "If he saw children playing on the lawn, he would 
 join them, apparently having the best of a time, until 
 he could snatch one of those pets in his teeth and then 
 
78 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 away home as fast as possible with it. His favorite 
 place to keep them was on the parlor couch. The 
 children always knew where to go for their lost pets, 
 and many times he was accused and made to give up 
 his much coveted treasure. " 
 
 "I am glad my turn has come," said Mrs. Skimner, 
 "for I wish to tell at least one of the marked demon 
 strations of memory in my own little dog Bessie. The 
 first summer that I owned her, I took her to our farm 
 for a vacation. She went with me to look for eggs, for 
 I was childlike enough to love to search the hens' nests. 
 Bess soon learned why I went about in the tall grass 
 and the barns, and it was not very long until she would 
 run ahead, and when she found an egg, bring it to me 
 unbroken. The second summer I again took her with 
 me,' and we had only just disposed of our baggage 
 when Bess came up to me with an egg in her mouth, 
 wagging her tail with great delight. I patted her head 
 and thanked her. In a few moments she returned 
 with another, and it became a contest as to who was the 
 best egg hunter, and I must confess that Bess by far 
 excelled me." 
 
 "Mr. Frank," said our hostess, "you are next on 
 our informal programme, and as you are an extensive 
 traveler, perhaps you will tell us something of the 
 dogs in far away countries." 
 
 Mr. Frank replied, "I can tell you of my little 
 Teddy that I got some years ago while on my trip to 
 Mexico. He was the smallest dog I ever saw, and if 
 it had not been for his long silken hair I would not 
 have known how to hold him. The man who 
 owned him said he was not worth keeping, and was 
 making arrangements to drown him. The little 
 creature looked at me with so appealing an expression 
 
' The children always knew where to go for their lost pets. 
 
A TEA PARTY 79 
 
 that I asked the man to give him to me. He laughed at 
 my sentiment for the sickly thing, but said I was 
 welcome to him, then added that I ought to give the 
 boy a dollar, for that was what he was to get for drown 
 ing the dog. I could not agree to pay anything for 
 an act which I felt was in the nature of a crime. I told 
 him I would, however, call on the boy's mother, and 
 if I found him needy, would give him something. The 
 boy and I, carrying Teddy between us wrapped up in a 
 piece of cloth, went on our way. After talking with 
 the mother, who was indeed very poor, I gave her 
 twenty-five dollars, for which she was very thankful. 
 
 "On my way back to the hotel I bought a very small 
 basket, a roll of cotton, and a few yards of soft silk, 
 and taking the tiny two weeks' old puppy and the 
 articles to the maid in the hotel, I told her I would pay 
 her well if she would care for the wretched little thing. 
 
 "With good care, medical treatment, and proper 
 food, he pulled along slowly, until he became very 
 active, and gave signs that he was truly glad to live. 
 
 "I wish I could make you understand how grateful 
 he was to me, or that I had time to tell you the many 
 ways through which he plainly expressed his gratitude, 
 and how, as the months went by, he became pathetically 
 attached to me. When I returned to my home, I 
 carried Teddy with me, and my grandfather became 
 very fond of him and taught him many tricks. 
 
 "He several times accompanied me on my short 
 trips. But there came a day when I must journey far 
 away. It was too far for him to go. To me it was 
 sad, for I knew Teddy would grieve, and I would 
 be lonely. I felt the coming separation keenly and 
 thought once I must take him, but it was really impos 
 sible. But he sensed the meaning of my preparations, 
 
80 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 and when I told him that he could not go, he would 
 moan piteously. Try to think, dear friends, how I felt, 
 when at the last hour on going to close my valise 
 there lay Teddy on my clothing. Tenderly I lifted him 
 out, while he resisted strenuously. 
 
 "I tried to tell him in a cheery way how I would return 
 to him, but he would not be comforted. I left the room 
 for a few moments, and on my return found him again 
 lying in my valise. This was most touching to me, and 
 necessitated the most painful act I had been called 
 upon to perform. 
 
 "Lifting him again, I said, 'Teddy, I cannot take you 
 with me.' He moaned piteously up into my face. 
 There were actual tears in his eyes and sobs in his 
 throat, and in mine, too. I held him closely in my arms 
 for a moment, and then gave him to my grandfather, 
 whom he also loved. When I was gone he refused all 
 food, even the coffee he liked so much. It was not long 
 until grief caused his heart to cease those beats which 
 move with breath of life." 
 
 Mr. Frank used his handkerchief, and then I saw oh 
 so many use theirs. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady patted my head, and as some one 
 must break the sad silence, she said, "Fanny decided to 
 attend church services when she was about three years 
 old, and one Sunday morning we found her sitting 
 on the church steps. She knew she was doing wrong, 
 for when she saw me she put her head down in her 
 quiet way and looked at me as if to say, 'Don't 
 send me home,' but I resisted her pleadings and bade 
 her go. 
 
 "The next Sunday we thought it best to look her up 
 and see that she did not follow us, but behold she could 
 not be found. I suspected she had gone before us, 
 
A TEA PARTY 81 
 
 as on the previous Sunday, and expected to find her at 
 the church door, but she was not there. 
 
 "As I entered my pew there was Fanny, lying 
 stretched out at full length. She lifted her pleading 
 eyes to mine, and gazed at me as if saying, * Please 
 let me stay, I will be very still.' The service had begun, 
 so I allowed her to remain." 
 
 "Did you let Fanny go to church again?" asked 
 Mrs. Cor with. 
 
 "No, for I felt she might disturb the people, and I 
 gave her a good chiding when we returned home." 
 
 "Do you believe she understood you?" asked 
 someone. 
 
 "I know she did," answered my Beautiful Lady, 
 "for she never followed me to church again." 
 
 "Fanny is truly a wonderful dog," said Aunt Hattie. 
 "I never saw but one other like her. That was my 
 little Timmie, " and she gave a sigh. 
 
 Mr. Brown told of a dog which was his companion 
 and friend in his boyhood days on the farm. It was 
 late in November, the wind blew cold, and all hands 
 were busy on a Saturday trying to husk the last of the 
 corn before the storm broke. A gap had been let 
 down in the fence to drive through, and Carlo had 
 taken his place to guard it, that no stock from the 
 common might get into the field. It was late when 
 the last one drove through, and in his hurry, he did not 
 stop to put up the fence. After supper, Mrs. Brown 
 failed to find the dog when she came to throw out his 
 supper, and asked after him, but no one seemed to re 
 member that he had taken upon himself to guard the 
 gap. Sunday passed, and there was much concern 
 for the dog; but on Monday, when the teams reached 
 the gap to bring out the last loads, there lay Carlo, 
 
82 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 shivering in the cold, but refusing to leave his post of 
 duty. The teams inside, the fence was built up and 
 Carlo was sent home to get his breakfast. That he 
 lay there from Saturday morning till Monday morning 
 in a northeast November wind without food or exer 
 cise, because he felt that duty called, made him still 
 more the honored one of the family; and his faithful 
 ness was more than once the theme, when one had 
 failed somewhat of his full duty. 
 
 "Mr. Ellin wood has some very fine dog stories," 
 said the Major. 
 
 "This is surely dogs' day," said Mrs. Dame. "Let 
 us hear from you, Mr. Ellin wood." 
 
 "There have been such wonderful stories told," said 
 Mr. Ellinwood, "I am afraid mine will sound tame. 
 However, the dog I owned was an old shepherd dog, 
 called Carlo and he was a continual surprise to me. I 
 kept considerable stock on my farm, and when I pur 
 chased a new horse, hog, cow, or sheep, Carlo would 
 see that it was put into the right pasture, and would 
 separate it from the rest and watch it until he was 
 told that all was right. If any animal died, he would 
 call attention to it. The most disturbed I ever saw him 
 was on the arrival of some little pigs. He was very 
 much perplexed until we told him they were in the 
 right place." 
 
 "I knew of a tramp dog," said Mr. Grace, "who lived 
 on passenger trains. He would watch a train pull 
 into a station and board the express car every time. 
 When he got tired he would jump off and come back 
 on the next train. There was one thing peculiar about 
 him; he would never go over the line of a certain 
 division, but lived on one section, and knew his engines 
 and and coaches as well as did the trainmen, he never 
 
A TEA PARTY 83 
 
 missed being on the train to get his three meals a day. 
 The train men learned to like him, and always carried 
 a little extra in their lunch pails for old Bob, the 
 train tramp." 
 
 Miss Mabel then told of a dog named "Captain," 
 owned by her uncle. "He would follow the farm-hand 
 at milking time, and when the man was nearly through 
 would bring the cats ' dish in his mouth and set it down 
 to be filled. He would also bring another dish for a 
 small dog friend. He would then sit down and wait 
 until the cats and her canine friend were through. If 
 any milk was left, he would lap it and then carry the 
 dishes back to the milk-house for the maid to wash 
 them with her other dishes. " 
 
 "I have a water spaniel named 'Victory,* " said the 
 lady sitting next, "who refuses to sit on the floor, even 
 on the softest rug. When she was a puppy, I often 
 put her on a chair beside me to keep her contented or 
 from crying. As she grew older, I allowed her to sit 
 in a chair. Now whenever she comes into the house, if 
 there is not a vacant chair for her, she goes about look 
 ing into the face of each one, whining softly. If she does 
 not receive a response to her asking, she will go into 
 another room, or the yard, or into her own kennel. " 
 
 " Now," said one of the gentlemen, " we will hear from 
 our hostess who is on all occasions a famous story teller." 
 
 "Well, I am not famous on dog stories, for I never 
 owned one or cared for any one in particular except 
 Fanny. I beg to be excused this time." 
 
 " O, no, a story from you, Mrs. Dame, " was acclaimed 
 from several. 
 
 "If I must to please my guests, I will, and as I know 
 that Aunt Hattie has been longing to tell about Timmie 
 or 'Choreboy' as she often called him, I will tell one 
 
84 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 for her. Really, Choreboy waited upon his mistress 
 so much that I scarcely know what to tell. 
 
 "I recall now how one day she asked him if he would 
 please get a broom for her that was in another room. 
 He quickly obeyed, but as he held it at about the center 
 of the handle, it prevented his passing the door. He 
 tugged at the broom for a few moments, then he laid 
 it down and sat looking, with head on one side, in the 
 attitude of thinking. He got the thought all right, 
 for jumping up and catching hold of one end of the 
 broom he ran through the door, laid it at Aunt Hattie 's 
 feet, showing his delight very plainly, as though he had 
 said, 'Am I not a wise dog?' I suppose this was an 
 example of reasoning power. " 
 
 "An excellent story," said Mr. Ellen wood, "and 
 also an example of what usefulness dogs can become 
 to their human friends, especially when they are fortu 
 nate in having a teacher with the patience and good- will 
 that we all know Aunt Hattie possesses. " 
 
 "Well, good wife," said the Major, "if we take the 
 early train to morrow morning, as we have planned to do, 
 we must bid our host and hostess good-night. I regret 
 to leave this very pleasant circle of friends, and to forego 
 the pleasure of further discussion concerning this sub 
 ject, which is of great interest to both of us, I am sure." 
 
 "Yes, indeed," exclaimed Mrs. Corwith. "I have 
 found that during all the years of our married life, 
 our animal friends have been a vital factor in our home- 
 making. Every one that we have owned has been 
 associated with our children, to whom we have taught 
 kindness and protection to all dumb creatures." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady said, "As for me, I would give 
 nothing for a man's religion whose cat and dog and 
 horse were not the better for it." 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 
 
 IT was a few days past the middle of August when 
 we returned to our delightful home this year. We 
 had all brought back with us the memory of many 
 pleasant events which would not be easily forgotten. 
 Yet home had never seemed quite so dear, and each one 
 took up their daily routine with renewed enthusiasm. 
 
 My master was truly a home-maker, and always 
 during our absence he would make some changes. This 
 time he had certainly reveled in his own fancies, and 
 we found it quite a study to discover all the different 
 things he had done; and my Beautiful Lady and all 
 pronounced our home more charming than ever, and 
 many appreciative ways were employed to express 
 their gratitude to him. 
 
 But before the excitement of the home-coming was 
 quite over, the school days opened, and it was near 
 the very first day that Harry came in and said, 
 
 "What do you think, mamma? We are going to 
 have Bird Day, just like Arbor Day, Washington's 
 Birthday, and Fourth of July. " 
 
 "Not exactly like all of those days, dear. Like 
 Arbor Day is right, because that day is set apart for 
 the schools to observe, and Bird Day would be the 
 same, only its object-lesson would be different. But 
 Washington's Birthday and the Fourth of July are 
 legal holidays, when everybody joins in the celebration. " 
 
 "But, mamma, ought not all the people to celebrate 
 Bird Day?" asked Arthur. 
 
 85 
 
86 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "Certainly, and especially parents; for to many of 
 them it would be as instructive as to their children, 
 and it would add the strength of home teaching to 
 that of the schools in blessing the nation." 
 
 Harold and Ward had come in with Arthur, and Ward 
 asked, "Mrs. French, what is the object of Bird Day?" 
 
 "The two greatest objects are: first, that the 
 children may learn the vast number of varieties of 
 bird families; and, as species of life have been studied, 
 there are no species created which produce the al 
 most endless classification as do the birds. 
 
 "Their plumage has been dipped in every known 
 color of the earth and sky, and only the flowers can 
 compare with them in lending a marvelous beauty to 
 our world. 
 
 "The second object is to teach the inestimable 
 value of birds to the whole world. With such wonder 
 ful knowledge brought to the student mind, no doubt 
 the merciless slaughter of birds for fashion's votaries 
 and cruel pastime would be ended, for when Reason 
 once enters Wisdom 's room in the mind of a child, there 
 is small doubt that her cause will not be justly cared 
 for. 
 
 "Scientists say that without the birds, human life 
 would become extinct. " 
 
 "Why, how could that be, mamma?" asked Harry. 
 
 "It would be, my child, because all birds eat in 
 sects, and many kinds live entirely upon them. Those 
 birds are called insectivorous. The little English 
 Creeper has eyes so sharp it can see insects smaller 
 than can the human eye without the aid of a magni 
 fying glass." 
 
 "Of what good is it for the birds to eat the insects?" 
 asked Ward. 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 87 
 
 "We could not live if our lungs were to breathe in 
 all the insects. The birds purify the air before it 
 enters our lungs, " said my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "Are the insects of no use, Mrs. French?" asked 
 Harold. 
 
 "O, yes indeed. The larger ones take up much 
 of the poisonous matter in the air, making themselves 
 also a benefit to all other living creatures. 
 
 "Beside their aid to our lives, they also are an aid 
 to the work of the wind in carrying pollen from flower 
 to flower. Their work is more perfect than the 
 wind, because they dip into the flower, leaving this 
 mellow dust of flower life down deep in its very heart. 
 Most exquisite perfume and beautiful new varieties 
 of flowers have come about by the work of the in 
 sects. " 
 
 "Then, mamma, is it not wrong for the birds to eat 
 the insects?" asked Arthur. 
 
 "It is not more wrong for birds to live on insects 
 than for people to live on the flesh of the animal king 
 dom. Besides, the insects multiply so rapidly that 
 nothing could live if they were never destroyed ex 
 cept by their natural death. Scientists claim that 
 all life comes through the vicarious law." 
 
 "What does vicarious mean, mamma? " asked Harry. 
 
 "It is a subject too deep for me to fully explain to 
 you now, dear child, but it is a creative law which 
 brings a line of sacrifice that runs through all life. " 
 
 "Last summer," said Harold, "when our club of 
 boys tented on Farmer Brown's land, he told us we 
 must not shoot or harm his hawks. He said that 
 there are twenty-nine different varieties of hawks and 
 owls which are a benefit to the farmers. He also told 
 us that whenever they catch a hen, she is nearly al- 
 
88 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 ways a lame one, or one that is diseased and it is better 
 for the rest of the flock. " 
 
 "All feathered kind are wise in all their ways, far 
 more than they are given credit for, and in times of 
 peril there is very, very much that can be told or writ 
 ten which shows their reasoning powers," said my 
 Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "O yes," said Ward, "don't you remember, Harold, 
 that white hen, Bida? She had her nest of little chicks 
 down in Mr. Brown's orchard. One night after every 
 body had retired, something struck the door and then 
 we heard an awful cackling. Mr. Brown opened the 
 door and Bida flew in. She ran up to Mr. Brown's 
 feet, giving a warning call, and cackling with much 
 excitement. 
 
 "Mr. Brown took his lantern and followed her to 
 her nest. One of the chickens was gone. Mr. Brown 
 got a basket and put the rest of the chicks in and start 
 ed for the house, Bida following, but she did not cackle 
 any more, for she seemed to know that her little ones 
 were being cared for. 
 
 "The basket was taken into the house, and Bida 
 walked in, too, and brooded her chickens until morn 
 ing. After that Bida brought her brood up to the door 
 every night, and they were put in the basket until 
 they were older. Mr. Brown could go up to Bida any 
 time and pick her up; she had no fear of him whatever." 
 
 "But I was more interested," said Harold, "in the 
 canaries that Mrs. Brown told us about: Cato and 
 Dido. They had made their springtime nest, and a 
 few days later two small sea-green eggs were found 
 resting in the nest. Dido settled down contentedly 
 over her eggs, and Cato kept busy with his songs and 
 the careful feeding of his little wife. 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 89 
 
 "A week later Dido flew off the nest one morning 
 to refresh her little body, and one more egg had been 
 added to the number. In a few moments she re 
 turned to her charge, and sat on quietly another 
 week, and then one little shell broke which freed a 
 bird life to the world. 
 
 "The next morning another shell burst open and 
 the second fledgling awoke. Dido still remained up 
 on her nest, brooding their two little ones, and Cato 
 with his cheerful songs and constant attention to his 
 family portrayed the domestic loyalty of the once 
 famous Roman for whom he was named. 
 
 "A week later came the birth of the third, but 
 this birdie was late in his arrival, and, as canary ha 
 bits are to rear more than one set of fledglings dur 
 ing their nesting period, Cato and Dido prepared for 
 laying their next eggs. This occasioned disturbance 
 in the bird home, and the two stronger ones left the 
 nest, and the weaker one was thrown out. 
 
 "Mrs. Brown said that she tried to feed him the 
 yolk of an egg, but it was difficult for a human hand to 
 manage so delicate a thing. Presently she saw the 
 eldest of the three feeding the tiny one. Quickly 
 the thought came to put another nest in the cage and 
 lodge the three in it. She did this, and the two older 
 sisters brooded and fed their younger brother until 
 he was able to care for himself." 
 
 "It is very interesting not only to watch the habits 
 of these very docile little creatures in their domestic 
 life, but it also draws us much nearer in sympathy 
 to them, if we live close enough to them to notice 
 their really individual happenings. It brings to us 
 one of the sweetest charms about their lives and a 
 real heart-touch," said my Beautiful Lady. 
 
90 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "About the sixteenth century, we read of domesti 
 cated birds. The Italians were the first to breed 
 birds, but to Germany we owe gratitude for the song 
 canary. It has taken many generations to perfect 
 this pet songster. Birds learn to sing by ear as we 
 learn both by ear and note, and when very tiny, and 
 almost before they begin to chirp, they should be kept 
 near the best songsters or the kind of songster that 
 one wishes the bird to learn from. The same careful 
 training must be given to a tiny bird as is given a little 
 child if perfection is hoped for when grown. 
 
 "Many people think of a bird as a little bundle of 
 beautiful feathers that can hop about or sit upon per 
 ches singing sweet songs for them whenever they 
 choose to listen, but to keep silence if it is more pleas 
 ing to them. 
 
 "They do not realize that a bird has the construct 
 ion of a body, and the organs of life which require 
 much thought and attention from the one who keeps 
 it imprisoned purely for his diversion or benefit. 
 But the little bird, in some regards, is not such a dis 
 tant kin to human mortals after all. It bathes its 
 little body almost daily, and combs out its feathers 
 with its beak as we do our hair with a comb. It loves 
 sunshine and fresh air, and needs both the same as 
 do human beings. It knows pangs of grief and sor 
 row as well as thrills of joy and delight. 
 
 "The lessons of true love it may teach us are worthy 
 of our consideration, for not nearly so often d6es a 
 human heart break and surrender its spirit to the great 
 beyond over the death of one it has loved, as does the 
 tiny heart of the little bird. 
 
 "Some of its diseases are like those of mankind. 
 It may lose its appetite because of insufficient variety 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 91 
 
 of food, for birds require more than seeds, water, and 
 cuttlebone. Yet, again, birds can be harmed by over 
 feeding, which may produce apoplexy, when they 
 will fall instantly dead from the perch just as a person 
 would from a chair or on the street. 
 
 "They may get a twirling condition of the head, 
 often caused from being kept in a round cage where 
 they hop around and around. Square rooms are 
 much better. 
 
 "A bird may lose its voice by over-feeding or being 
 left in a draught, thus contracting a cold. From this 
 attack, all of the same conditions may develop as in 
 people. I have seen little birds suffer in great agony 
 trying to get their breath from the much dreaded 
 asthma, and catarrhal condition will cause the tiny 
 tongue to become hardened by fever. The passage 
 of the nose becomes stopped, and after the very deli 
 cate tissues are wasted, consumption may follow, re 
 sulting in slow death. 
 
 "Then, we now frequently see the little feet crippled 
 or the muscles of the limbs shrunken and a foot drawn 
 upward. The tendons and ligaments become affected 
 much more readily than those of the liberated fowls of 
 the air and larger animals because they are almost 
 useless from close and inactive confinement. 
 
 "The very bright eye will grow dull and pitifully 
 blind. I knew of a bird that was given to a lady who 
 knew nothing of its habits or the care it required. The 
 lady bought a new bright green cage with seed and 
 water glasses hung outside. 
 
 "Birdie had been accustomed to find his food in 
 the cage, and so did not know where to look for it, 
 consequently he died. Had the lady known more 
 about birds, she would have noticed that he did not 
 
92 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 reach through for his food, and removed it inside be 
 fore it was too late. 
 
 "Birds need change of air, scenes, colors, light some 
 times and darkness at other times. It is cruel to place 
 a hook in one corner of a room and always keep the 
 bird hanging there. 
 
 "Oftentimes when birds are melancholy, dull, or 
 indifferent to the call of a voice best known and loved, 
 if his cage is hung in the parlor or other beautiful 
 room he will quickly fill the space with sweetest songs, 
 until the notes mellow into subdued cadence through 
 out every room. It is unkind also to keep one bird 
 alone. They need companionship to keep them in 
 good cheer, as we do." 
 
 "Well, my sister Freda is kind to birds," said 
 Harold. "She never would have caged birds, but 
 very early in the spring she would place little tables 
 under the trees and about the large grounds, and she 
 would keep different kinds of food on these tables for 
 the birds. 
 
 "It seemed that the birds must have remembered 
 this banqueting spot because of the many kinds that 
 came there! I can tell you that it was a splendid 
 place to study bird habits and learn all about them. 
 This was Freda's country home, and she named it 
 Boundless Aviary. Freda never missed going early 
 in the spring to meet the traveling birds. 
 
 "Sister says she has painted not a few from life 
 that had some really peculiar marking, as they sat on 
 the window-sill, or on a near bough, and then watched 
 for them the next spring. Many of them returned 
 and built in their favorite nesting-places. 
 
 "Freda said as they sometimes sat on the window- 
 ledge, looking into her face, singing their sweetest 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 93 
 
 songs, she felt that they wished to express their love 
 and gratitude to her. But everybody who knows 
 sister Freda loves her. " 
 
 *' Mamma and Arthur and I visited a few days once 
 where the lady through her kindness had coaxed the 
 birds nesting in the larkspur near her window to fly 
 in and out of her chamber, and, dearest of all, a 
 squirrel that lived in the same tree, and would go in 
 through the window to get nuts from her hand. He 
 learned where she kept them in a small drawer of a 
 rosewood cabinet. 
 
 "One day Arthur and I went in to feed him, as 
 we had been given permission to, and he sat erect in 
 the very drawer helping himself. What kind of bird 
 was that, Arthur, that sat looking at himself in the 
 mirror? " 
 
 "It was a magpie, Harry." 
 
 "O yes, a magpie. I remember now. All birds 
 enjoy a mirror to view themselves, but especially 
 does the magpie. " 
 
 "I recall," said Arthur, "that remarkable crow we 
 saw, who liked pennies. You know, boys, there was a 
 tall fountain that formed a lagoon where web-footed 
 fowls and some birds were kept. This crow would fly 
 against the wires of the enclosure, and tease for pen 
 nies. If a man would stand near the wires, he would 
 reach his beak through and search his pockets for 
 pennies. If one was given him, he would fly at once 
 to the lagoon and wash it, holding it safely in his beak 
 or with his claw. After he was through washing it, 
 he would hide it in his bank, which was a place in the 
 sand. Each morning when the attendant cleaned the 
 lagoon, he would get his pennies and put them safely 
 in some other place, and after the attendant was 
 
94 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 through he would carry them all back to his bank. 
 He never lost one. Some one named him 'Sanitary.' 
 
 "There is another instance, my boys, which I think 
 you will recall; that of our acquaintance made with 
 the charming Mrs. Clara Harwood Cochran on her 
 famous western trip. 
 
 "She carried a variety of seeds, and scattered them 
 over the barren spots along our tour. She did this 
 because a part of them, by the birds of flight, would 
 be found for food, and some of them would fall upon 
 tender ground and take root and grow, yielding a 
 reward of beauty for those who followed the same 
 track she had passed over." 
 
 "We can never forget her because of her kind 
 ness to you, too, mamma, when you needed a friend, " 
 said Harry. 
 
 Then Arthur arose, saying, "Boys, excuse me, please, 
 for being the first to break this long yet interesting 
 talk. My limbs are weary from sitting so much in 
 school this week, and I feel like kicking a football 
 twenty miles, You know a fellow gets very tired 
 the first week of school after the delightful exercise 
 of a long vacation. 
 
 "But all of this talk about birds and especially the 
 thoughts of 'Boundless Aviary' brings vividly to my 
 memory a promise away back in last year when a 
 boy's mamma promised to spend a day in the woods 
 visiting our feathered friends. To-morrow is Satur 
 day. The opportunity is certainly ripe. Of course, 
 Harold and Ward you are expected to be with us, and 
 I would like some of the other boys to go if I knew they 
 would keep quiet enough so that we could accomplish 
 good results. What do you say?" 
 
 Harold answered first and said, "Do the same as 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 95 
 
 we do in our games. Those who break the rules pay 
 the penalty of having to go home. We can draw up 
 a set of rules, and those who do not wish to go badly 
 enough to accept them need not go at all. " 
 
 "Good thought, Harold," said Arthur, "knowing 
 your passion toward parliament, we will leave that 
 part for you to arrange. " 
 
 "Arthur's splendid new camera over there looks 
 good to me," said Ward, "I think there could never 
 be a better time to use it." 
 
 "Perhaps it was intended for this occasion. I have 
 never given it even a trial. I bought it in a famous 
 camera store on my way home. It would be a great 
 event if some of the photos proved of enough import 
 ance to be used by some famous ornithologist, and 
 chronicled in the history of birds. The other boys 
 who have cameras must take theirs for we want a large 
 collection, and we will arrange a portfolio and pre 
 sent it to our school for a study. " 
 
 "Mamma," asked Harry, "will you assist me that 
 I may use my new one also?" 
 
 "Yes, dear, you and I will get some pictures of the 
 mosses, plants, and foliage, for we shall soon need 
 them to complete our winter pastime, preparing our 
 portfolio of the specimens which we have found that 
 are new to us this year. " 
 
 "Arthur, which boys shall we invite?" asked Ward. 
 
 "Well it is hard to select. We will leave it to you, 
 Ward. I would like to take little Billy if his mamma 
 is willing, and it would be a great treat for him. He 
 is small, but he is very intelligent and remembers 
 everything. I rather talk with him than with some 
 of the boys of my age, or even with some men. If he 
 is not home when you call, look for him at the semi- 
 
96 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 nary. The students have him there much of the 
 time." 
 
 "What time shall we start, Mrs. French?" 
 
 "We will plan to meet as quickly as possible after 
 lunch and go directly to Moss Hollow, for I have al 
 ways noticed a bevy of birds there." 
 
 "I am sure it must be very near dinner time and 
 there is much for us all to do this evening, so we will 
 finish our plans by phone," said Harold. "And I 
 wish to thank you in advance, Mrs. French, in be 
 half of all the boys for what to-morrow promises us. 
 Your name has only to be mentioned among us and 
 all are eager to go. " 
 
 "Thank you, Harold," said my Beautiful Lady, 
 "I always receive full value in return for anything 
 that I can do to help fill a boy's days with the very 
 best there is to be found for them." 
 
 A merry group gathered promptly after lunch on 
 the next day. Miss Eleanor, who was interested in 
 school work, and a friend of my Beautiful Lady, made 
 one of our number. When the boys arrived Prince 
 stood patiently waiting to carry the ladies in the car 
 riage, and Harry and Billy who were to ride with them. 
 As Arthur assisted Miss Eleanor, he asked her what 
 she had in her basket. She answered, "a secret," 
 which caused them all to laugh. 
 
 It was two o'clock in Moss Hollow, Harold had spo 
 ken the word "silence" before we reached there, and 
 only whispers were to be heard after that. But the 
 first sound was not a whisper. It was the whistle 
 of a starling. Gradually it varied into truly musical 
 notes, and his greeting was a very pleasant one. 
 
 But the beautiful breasted meadow-lark sang next, 
 and we were for a time lost in his most wonderful music. 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 97 
 
 Then Arthur whispered, "Can you see that bright- 
 colored wood-thrush?" 
 
 It is a rare chance to get near this very shy bird. 
 The thrush did not seem to see us, and he opened his 
 throat and sang most sweetly. The notes at last be 
 came varied, and yet in his operatic singing one tender 
 strain ran through. 
 
 "Look," said Billy, "what pretty bird is that hang 
 ing downward on a cone? How does he do that with 
 out falling?" 
 
 "We will draw a little nearer," said my Beautiful 
 Lady, "for this bird is quite fearless. It is a cross 
 bill. He feeds on the larch and cones, and learns to 
 hang on the most slender twigs while he is eating. 
 They are very affectionate birds, and if one loses his 
 mate he will sit for days upon the branch from which 
 she fell, sorrowfully watching for her return. His 
 notes grow sadder and often so changed that they 
 are unlike those he sang to his own true love." 
 
 "There is a cedar waxwing," said Floyd. "They 
 are insectivorous and of great value in orchards. In 
 fact, the beautiful forests of the world would be des 
 troyed in time if it were not for this class of birds. 
 See! There is a group of them. What soft browns 
 show in the feathers on their bodies. But the tips 
 of their wings and tails are not all alike. Some are 
 of velvety black, some red, and yellow, and blue or 
 gold. The crest on their heads is so modest. They 
 are dear, modest-looking little birds in every way. 
 I hope my camera has done good work on those, for 
 they will be splendid to use in painting lessons." 
 
 "Ah there!" whispered Arthur, "quiet now, Billy, 
 I will get a picture of that lyre bird with a tail like an 
 ancient harp, and paint one for you." 
 
98 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "I will try for that novel tailor bird," said Bennie, 
 " who makes his nest by sewing two long leaves together, 
 using his bill for a needle and vegetable fiber for 
 thread." 
 
 "I want that mocking-bird, because his wonderfully 
 varied notes have never yet been fully described," 
 said Walter. 
 
 "There is a beautiful group of cockatoos, I must 
 have those," said Arthur, "for they are perhaps the 
 most intelligent birds. Anyway they come next to 
 the magpie. Bird trainers have taught them to do 
 wonderful acts, which fully demonstrate that they 
 can understand our human language. But here comes 
 mamma, Harry, and Fanny from their little secret 
 jaunt. They no doubt will have a different collection 
 than ours. " 
 
 "Do you see the sun is setting?" said my Beautiful 
 Lady. "It is time for us to go now. Yet, wait a 
 moment. I want Billy to see that little brownish 
 bird that just darted up from the ground. It is the 
 skylark. Now he goes around and around in spiral 
 circles. He rests now on the air currents. How his 
 song floats down to us. Upward, upward, still upward. 
 Yes, he is lost in the clouds." 
 
 "Will he never return?" asked Billy. 
 
 "Watch a little and let us see," said my Beauti 
 ful Lady. 
 
 "Yes, there he comes. I see him!" said Billy. 
 "Still coming in circles. Now we hear him singing! 
 Around and around, he comes only in circles. O how 
 still! he is resting again. How he floats downward! 
 See ! he is near the earth and has alighted. How did he 
 know the way back to light right near his nest again?" 
 
 "God, who has brought all creatures into life, Billy, 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 99 
 
 had an infinite way of imparting to each an intelli 
 gence that belongs to their kind, and it is beyond 
 mortal mind to always say how, or why. But it is 
 our duty to respect the inborn rights of all. 
 
 "Now we must really start or we shall be late get 
 ting home. Let us take this little footpath. I think 
 it will lead out where Prince is feeding on the sweet 
 grass and the tender boughs, and he will be glad to 
 carry Billy, Harry, and me home. As we have the 
 two-seated phaeton, you can all change about in turn 
 riding with us." 
 
 "Where is Miss Eleanor?" asked Walter. 
 
 "She decided to walk and has gone ahead, but you 
 will see her later," answered my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "We can have a few minutes now on the way to 
 talk over some of the happenings. How many birds 
 do you think you have photographed?" 
 
 "We must have at least one hundred varieties," 
 answered Arthur. "I have a large number, and the 
 other boys have been very successful. We have some 
 duplicates, but so much the better as we can select the 
 very best for the school studies. How many have 
 you and Harry?" 
 
 "Mamma and I only tried for a few birds. Ours 
 are mostly plant specimens," answered Harry, "but 
 we have one surprise photo, unlike any that you have. " 
 
 "Who could have planned a more delightful day?" 
 said Jack. "Papa has said to me, 'How very small 
 and uninteresting we can make our world, and yet, 
 if we will become true seekers, how very large and 
 interesting we find it.' Why, I wonder the woods 
 was not filled to-day with both girls and boys making 
 a closer acquaintance with our intelligent friends in 
 the forests. " 
 
100 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "There was a group of girls in the woods to-day," 
 said my Beautiful Lady. "Harry and I saw them. 
 They had arranged a little table, and placed upon it 
 seeds and bread which attracted the birds, keeping 
 them in a quiet position for a study, and they also 
 left a bountiful supply of bread for a luncheon to 
 morrow. Well, here are Arthur and Guy. They have 
 Prince harnessed already, waiting for us to step into 
 the carriage. " 
 
 "We took a short cut, for we were ravenously hun 
 gry; and at this point, boys, mamma has given Harry 
 and I permission to annouce a little surprise. You are 
 all invited to dine at our table and your parents gave 
 their consent before noon to-day. For my part, I am 
 ready to race with our 'Prince* and see who can make 
 the distance most quickly. " 
 
 At this remark, Arthur started, and so did the boys 
 and Prince. I found my voice for the first time since 
 Harold pronounced "silence." I barked and leaped 
 on ahead of them all, then back again, and everybody 
 seemed willing that I should be chief entertainer until 
 we reached the door of our home. 
 
 When the boys, with Arthur and Harry, had 
 washed their faces and hands and brushed their hair, 
 my Beautiful Lady asked them to go into the parlor 
 for a moment. There was another surprise. As we 
 entered, Miss Eleanor with the group of girls we met 
 on our jaunt, arose from their chairs and welcomed the 
 boys to the parlor. 
 
 It was a merry time for a few moments. Then 
 Arthur said, "Ah! I think I see now the secret pic 
 ture Harry spoke of, quickly developed and perfect 
 as life. What is the name of your camera?" 
 
 Then Parker said, "I think such a picture will 
 
OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS 101 
 
 lend grace as a frontispiece to our school portfolio, 
 and that thanks is now due Harry. " Parker's thought 
 ful suggestion was quickly recognized, and every voice 
 acclaimed a vote of thanks to Harry. 
 
 My master and my Beautiful Lady invited all to 
 the dining-room where a delicious dinner was ready. 
 Billy was made guest of honor because of his very 
 wise sayings and gentlemanly manner for such a small 
 boy. Arthur received permission by telephone that he 
 might also remain overnight, thus completing Billy's 
 day of great pleasure. 
 
 The events of the evening were all too much and too 
 great to be recorded here, except the closing. A Bird 
 and Nature Study Class was organized of both girls 
 and boys, to meet each Saturday during the remaining 
 autumn days, and somehow the boys had gotten a 
 form of words together, which they most courteously 
 spoke to my Beautiful Lady as they stood with hats 
 in their hands to say " Good Night. " 
 
 "Not one slingshot was made to-day, but many a 
 snapshot that will bring far greater pleasure into the 
 heart of every girl and boy present, and at the evening's 
 close, a work that will bring an added blessing into the 
 sphere of every kingdom in our world's creation." 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 TWO POLISHED DOGS 
 
 r I ^HROUGH the kindness of a friend, my lady was 
 * invited to spend some weeks at the beautiful 
 summer home of Mr. Dallas in Ravinia. The scenery 
 there is the most picturesque and romantic of any spot 
 we have ever visited. The natural forest trees had not 
 been supplanted by cultivated ones. The many ravines 
 of unusual depth, beautified with tangled mosses and 
 ivy, low running vines, and wooded flowers of many 
 colors and varieties had given this place a well chosen 
 name. 
 
 Arthur did not accompany us on this trip. The 
 welcome extended us by Mr. Dallas on our arrival was 
 heightened by the introduction of his sagacious, well- 
 mannered Gordon setter dog. 
 
 Jack had soft, black shaggy hair without one white 
 mark. Standing meekly beside his master, he wagged 
 his tail, suggestive of recognition for new acquaintance. 
 Then he walked quickly over to me and put his face 
 close to mine a moment, while we spoke to each other 
 in OUT own dog way. After that I felt perfectly at 
 home, and we were the best of friends. 
 
 At Mr. Dallas' invitation, I walked into the recep 
 tion-room. After a short conversation, my Beautiful 
 Lady, Harry, and I were shown to our rooms. We had 
 arrived in the early and beautiful morning. When we 
 went down to breakfast, all restraint was put aside, 
 and we glided into an easy and pleasant sympathy 
 of pleasures as though we were old friends. 
 
 102 
 
TWO POLISHED DOGS 103 
 
 After breakfast Jack, in dog fashion, invited Harry 
 and me to take a walk around the groves. I tell you 
 we were charmed, as he led the way up and down those 
 ravines, chasing the imaginary sights of dogs on such 
 trips, and Harry loading himself with rare woodland 
 flowers. We would have liked to pass the length 
 of our first day in this chase, but Mr. Dallas requested 
 Harry to return for a two o'clock lunch, so we had 
 to make a short trip. 
 
 When we reached the yard, Jack and I quenched our 
 thirst from a pretty artificial lake opposite the dining- 
 room windows, though we had drank many times when 
 crossing some clear little brook. Dogs, you know, can 
 drink every five minutes, and while it may be a habit, 
 we really need large quantities of clean water to keep 
 us healthy, and Harry says that it is because our skins 
 are thick and we do not perspire like a person. 
 
 It was hot weather, and I was glad to notice, too, 
 that in Jack's drinking dish there lay a piece of hard 
 sulphur. After we had lapped the cool water from this 
 fountain, we stood for a few minutes watching the grace 
 ful white swan, and beautifully feathered ducks who 
 did not fly frightened away, but floated contentedly 
 upon the still water of that little lake, seeming to know 
 well-bred dogs would not harm or chase them. You will 
 learn to teach dogs right from wrong as well as boys. 
 
 As I cannot hold you to each interesting instance of our 
 stay, I must skip ahead, because I do want you to hear 
 about Jack Dallas. The first time I was really surprised 
 about Jack's doings was on the evening of the first day. 
 We had been on another short chase, and came back 
 warm and tired. As we entered the grounds, Jack trot 
 ted on around the corner of the house, I following be 
 hind, when suddenly he disappeared, and I could not tell 
 
104 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 where. I looked in every direction and whined, but 
 could not see or hear Jack. I sat on my haunches and 
 wondered what could have happened, when Mr. Dallas 
 asked, "Do you want to find Jack?" I suppose it was 
 hearing his master's voice that brought him to us, but 
 I was as puzzled in mind as ever, for just as suddenly as 
 he had vanished, he suddenly stood before us. Mr. 
 Dallas understood what I was thinking of, for he walked 
 up to a large door which was built low to the ground, 
 and putting his hand against a panel, swung it open. 
 
 Jack entered again, and I followed to find him in his 
 own apartments. There were three good sized rooms, 
 with polished floors and rugs, a handsome bed, pictures 
 on the wall, and a white curtain at the window. Anoth 
 er room pleasantly furnished and made you feel home 
 like. The other room had a bath-tub where Jack had 
 his almost daily bath, and was combed and brushed 
 until he looked the well groomed gentleman which 
 his manners denoted. 
 
 I was delighted to have my bath in the beautiful 
 white bath-tub, but Harry had to use my own comb and 
 brush, which was always carried with us, the same as 
 with the other members of the family. 
 
 The second day we all went gathering flowers. Harry 
 thought it would be fun to take a wheelbarrow, but 
 before he had even lifted the handle bars to start, Jack, 
 great fellow that he was, bounded in and looked into 
 Harry's face as though saying, "A ride, if you please, 
 will suit me." 
 
 Harry laughed at his suggestive manner and started, 
 Jack sitting erect all the way until he was invited to 
 make room for some choice specimens. That was one 
 way in which we were different. I preferred always to 
 run, but he liked to ride in the carriage with his master. 
 
TWO POLISHED DOGS 105 
 
 In the evening time Harry went into the library 
 to rest in a large armchair and read. Jack went up 
 to him, took the paper with his mouth from Harry's 
 hand, lay it on the floor, then jumped into his arms, 
 laying his head down to be rocked just like a child. 
 
 Nature in this place was unmolested, and too charm 
 ing to leave without deep regrets. A scarlet tanager 
 nested in the tree at the window where we slept, while 
 robins and many bright plumaged birds kept the leaves 
 fluttering. Ravinia was noted for its many sweet song 
 sters and the always welcome call of the whippoorwill 
 when the evening sky grew gray. Squirrels and rabbits 
 just bounded across the yards and along the walks, void 
 of fear, because no child or person was allowed to mo 
 lest any of these creatures without paying a heavy fine. 
 
 We experienced a delight in this peaceful humane 
 place never found any where we had been before, yet 
 I suppose there are others like it in this world. If not, 
 we know how to make it so. 
 
 When the day came which terminated our visit with 
 Mr. Dallas and his sister Isabel, we all had that kind 
 of feeling which makes one want to cry. As we were 
 preparing for the train Jack coaxed me in his dog 
 fashion to stay, and while I liked him better than any 
 other dog I ever met, yet my Beautiful Lady came 
 first always in my affection. 
 
 I do not think two dogs ever looked more sorry than 
 we, as I stood beside Harry on the steps of the car 
 looking down upon Jack's upturned face and pleading 
 eyes. Mr. Dallas had his hand upon Jack's head, and 
 Harry was holding me by my collar, or I guess I would 
 have leaped down upon the platform again. The last 
 I saw was Miss Isabel waving her handkerchief as 
 the train was bearing us on our appointed way. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE MONKEYS 
 
 AS each vacation time came there was always 
 a list of very interesting invitations left over 
 from the previous year. One of these Arthur and 
 Harry could not resist accepting any longer, and this 
 brought us to Crilly Park, our next stop. 
 
 My pen could never make you feel the charming at 
 mosphere which pervaded this place, or the wonder 
 and delight which greeted us as we found ourselves 
 guests in the most artistic lodge which we had ever 
 seen outside of picture books, and free to roam at 
 will over the vast grounds, with a guide to answer the 
 never-ending questions which flash as evening stars 
 through the windows of a boy's mind, and this time 
 through two boys' minds. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady and I would gladly tell you 
 every detail of this visit, made short because of so 
 much to be accomplished in a space of numbered 
 days, but we have decided that at this writing we 
 must draw the curtain, leaving just one portion to 
 your view, that of the Lodge where Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cyrus dwelt, and the chief attraction that had drawn 
 Arthur and Harry there "The Monkeys." 
 
 It was eight o 'clock in the evening when we arrived, 
 but a late dinner had been arranged, at which formed 
 a social circle around the table. The evening was 
 shortened as much as possible, because it was the 
 morning that would bring the introduction to this 
 
 106 
 
THE MONKEYS 107 
 
 interesting family of animals which are looked upon as 
 more than half human. 
 
 It was four o'clock when the clear ringing tones of 
 an alarm clock brought the boys to their feet, and this 
 was an occasion when they only made a half toilet, 
 and then rushed out to meet Mr. Cyrus, who had al 
 ready reached the feeding cage and was giving direc 
 tions to his men. 
 
 Such a company of old-mannish faced looking 
 creatures, and such chattering as they dropped, some 
 deliberately, and others pell mell, from the branches 
 of those trees where they had slept through the night. 
 Certainly they were anything but mannerly or orderly. 
 
 "Are we late, Mr. Cyrus?" asked Arthur. 
 
 "No, the onions are not all peeled, and the banana 
 man is just coming. " 
 
 "What do you do with the onions?" asked Harry. 
 
 "They are the chief diet for their breakfast. Only 
 a few of them eat any other food in the morning, and 
 with those few, their appetites call for bananas. " 
 
 "How queer," said Arthur, "but, in that, the 
 monkeys are wiser than people who eat them for 
 dinner and find a 'bad taste' in the morning." 
 
 "What other foods do they like, Mr. Cyrus?" 
 asked Harry. 
 
 "They eat both sweet and white potatoes, which 
 must be cooked, but they eat the carrots raw, and 
 also the other vegetables. They are exceedingly fond 
 of lettuce. They like all kinds of fruits, and we pro 
 vide them as they come in their season. They es 
 pecially like blueberries, and they never grow too old 
 to want their cup of milk every day, usually at noon." 
 
 "Do they like the cows' milk as well as their native 
 milk of the cocoanut?" asked Harry. 
 
108 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "It is not quite easy to say. They certainly are 
 delighted when cocoanut day comes to them. They 
 act like a group of picnickers, who are trying to see how 
 much noise and fun they can have. One thing, may 
 be, it is characteristic of them to do something out of 
 the ordinary or to show off, and this gives them an 
 occasion to snatch one and burrow the end open, and 
 hold it up to their mouth with their hands, drinking 
 as a person would. 
 
 That big fellow over there always examines his bread, 
 and if it is not buttered, he looks with disgust at the 
 one who gave it to him, and then throws it down. 
 Do you see one little monkey sitting over there apart 
 from the others? Well, one day when she was quite 
 small we gave her a slice of bread and butter with 
 brown sugar on it. Since then she refuses her bread 
 and butter if the sugar is missing. " 
 
 "Perhaps some other small ones would eat sugar if 
 you tried them," said Harry. 
 
 "Not only the small ones would eat it, Harry, but 
 they all like sweets. They are as pleased with a 
 piece of candy as a boy is, and they like honey very 
 much. " 
 
 "Oh, Arthur! If we had only known this and 
 brought them some of our delicious home made can 
 dies; I would enjoy, O, so much, feeding it to them," 
 said Harry. 
 
 "But we can buy some. I suppose such fastidious 
 tasting creatures would prefer chocolates, Mr. Cyrus?" 
 asked Arthur. 
 
 "They are very fond of chocolates. Yet monkeys 
 have their individual tastes, their likes and dislikes, 
 much as do people. That is one serious mistake 
 people make in their treatment and care of them, and 
 
THE MONKEYS 109 
 
 in fact this mistake is made with all of the so-called 
 dumb animals, and often it proves a sad mistake." 
 
 "Well," said Arthur, "I should think it would be a 
 task to learn something of each one of these three hun 
 dred monkeys." 
 
 " Yes, that is true, yet it is not so difficult. I learn 
 it from them in turn as I come in touch with them. 
 Their temperaments and dispositions are as distinct 
 as in children, and should be treated with the same 
 careful study and consideration. 
 
 "A child that has a melancholy, moody, and de 
 pressed spirit should never or seldom be punished, 
 and if at all, it should be done under a kindly ex 
 pression of feeling and regret. Such a nature needs 
 smiles, cheery words of encouragement, and most 
 gentle treatment to lift it from its pitiful tendency 
 toward the development of a sullen, revengeful, and 
 often cruel spirit. 
 
 "All creation lower than man responds the same, 
 and it is for us wisely to discern each life and learn 
 its needs. The physical construction of the monkey 
 is so like our own that they are subject to our diseases, 
 and our own thoughtful and skillful family physician 
 should be called when they are ill. I have a case in my 
 mind now. " 
 
 Just then, Mrs. Cyrus appeared, saying, "Well, 
 I have signaled several times for breakfast, and de 
 cided at last to come and see if you had breakfasted 
 with your little brothers and sisters of the woods." 
 
 "No, Mrs. Cyrus," said Arthur, "but they have 
 certainly been given their food in a very clean and 
 palatable way. For a treat, I think it would pass all 
 right." 
 
 "Mother, I am sorry that I have kept your famous 
 
110 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 muffins waiting, because I know it is not right after 
 you have been so kind to make them," said Mr. 
 Cyrus. 
 
 "Oh, muffins! We like those best of anything for 
 breakfast," said Harry. 
 
 After the first serving was over, Arthur said, "Mr. 
 Cyrus, I am anxious to hear about the case you were 
 just going to relate before we came in." 
 
 "I prefer to let Mother tell that one. It was about 
 James and his pet." 
 
 "Mr. Cyrus will never tell a story if I am present, 
 so I may as well make no excuses. My nephew, 
 James, had for some time wanted a monkey, but 
 somehow we never sent him one, until one day we 
 became discouraged over a sickly little fellow that 
 did not recover under treatment as we had hoped, 
 and we decided that a change might help him. 
 
 "It was only a few hours until he was on his way for 
 a change of climate, and a telegram speeding ahead 
 telling James on what train he would arrive. James 
 is only seven years old, but a very thoughtful, kind 
 ly dispositioned boy, and we knew that little Mickie 
 would receive the best of care. 
 
 "James quickly saw his opportunity to be merci 
 ful to one suffering and helpless, and as his papa was 
 a noted physician, he placed his new charge under 
 his papa's medical treatment. Much to the astonish 
 ment of those who saw the sickly little creature, and 
 to James and his papa's delight, Mickie was restored 
 to perfect health. 
 
 "At a 'frat' dinner, where James was guest of honor 
 he was asked what kind of monkey he had. Resting 
 his chin on his hand and meditating a moment, he 
 answered, 'Why, a vegetarian." 
 
THE MONKEYS 111 
 
 "Perhaps that is why they are so very 'nimble* 
 and graceful," I was about to say. 
 
 "Mr. Weston, the most famous of pedestrians, has 
 been, since a child, a vegetarian. Some very accurate 
 tests have been made in the human body which prove 
 this theory," said Arthur. 
 
 "Why do you not also give to Mr. Weston the credit 
 due him that he is non-narcotic? This cannot but 
 add to his great strength and endurance," said my 
 Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "Yes, and ought not we to consider that the monkeys 
 have always been temperance people?" said Harry. 
 
 "If we could class them as 'people,' my child," 
 said his mamma. 
 
 "This is very interesting to us, isn't it Mother?" 
 said Mr. Cyrus; "we had prided ourselves on know 
 ing all of any importance to be known about monkeys, 
 but never before had these thoughts been presented 
 to us, and they are worthy of consideration." 
 
 "But it is very small compared to the valuable and 
 exceedingly interesting knowledge which we are re 
 ceiving in return for it," Arthur said. 
 
 "The morning is too delightful for us to remain in 
 the Lodge, and I wish you all to meet some of the 
 members of this great family, in a personal way. Come, 
 I will lead down this little side path where I have 
 planted my own favorite vines and flowers," and we 
 followed Mrs. Cyrus through an enchantment of trellis 
 and roses. 
 
 Her first stop was at a cage where a prehensile mon 
 key was hanging by his tail to the wires, and as Mrs. 
 Cyrus came near he put out his paw as though to shake 
 hands with her as she said, "Good morning, Loafer; 
 what mischief are you planning now?" 
 
112 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 Quickly he dropped to the floor of his cage, and be 
 gan working with rapid movements at the lock which 
 held him in. 
 
 "Why does he do that, Mrs. Cyrus?" asked Harry. 
 
 "He wishes to get out and follow us, and he does 
 this to attract my attention in way of saying 'please 
 unlock the door.' Don't you, Loafer?" 
 
 How he banged the lock, acting with a nervous 
 fear that he might be left. But he was not. The 
 door was opened, and he sprang upon Mrs. Cyrus' 
 shoulder, chattering in a gleeful way, no doubt his 
 manner of expressing both joy and gratitude. 
 
 "We cannot use snap locks on the monkey cages, 
 because any of them will snap open the lock as quick 
 ly as a person and walk out. We can only use those 
 with keys," said Mrs. Cyrus. 
 
 "This old Capuchin with his black cap, named you 
 know from its resemblance to those worn by those old 
 monks in their French monastery, just takes full charge 
 of that large cage where so many of them are. He takes 
 it upon himself to chastise both the young and the old 
 when he considers it necessary, and sometimes for 
 light offense. We call him Monk, and he acts his part 
 quite to perfection. 
 
 "The monkeys seem to reverence him, and he walks 
 about among them as father of them all. But we have 
 spent so much time with these smaller ones, and the 
 hours are swiftly passing, that we will go now into 
 another apartment.' ' 
 
 Just then we noticed a chimpanzee standing near a 
 door, dressed like any man who would be acting in the 
 capacity of a guard, and Mrs. Cyrus handed him a ring 
 which had perhaps twenty keys. The chimpanzee 
 took the keys and, looking them all over, selected one 
 
THE MONKEYS 113 
 
 which unlocked the door, and we all passed through, 
 but as we did so Mrs. Cyrus bowed, saying, 
 
 "Thank you, Chim." 
 
 "Here is Sapho and her little one, Cupid," said 
 Mrs. Cyrus. "Sapho comes next to the chimpanzee 
 in the list of intelligence, and you see she has more of 
 a human-like face. Sapho, come near the bars." 
 
 Then Mrs. Cyrus put her hand through to caress 
 her, and presently we saw her nibbling Mrs. Cyrus* 
 finger. 
 
 "Why does she do that?" asked my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "She is my manicurist," laughed Mrs. Cyrus. 
 "She can smooth down any rough places on the flesh, 
 and will pick out a hangnail without causing any pain. 
 She loves to fix my nails, but I cannot understand how 
 she does it. See? She is turning my fingers up to the 
 light now, inspecting them to find where they are not 
 finished. She usually gets a cookie for this, and she 
 does like cookies as well as I did my grand-mamma's. 
 
 "She is perfectly delighted when I bring her nas 
 turtiums. First, she admires them for a little time, 
 picking up each one in turn, and at last, sits down 
 with a real satisfaction and eats them, and she also 
 shows preference for bright red geraniums. After 
 admiring those she will eat them. I do not know just 
 what she can find to like in those peculiar odored 
 flowers. " 
 
 Just then Cupid reached through the bars into 
 the next apartment and did something to another little 
 monkey, causing it to cry out loudly as with pain. 
 Sapho sprang instantly; catching Cupid by his shoul 
 ders, and holding him up, she shook him, then looked 
 at him as though to say "Naughty Cupid, naughty 
 boy to hurt a little playmate." Then she whipped 
 
114 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 him with her hand until he cried. But when she heard 
 him cry, it touched her heart, and putting her arm 
 about his neck, she drew him tenderly to her and kissed 
 him several times. " 
 
 "Is not that a true expression of motherhood?" 
 said Mrs. Cyrus to my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 "Most true! Most true! Most perfect in demon 
 stration of their inborn nature of motherhood. " 
 
 "Here is another that we regard as our Lady of the 
 Manor," and Mrs. Cyrus called, "Come Lady, I 
 wish my guests to meet you, and will you shake hands 
 with them?" 
 
 She came up in a really proud, aristocratic way and 
 bowed quite low, then she shook hands with my Beauti 
 ful Lady, Arthur, and Harry. She turned quickly, 
 then, back to my Beautiful Lady, and chattering very 
 softly, she reached to shake again. 
 
 Mrs. Cyrus remarked that this was an unusual pro 
 ceeding, and it must be to express a special delight in 
 meeting my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 Attracted by my eager look and earnest attention, 
 my Beautiful Lady said, "Fanny, these are certainly 
 new acquaintances of yours, too, and I think you and 
 Lady ought to shake paws and become friends also. 
 Would you not be pleased to do this?" 
 
 I wagged myself, barking in my low conversational 
 way, and tried to look the delight I felt over this my 
 first recognition in a matter so deeply important to my 
 animal kingdom, and I had certainly been wonderfully 
 pleased to be in company with Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus, 
 who were doing so much to bring about a better under 
 standing, and awakening a fuller feeling of sympathy 
 between the creatures of my kingdom and their own. 
 
 Then Mrs. Cyrus said, "Lady, give me your hand," 
 
THE MONKEYS 115 
 
 and she did, and my Beautiful Lady said "Fanny, let 
 me take yours," and I did, and then I felt Lady's 
 human-like fingers clasp tenderly my paw, and through 
 the kindness of these two friends of ours, just then, 
 another friendship was more closely formed. 
 
 "See," said Harry, "she has gold earrings in her 
 ears. " 
 
 "Yes," answered Mrs. Cyrus, "she admired my 
 diamond ones so much, and teased so for them, that Mr. 
 Cyrus made a place in her ears so that she could wear 
 a pair. Strange, but she held still and seemed to know 
 what it meant, and when we presented a pair of gold 
 hoops to her, she held them so tighlty in her hand that 
 we had some difficulty in persuading her to let us put 
 them in her ears. They are a pair that Mr. Cyrus* 
 aunt once wore, the old-fashioned ones, you know, and 
 she is just as fond of a breast-pin or finger rings. 
 
 "I made her a pretty bonnet one day, and brought 
 her into my dressing-room. Then I put on the bonnet, 
 tying the bright pink ribbon under her chin. Then 
 you should have seen the proud, haughty lady view 
 ing herself in my mirror. O, she is passionately fond 
 of colors. 
 
 "One day I returned from a trip, and I had a new 
 suit that Lady had not seen. When her eyes caught 
 sight of it, she teased me to lift her in my arms, which 
 I did. The suit was a blue, and had some rather artis 
 tic design in other color on the yoke. She picked care 
 fully at the yoke, chattering to me about it. Then she 
 noticed the little blue velvet hat I wore, and putting 
 her paw on the velvet, she smoothed it softly and touch 
 ed the flowers as softly as I could have done. 
 
 "But the dearest of all, she finally caressed my cheek 
 and, looking into my eyes, still chattering, seemed to 
 
116 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 say, 'O, you look so nice. It is all very becoming 
 to you. ' 
 
 "But Arthur and Harry are so quiet, I fear they 
 think this all too feminine for them, and are wishing 
 they were where they would hear and see something 
 more to their liking. " 
 
 "Why, no. Pardon us, Mrs. Cyrus, if we have 
 seemed inattentive," said Arthur. "I am sure I have 
 felt more interested in this interview with these 
 'people,' as Harry called them, than any subject, if 
 I may term it so, that it has been my privilege to meet 
 within my young life; and as I have watched the 
 thoughtfulness, the wonder in their faces to-day, I 
 have at last fallen into a 'brown study,' trying to 
 think why they have not the power to use words as 
 we do. 
 
 "The only answer that has come to my thoughts 
 is this perhaps we would not have such dear people 
 in our world as you, Mrs. Cyrus, and my mamma, if 
 it had not been left for such to be drawn closely to 
 them in an effort to learn to understand the thoughts 
 of the dumb, and speak for them to those who disre 
 gard their very useful places in the world, and to pro 
 tect their rights. " 
 
 I noticed a new light resting upon Arthur's face, 
 and I think his mother saw it, for she laid her 
 hand gently on his shoulder and I heard her say, 
 "Yes, Arthur, and to put into use that little field of 
 sympathy within a young life but means that its bor 
 ders will widen into broad acres of possession in later 
 years. And Mrs. Cyrus, I would indeed feel badly if 
 my sons should think that they were not in feeling with 
 the thought movements of to-day. I would also know 
 that they had ceased to be the lovable and strengthen- 
 
THE MONKEYS 117 
 
 ing characters which have made them so companionable 
 to me." 
 
 "Your last sentence moves me deeply, Mrs. French, 
 for it is what my heart has craved the love of a 
 child, and I have none." 
 
 Just then came a call from the Lodge for luncheon, 
 and we were all ready to answer that call. Mrs. Cyrus 
 said that I could have my dinner at once, and asked 
 the cook to serve me. I was glad of her thoughtful 
 attention, and after lunch I lay down for a nap. 
 
 I was awakened by hearing their voices in the parlor, 
 and went in to see what they were doing. They were 
 looking at photos, and I heard Harry exclaim, "O, Mrs. 
 Cyrus! What is this? Is it a monkey stretched out 
 like a child on a white bed?" 
 
 "That is a baby orang-outang. I christened her 
 Bright Eyes. She only lived to be nine months 
 old." 
 
 "It looks like a picture taken in a sitting-room, " 
 said Harry. "Will you tell us about it?" 
 
 "Yes. It all happened in the sitting-room of the 
 Lodge, the room next to the one we are in now, and 
 her little white bed was made just like our bed, with 
 a white spread and a pillow for her head. The picture 
 was taken during the last week of her illness. 
 
 "When she first came I called her my baby, and kept 
 her with me in the house much of the time. She al 
 ways preferred to be with me, and would put out her 
 little arms in a pleading way whenever she saw me, 
 and was always delighted when I took her with me. 
 
 "Yet at times she enjoyed being out among the 
 others, and to play in a tree in the morning or evening. 
 She soon learned to sit at the table in a proper way, to 
 drink her milk from a cup, and to use her little spoon, 
 
118 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 and it always looked so cunning whenever she wiped 
 her mouth with her napkin. 
 
 "She always felt proud whenever she did a polite 
 thing, and we praised her, and any reproof nearly broke 
 her little heart. She was fond of bright colored ribbon 
 bows for the top of her head, and wanted to choose 
 which one she would wear. I made some pretty little 
 aprons for her. Some were very dainty, and she knew 
 which were the prettiest and daintiest as well as a little 
 girl could, and would dance about with special delight 
 when I put one on her. 
 
 "In the photo, you notice very plainly that ring on 
 her finger? Well, it is a silver ring that was given to 
 me by a traveler, and it was made in China and has 
 a Chinese symbol engraved on the seal. Bright Eyes 
 would work at it until she removed it from my finger to 
 her own, and then her delight was great. 
 
 "Finally I allowed her to wear it all the time. She 
 would sit in her little rocking-chair and rock and love 
 her dolly, and be as tender with it as a little child 
 could be. 
 
 "Dear Bright Eyes! 
 
 "But there are so many many instances dear to my 
 memory, that I often recall, as I think of her human 
 like, childlike ways, and I must leave all of those, 
 because, somehow, I want to tell you of her pathetic 
 illness, and how she went away where she cannot ever 
 come to play again in our home. 
 
 "She had been outside for several days, I think 
 more than usual. The first day of her illness, or that 
 we noticed anything, she went up to Mr. Cyrus, and, 
 in her way, asked him to take her, which he did, and 
 then he noticed she did not seem well. 
 
 "He brought her directly to me, and I knew at once 
 
THE MONKEYS 119 
 
 that she was feverish. I put her in her little bed and 
 sent for our physician. We gave her the best of 
 attention and care, but she grew steadily worse. 
 Pneumonia developed, and I made a poultice jacket 
 just as my mother used to make, and kept this on her, 
 but not many hours later the physician pronounced 
 it double pneumonia, and we felt all hope gone. 
 
 "I tried so hard to keep her arms and hands cover 
 ed. She willingly let the covers remain over one arm 
 and hand, but the one that the little silver ring was on; 
 presently she would draw that hand out, look at the 
 ring a moment, and then contentedly lay it on top of 
 the white spread. 
 
 "But it all happened on the tenth day of her illness. 
 I had left her side for a few moments when I heard her 
 moan-like call. I went quickly to take her. As I 
 did, she lay her head on my shoulder, put her little 
 hand with the ring against my cheek, and then it fell 
 useless down by her side. I heard a sound in her 
 throat, and laid her back on her pillow. 
 
 "She looked into my face with a smile as evident 
 upon her features as could be seen on a human face. 
 Then her bright eyes closed, and she fell into her long 
 sleep. " 
 
 It is useless to say that all were deeply touched while 
 listening to Mrs. Cyrus telling of this instance. 
 
 Mr. Cyrus had come in quietly, and I could see he 
 wished to change the sad thoughts, for he said, "Mother, 
 did you tell them about Consul?" 
 
 "No, I have not. You can tell about him. He was 
 one of your favorites." 
 
 "Well," began Mr. Cyrus, "Consul was a large 
 chimpanzee that was bow-legged. He never seemed 
 to mind it, though, except when he was dressed in his 
 
120 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 tuxedo suit. It embarrassed him then, and if he was 
 going to remain standing for a few minutes, he looked 
 about cautiously, waiting until he thought no one was 
 watching him, and then he would stoop down, and with 
 his fore-paws turn outward one foot and then the other, 
 making each one to point straight. When he stood 
 erect again, he would look up as though he wished to say, 
 *I am all right, ' and he was 'all right, ' too, in many ways. 
 
 "But I came in to ask you all to come out to the 
 conservatory to see the flowers. It is late afternoon 
 now, and I think the flowers always lift their blossomed 
 heads a little higher and give forth a fuller fragrance 
 about this time. 
 
 "We have just about one-half hour before the call 
 for our dinner. After that we will take a drive about, 
 for I do not wish you, Mrs. French, and your boys to 
 think we have no interest or pleasure outside of the 
 monkeys. " 
 
 I did not care for flowers, and so lay down on the 
 cool grass to rest. I must have dreamed again, for 
 I thought I was going along down a straight and nar 
 row path, yet it was a lovely way to follow, and I heard 
 such pleasant sounds, sometimes, that seemed like 
 voices, and all the time I felt an enchantment which 
 seemed to come from many different sources. At last 
 I saw both boys and girls in the distance. 
 
 They carried books in school bags, and I knew then 
 that they had prepared this enchanted way, and had 
 brought about the harmony and tender feeling, and 
 that it had really come through their multitude of 
 voices, making me so very happy, and it would also 
 make the whole world happier. 
 
 Just then I heard some one say "Doggie." I was 
 startled, but it was a boy in blue uniform, and he had 
 
THE MONKEYS 121 
 
 a letter in his hand. Mr. Cyrus saw him, and came 
 to meet him. 
 
 It was a message to my Beautiful Lady, saying not 
 to be worried, but that grandmamma was not very 
 well and was anxious to see us all soon. Dear Grand 
 mamma! Nothing could detain us longer than nec 
 essary, for she had been alone a long time with her 
 servants. Grandpapa went away to his distant home, 
 my Beautiful Lady had told us, before even Harry saw 
 him, and of course I had never seen him. 
 
 But Harry would go to see him some day, and my 
 Beautiful Lady told me that possibly I would see 
 him, too. 
 
 There was an evening train that would get us to 
 grandmamma 's in the early morning, and it was quick 
 ly decided to go on that. While we were in our room, 
 and Arthur and Harry were getting their mamma's 
 valise and theirs ready, and she was resting, Harry 
 said. 
 
 "Mamma, why does Mr. Cyrus call Mrs. Cyrus 
 'Mother?' "She told us that she has no children." 
 
 "He calls her 'Mother* because her heart goes out 
 with mother-love to every living creature. Did you 
 not notice to-day as we followed her about, how that 
 every eye rested upon her face, eagerly looking for 
 that word or caress which alone could satisfy their 
 hearts and make them happy? Each one grew calmed 
 and docile, and some fell into a peaceful sleep after she 
 had passed by. 
 
 "She is grand, she is magnificent, but greatest of 
 all she is a mother in the broadest sense of the word. " 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus came up to our room to ask 
 if there was anything they could do to assist, but the 
 boys had everything in perfect readiness. 
 
122 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 Each one felt a deep regret at parting, but there 
 came a comforting thought that we might come again, 
 and I hope some day to tell you very much more 
 about Crilly Park, and those who live there in a blessed 
 world all by themselves, where no unkind words are 
 spoken, and each one there is helped to feel that they 
 are living out their mission, and teaching some lesson 
 of wisdom to all mankind. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 AT THE SEA SHORE 
 
 OUT of this evening's meditations, there comes the 
 recollection of some pleasing acquaintances, which 
 my Beautiful Lady and I formed during a short rest 
 at the sea shore. 
 
 Hotel Plaza was quite a retiring homelike place 
 where people liked to be that mingled much in the 
 affairs of the busy world, or for some reason, wished 
 to rest. One of the guests, a gentleman, I particularly 
 remember, because he was very kind to me and told 
 nice stories of my dog friends. 
 
 One morning, as I lay in the hall, this gentleman 
 came and sat down beside me, patted my head, and 
 talked to me as though I were an intelligent creature, 
 which caused me to like him at once. When my Beau 
 tiful Lady came out of the dining-room, he told her how 
 he had been making my acquaintance, and said he knew 
 a lady, who once had a greyhound, which was just the 
 picture of me. 
 
 One day this lady died very suddenly, and when the 
 funeral procession left the house the dog joined in, and 
 with drooping head and low plaintive moans, followed 
 to the cemetery. He watched the burial of his mistress, 
 and then lay down beside the grave. The dog could 
 not be persuaded to leave, and at the end of two weeks 
 died of grief. 
 
 This kind gentleman took my face between his 
 hands and said to my Beautiful Lady, "I would be 
 much happier if I could own this lovely creature. I ad- 
 
 123 
 
124 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 mired her the first day you came and her human-like 
 ways have been most interesting to me. 
 
 " I like her so much that I will give any price for her. 
 That lustrous light in her eyes is worth more to me than 
 the luster of all my valuable diamonds. I will gladly 
 give you all of these for her." 
 
 When my Beautiful Lady saw the tears in his eyes, 
 she wondered if it was his wife who had died suddenly. 
 His offer of the diamonds, or their value in money, 
 she did not consider for an instant, but the appeal 
 to her sympathies touched her heart and she said, "If 
 Fanny could speak, as a human being is able to do, 
 and decide if she were willing to make a sacrifice, I 
 would leave the matter to her, but as I must be her 
 voice, I feel that I could justly be held accountable if 
 I should fail to consider the tender love she has for her 
 own home. Therefore, while I regret to deny you this 
 great comforter, I trust that you will understand my 
 feelings in my responsibility to this poor dumb crea 
 ture and the kind of treatment I owe to her. But I 
 have noticed that Fanny has shown a marked fondness 
 for you, which comes from her highly developed per 
 ceptions. She knows that you like her, and it is my 
 pleasure, (and I believe it will be your pleasure also, 
 Fanny dear, will it not?) for her sometimes to accom 
 pany you in your walks, or to be near you in this hotel, 
 while we remain." I looked devotedly into her lovely 
 countenance, then into the face of this gentleman, and 
 I could see, or feel, something which also drew me 
 toward him, and I lapped his hand, to express my good 
 feeling towards him, but I could not be persuaded to 
 leave one so dear, no, not even to gain another friend. 
 
 It was our pleasure to make another interesting 
 acquaintance that of a lady, who was staying at this 
 
- 
 
 "I know you, old fellow. Come over here to me I" 
 
AT THE SEA SHORE 125 
 
 sea-side hotel. She had several very interesting pets, 
 which she had collected from all parts of the world. 
 Having been a great traveller, she had many very 
 beautiful and wonderful specimens. 
 
 I liked to get into her room, and was often invited 
 to see her pets. One day while she and my Beautiful 
 Lady were chatting, a white Persian Angora, which was 
 lying on a rug at her side, was taken suddenly sick, 
 and the lady said, "Someone must have fed my pet 
 meat and it has caused a spasm." She continued: 
 "The nervous system of cats is very highly developed. 
 That is why they so quickly climb a tree, or find the 
 nearest place in which to hide, when 'Scat!' is shouted 
 at them. They suffer so from fright that it is very 
 cruel to alarm them." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady had often chided me for chasing 
 cats, but I soon learned to obey, and to feel that it 
 was wrong to annoy or frighten anything. 
 
 The traveled lady and my mistress talked about 
 many kinds of cats, and told many stories of their 
 pranks and of their sufferings. 
 
 I wish to tell of a very interesting poet, who was also 
 stopping at the same hotel. His initials are T. W. R. 
 Can you guess who he is? Well, he and his friend 
 who was also a guest at the same hotel, told us some 
 very interesting incidents. One day as T. W. R. stood 
 before the tank of a hippopotamus, he looked into its 
 huge and apparently dull face, and it seemed to him 
 the expression was dejected and melancholy. He 
 spoke to the great beast in English, but got no response. 
 Then he said in Arabic, "I know you, old fellow. Come 
 over here to me." Instantly the big head turned, and 
 the eyes were fastened upon the speaker. The words 
 were repeated, and then the animal waddled up to the 
 
126 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 bars to let his new friend rub his head, expressing 
 appreciation and gladness to have met one that had a 
 fellow feeling for him. This gentleman said he had 
 spoken the native tongue to many animals, and found 
 them quick to respond. He also said he was positive 
 that all animals understand more human speech than 
 most people think they do. 
 
 Another guest, a very learned zoologist, in studying 
 the traits of tigers, lions and other animals, said, that 
 he found them possessing marked individual tastes 
 and widely varying disposition. He told us of a 
 tigress, Kitty, who was so ferocious that no one ever 
 entered her cage. She was so cross that, to use a say 
 ing, she must have hated herself. Nothing but growls 
 and a glaring of the fiery eyes whenever any one 
 approached the cage. Yet, the keeper 's wife, who was 
 a lover of animals, whenever she would gently wave 
 her small white handkerchief with a wooded perfume 
 before Kitty, speaking softly and most kindly her 
 name, the tigress, fascinated by the delicate odor, 
 would gradually become more passive. Presently 
 she would lie down very docile looking, half closing 
 her eyes. Sometimes she would go very near the bars 
 as though she would really like to have her head rubbed, 
 something all animals enjoy. In contrast to this wild 
 natured animal was a lion in a near cage, that was born 
 in his native land but had been brought to the zoo 
 when one year old. He was of a kindly disposition 
 and his keeper said that it had never been necessary 
 to punish him. He was at that time about fifteen 
 years of age, had always been passive and contented in 
 captivity, was as gentle as a kitten in his play and 
 looked for the usual caresses of his keeper, and would 
 
AT THE SEA SHORE 127 
 
 put his paw through the bars to shake hands with any 
 one, if his keeper asked him to. 
 
 Some animals are enraptured with the sound of soft 
 music, while it makes others howl with rage; some are 
 fond of small animals, which they fondle as pets, while 
 others are cross and treacherous to them. He also said, 
 "If people would make a study of the lives and traits 
 of animals, they would find many convincing proofs 
 of a capacity to enjoy pleasurable things, or to suffer 
 fear and pain, while they possess no small amount of 
 affection and reasoning powers." 
 
 A comical story was told of a baboon whose young 
 had died and a kitten was substituted. The bereaved 
 parent took kindly to the little kitten; brought it up 
 through the perils of infancy, and seemed satisfied with 
 its behavior, until one day wee kitty scratched its 
 foster-mother's nose. The baboon showed great sur 
 prise, and after deliberating a while seized the offender 
 by the neck, examined its foot, squeezed out each little 
 claw and promptly bit it off. 
 
 T. W. R. then told us of a horse he once owned, 
 which in a playful mood snapped at his master's shirt 
 sleeve, just as he had done many times before; this 
 time he bit into the flesh and hurt T. W. R. considerably. 
 Instead of scolding the horse, he showed him that he 
 was suffering with pain, and told him, kindly, never to 
 bite him again, with the result that the horse never 
 repeated the trick. 
 
 He told an incident of meeting at a strange house 
 a very savage dog who would not let him ring the 
 bell. Instead of trying to subdue the animal's anger 
 by threats, he reasoned with him kindly, just as he 
 would have done with a fellow-being. The dog began 
 
128 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 to show signs of relenting, and in a few moments was 
 licking the stranger's hand, as if to apologize for having 
 threatened to tear him to pieces. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady followed this story with several, 
 during the recital of which I clearly demonstrated that 
 I understood all ordinary conversation. I whacked my 
 tail upon the floor, and looked up into her face to let 
 her know that I knew that she was talking about me. 
 The gentleman nodded knowingly, and said, "It is 
 absurd to believe that all these demonstrations that 
 animals make are just accidental." 
 
 This noted writer, who had made himself a student 
 of dumb animals also, called me to him, and said he 
 could not understand how any person could look 
 into such eyes and not read in them thoughts quite 
 ready for expression. He spoke of my finely-shaped 
 head and graceful body. 
 
 To-night, in my revery, while telling you of these 
 people who had wise thoughts, such kind hearts, and 
 were living the true Christ life, I also recall many 
 beautiful faces I have seen faces that wore a light 
 which made you feel glad and comfortable. When you 
 were tired, to look at them rested you; when you were 
 in great trouble, it made you calm. Just now I am 
 thinking of one, of whom my Beautiful Lady said, "Her 
 influence was like a zephyr that has come across fields 
 aglow with fragrant flowers." 
 
 My Beautiful Lady and I often visited her in her 
 lovely mansion home, 267 Prospect Avenue. Her hair 
 was very, very white, but her eyes were young and 
 tender in their light, and her voice held the tone of 
 perfect love. I noticed that she was busy much of the 
 time sorting bundles of leaflets, and on them I saw 
 pictures of birds and animals. Her face was radiant 
 
AT THE SEA SHORE 129 
 
 with smiles, and I knew she was interested in her work, 
 whatever it happened to be. I am sure you will 
 know the picture of her face when you see it in my book. 
 
 In my travels, it has been very gratifying to find so 
 many defenders of our cause. Our suffering is caused 
 more through ignorance than mere maliciousness. 
 
 Tonight my Beautiful Lady has said, how thankful 
 I must be for the associations which I have been 
 privileged to have. 
 
 KINSHIP 
 BY ELLA WHEELEE WILCOX 
 
 I am the voice of the voiceless, 
 
 Through me the dumb shall speak, 
 Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear 
 
 The wrongs of the wordless weak. 
 
 From the street, from cage and kennel, 
 
 From stable and zoo the wail 
 Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin 
 
 Of the mighty against the frail. 
 
 Oh shame on the praying churchman 
 
 With his unstalled steed at the door, 
 Where the winter beats with snow and sleet. 
 
 And the summer sun rays pour. 
 
 Oh shame on the mothers of mortals 
 
 Who have not stopped to teach 
 Of the sorrow that lies in death's dumb eyes 
 
 The sorrow that has no speech. 
 
 The same force formed the sparrow 
 
 That fashioned man, the king; 
 The God of the whole gave a spark of soul 
 
 To furred and feathered thing. 
 
 And I am my brother's keeper 
 
 And I will fight his fight, 
 And speak the word for beast and bird 
 
 Till the world shall set things right. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 PEACEFUL DAYS 
 
 MY Beautiful Lady has said there comes a time 
 in everyone's life when there is experienced an 
 unusual feeling of peace and restfulness. Such a time 
 had come to me. All of my days had been surrounded 
 with such peace and happiness that perhaps I ought 
 not to say this, but these seemed the crowning ones to 
 me. 
 
 My master was very happy, and his business interests 
 were all a success. His trials, if he had any, were very 
 light. The boys were strong and well, and active in 
 harmless sports of childhood. My Beautiful Lady 
 seemed happier than ever, and her love for humanity 
 was bringing a rich reward into her life, making her 
 character more beautiful. 
 
 I slept on a rug near her bed, and where I could watch 
 her, and now and then lay my nose on her pillow to make 
 sure she was breathing, for I did not like to have her lie so 
 quiet. If the night was chilly, she would reach out her 
 hand to see if I was covered, and as it grew colder, she 
 would wrap my blanket about me. Every morning 
 it was hung out on the line to air, but if the day was 
 gray and damp it was folded and placed in the closet, 
 where I could get it and drag it out with my teeth; then 
 some one would cover me over. 
 
 Sometimes my Beautiful Lady had company who 
 did not like dogs, and then she would say: "Fanny, 
 go into the closet for a little while and lie on your 
 blanket." Sometimes she would send me to her bed- 
 
 130 
 
PEACEFUL DAYS 131 
 
 room. I never disobeyed her, but always went just 
 where she told me to go. 
 
 Once when Arthur disobeyed his mother she said 
 to him : " Cannot you be as respectful as a dog ? Fanny 
 always does as I ask her to, and she should be an example 
 to you." This touched Arthur's pride, and he at once 
 asked his mother's pardon. 
 
 These were also very interesting days in the boys* 
 lives, so much for them to learn to do, and I noticed 
 they were very thoughtful days for their mother. 
 
 While she gave them many precepts, yet she realized 
 there were mother duties for her to perform if their 
 lives became rounded and full. So she studied their 
 different characteristics, and arranged their rooms in 
 accordance with the taste of each. She often read 
 them stories of varying sentiments and craftsmanship, 
 that each mind might receive the training needed. 
 
 I never once heard my Beautiful Lady or my master 
 say to Arthur or Harry that he was in the way or that 
 they wished the boys would go out on the street or 
 to some neighbors to play; or that they could not sit 
 in the library to read and look over the most expensive 
 books. 
 
 They were never told that they could not go into 
 the parlors at any time even to entertain their boyhood 
 friends if they wished to. There were just certain 
 rooms that were private and not at all times for their 
 use. Those were my Beautiful Lady's, my master's, 
 the guests' rooms and the servants'. 
 
 At these doors they never entered without first 
 knocking and being invited in. Yet many, many 
 events and happy hours occurred even in those rooms 
 where some quiet time was passed in heart to heart 
 confidence, some social time with games, some merry 
 
132 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 making, or just any of those occasions among which 
 no one could mention all that weave the hours which 
 made those peaceful days. 
 
 As they grew older, they went alone to the public 
 libraries to select their best liked authors and books; 
 but she never failed to discuss the contents of the latter 
 with the boys, giving them wise words of counsel, 
 where needed. 
 
 They were never punished and seldom corrected in 
 the presence of others, but if their boyish natures over 
 came their good training and reprimand became neces 
 sary, she would send them from the room on some 
 errand, and they knew that meant they were not to return. 
 She did not punish for the first offense, but would talk 
 over the wrong which the injured one had received, and 
 then the effect it would have in building their char 
 acters. 
 
 She joined in all the games and amusements if they 
 wished her to, and entered into every interest of their 
 plans with the same zeal she expected of them when it 
 was their time to assist her. 
 
 Their hats and coats always hung where they be 
 longed. They did not have to be sent from the table, 
 because their hair was not brushed or their hands and 
 nails not clean. It did not seem a task to them to have 
 their appearance always tidy. They had a proper place 
 to keep everything belonging to them. 
 
 That was one thing I liked the boys were trained 
 when even small to have a certain care over their 
 clothes, to dust their shoes and place them in the closet, 
 and it was really a comfort to go in their rooms, which 
 were always nice and orderly. 
 
 Yet I recall that I once heard Arthur say, "Fanny 
 don't have to keep her room orderly. I wish I were a 
 
PEACEFUL DAYS 133 
 
 dog." His mother said, "If you were a dog, you 
 would have to live a dog's life, which is far less in 
 teresting than yours." I never again heard him make 
 such remarks. 
 
 Whenever plans were being made for the entertain 
 ment of guests in the home for a day or longer, it did 
 not matter if they were of new or long time acquain 
 tance or how distinguished, Arthur and Harry were 
 given a share of the time in which they had full charge 
 of the occasion. 
 
 If the visitors were friends for a day or a few hours, 
 perhaps it would be a surprise of some interesting or 
 humorish nature, but never rude. But if the guests 
 were from some other city, then the order of sight 
 seeing was usually most delightful. This plan gave 
 their mother time for needed rest and the usual daily 
 duties, while it helped the boys to feel orderly and 
 manly, and taught them how to appear at ease in the 
 presence of even strangers, and at all times to be 
 courteous and gallant. 
 
 They must have been charming in their manners 
 and attention, because each had many little gifts 
 received as tokens of pleasant memories on such 
 occasions. 
 
 If my Beautiful Lady spent a day in shopping, one 
 of the boys, even when quite young, always attended 
 her. They carried her money purse and learned to 
 pay each bill and expense correctly. They were so 
 thoughtful and attentive and became such good 
 shoppers, and guided their mother so tenderly that 
 she never seemed greatly wearied at the close of the day. 
 
 But the dinner hour was a time of relating most 
 pleasant and delightful experiences, and these even 
 ings numbered among the happiest ones. 
 
134 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 You would be surprised to know how busy their 
 mother kept them; how they helped her every day in 
 all the plans of the home, and yet she had a way of 
 doing it all which kept the boys from feeling their 
 work was drudgery, and she spoke of them as "Mother's 
 helpers. " 
 
 They learned to feel that no day was complete with 
 out the aid of their thoughts, their plans, and their 
 willing hands. There were so many birthdays to be 
 planned for, so many days to be remembered for some 
 special cause that as soon as the enjoyment of one was 
 over another must immediately be planned for. 
 
 They learned to make most delicious candies, but 
 they were never allowed to work in the kitchen until 
 the cook was all through, for they must not detain her. 
 Their mother said their candies were very pure and 
 inexpensive, and they always had pretty boxes filled 
 and ready to give away to friends on different occa 
 sions. 
 
 It made one's heart glad to know how kind Arthur 
 and Harry were in remembering to give their candies 
 to the people of homes where the delicate and some 
 times rich deserts were never found on the tables. 
 They had learned that the sugar was used in the body 
 to create energy, and sickly children were often bene 
 fited as well as made happy by the gift. 
 
 But there were always those little children who had 
 so much less than these boys of ours had that no end 
 of thoughtfulness came almost daily for such as they. 
 It was wonderfully interesting to look over the often 
 inexpensive yet pretty things they made. All of these 
 things filled in the niches between study, play, and 
 work, keeping them from even thinking of the games 
 in careless and dangerous street life, and I have heard 
 
PEACEFUL DAYS 135 
 
 other boys calling them to come out and play, but 
 Arthur would answer that he was too busy to go. 
 
 All these things made them very lovable boys. 
 Quietly and in secret, their mother laid many plans 
 that a chain of happiness which could hold the soul- 
 growth should not be broken. 
 
 I am anxious for my dear readers to know that I 
 came in for my part in the pleasures of those many 
 numbered peaceful days. Sometimes I did not feel at 
 all like a dog, but like some human creature. 
 
 I always looked forward to the morning with pleas 
 ure for then she went out to walk, and she nearly always 
 invited me to go with her. I would follow her about 
 the rooms watching her movements until she would 
 say: "You may go, Fanny.'* Then I would bark 
 and run and look out of the window, impatient until 
 she opened the door. I was glad to leap and run, 
 stretching my muscles from the long rest of the night. 
 
 I would often jump right over the back of other dogs, 
 just to give them a little start, and then leap on far 
 ahead and run back again to meet My Lady. You 
 know it was rare to see one of my kind, and the unusual 
 graceful motions of my body attracted the attention 
 of people and children everywhere. But when she 
 was going to visit the sick or on an errand where she 
 knew the people did not like dogs, she would say: 
 " Fanny, I can not take you with me this morning. 
 Be a good dog until I return." 
 
 Perhaps it was not right for me to show a spirit of 
 rebellion, but I would hang my head and creep into 
 a corner, feeling sadly disappointed. After she had 
 gone I would go to the window, put my feet on the 
 window sill, and look up and down the street as far 
 as I could see. If she were not in sight, I would talk 
 
136 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 in my dog-fashion to the housemaid for a few minutes 
 and run again to the window, watching until she 
 returned. Sometimes the maid would open the door 
 that I might lie on the porch. How glad I was when 
 I would see her coming, and with my fleetest bounds 
 I would rush to meet her. 
 
 Everybody who knew me praised my beauty, and 
 said, "What a wise dog". There was every reason 
 why I should be; my Creator made me beautiful, and 
 I had shared in the education of a gifted and studious 
 family. 
 
 Of course, certain dog characteristics always clung 
 to me, certain things of my nature which I enjoyed. 
 One was to cause the people to stop, look at me, and 
 laugh as I leaped over the backs of other dogs on the 
 street, perhaps circling around and around them, then 
 racing off with a speed that left all dogs behind me. 
 
 So many remarkable and pleasant incidents happened 
 around those peaceful days, that I scarcely know which 
 ones would be of greatest interest to you, but as I 
 cannot tell you all, I have mentioned a few among my 
 most pleasant memories. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE SAD VISIT 
 
 AFTER the beautiful picture of our peaceful days, 
 I deeply regret having to bring you face to face 
 with the changes that came to my Beautiful Lady and 
 to me, her faithful dog. 
 
 I wish there were some way I could meander around 
 and leave this chapter out of our story, but I can not. 
 Inevitably, sad events and occurrences came into our 
 lives as into this book, but they were like trials which 
 come into the lives of those who can speak and those 
 who can not speak. 
 
 Twelve as happy years as could come to any family, 
 or into a dog's life, had, like an unbroken chain, been 
 our experience. Again vacation time had come, bring 
 ing the day of our usual departure for dear Summer 
 Rest and the short trips which had always closed for 
 us a delightful season. 
 
 Again I had walked about the rooms, giving anxious 
 attention to every preparation. I had gone to the 
 street to see the trunks put into the bus and back to 
 my Beautiful Lady 's side to lay my face for a moment 
 close to her soft white dress and hear her speak my 
 name. 
 
 Once more at the depot, I tremblingly stood beside 
 Arthur while he held me by the chain as we waited 
 for the coming train. I knew that I must be fastened 
 in the baggage car alone from the family and again 
 pass through that unpleasant experience. I had never 
 been able to overcome that haunting sense of fear when 
 
 137 
 
138 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 traveling. What a longing look I always gave my 
 Beautiful Lady as she tenderly said good-bye and bade 
 me go like a good dog into the baggage car, as she 
 entered the coach. 
 
 This time I kept up a constant moaning and could 
 not stop the sobs which filled my throat. At last my 
 quivering nerves caused my whole frame to shake, and 
 the expressman, since he could not quiet me, sent for 
 Harry. How glad I was to see Harry and to hear 
 his kind voice. Oh! Many times my boy companion 
 proved my comforter. He told me not to shake with 
 such fear as nothing would harm me, but for some 
 reason I could not be calm. If he attempted to leave 
 me, I let out one long howl or a moaning cry which 
 brought him back to my side. 
 
 I coaxed him so hard that he remained with me much 
 of the time during that day, and for the first time in 
 my life, when night came I was taken into the apart 
 ment with the family and slept near my Beautiful 
 Lady until the daylight came. 
 
 At Summer Rest our train always arrived at noon 
 time. As soon as it stopped, my chain was unclasped 
 from its collar, and Oh ! with what joy I bounded to meet 
 my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 As soon as all were seated in the carriage and the 
 horses started, then I too started with my longest and 
 fleetest bounds down the street while people turned 
 to look and some who knew me best called, "There 
 goes Greyhound Fanny," but nothing could check 
 my speed, not even the cool shaded driveway which 
 crossed and recrossed the graceful curves of the wind 
 ing river, until I had covered the distance of that road, 
 so familiar to me. 
 
 I never failed to be the first to receive greetings from 
 
'Oh, how beautiful and consecrated was her love for my master!" 
 
THE SAD VISIT 139 
 
 dear grandmamma who always stood at the driveway 
 to welcome us all. There had been no changes at 
 Summer Rest: the same familiar faces; the ever-in 
 viting scenes about the house and grounds; the same 
 foot-paths which lead into old delightful experiences; 
 the same quiet restful evening hour when I lay on the 
 rustic seat beside my Beautiful Lady under the tall 
 poplars, watching for the evening mail which brought 
 those loving messages from my master. 
 
 While my Beautiful Lady was eagerly reading my 
 master's letter I would look with keen attention, and 
 when she had finished, she would allow me to lay my 
 nose upon the letter and as I caught a scent of my mas 
 ter, I wagged my tail and made those soft loving sounds 
 with my voice, which pleased my Beautiful Lady and 
 always caused her to give me another caress. 
 
 Oh, how beautiful and consecrated was her love for 
 my master! Many nights during their separation, I 
 have watched beside her bed, knowing of her restless 
 ness and discontent. I have so often wondered how 
 he could stay away so long, when I could not be away 
 from her one moment. 
 
 One evening during this visit, my Beautiful Lady 
 received a letter which she read aloud in most joyful 
 tones to all the family for her dear one was coming to 
 stay a few days at Summer Rest and then accompany 
 us on our extended trip. 
 
 As the hour drew near for my master's arrival, my 
 Beautiful Lady sent Arthur and Harry with the 
 carriage and horses to meet him, and I accompanied 
 them. 
 
 When we heard the whistling engine, there was a 
 glad shout "O here comes papa," and, as the train 
 stopped, two boys and a dog created an attractive 
 
140 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 scene; for I circled around him and barked so loudly 
 that he told me to be quiet and give the boys a chance 
 to talk. 
 
 At the gate my Beautiful Lady was watching, and 
 as she elapsed my master's hand and laid her head upon 
 hisi shoulder, I kept very close to her and rubbed my 
 nose against her dress, and talked to her, lest I should 
 be forgotten in her love for him. 
 
 After he had kissed her, oh, so fondly, she said, 
 "How happy I am to have you once more in this dear 
 old home where you first told me the old, sweet story 
 of love, while the answer in my eyes gave the promise 
 to be true. But come now into the house and see what 
 love has done to-day. I have prepared all alone with 
 my own hands a most bountiful dinner. Each thought 
 has been guided by your very own choice, even to the 
 dessert with its pyramid of pure beaten cream. Come 
 to the banquet, each guest awaits your presence!" 
 
 I could never forget, while I lived, that hour as I lay 
 on the porch with my nose resting upon my four paws, 
 watching the boys in their excitement eager to tell 
 their papa something of their good times; and others 
 who kept asking my master many questions, some 
 which caused everybody to laugh; and dear grand 
 mamma who asked my master so many times to have 
 another cup of tea; and the strangely wondrous light 
 in the eyes of my Beautiful Lady, the soft coloring 
 which came to her always pale cheeks. 
 
 It seemed that changing of the plates would never 
 end, and, O, the jealous fear that kept filling in my 
 heart until I could be quiet no longer, but just raised 
 my head for one long mournful howl. It startled 
 everybody, and I felt a lonely homesick feeling 
 something strange within me. My master and every- 
 
THE SAD VISIT 141 
 
 one spoke to me, my Beautiful Lady caressed me and 
 said, "Don't cry Fanny." I kissed her hand and was 
 more quiet as she laid it upon my head. 
 
 But something had caused a feeling to come into my 
 heart that I had never felt before, and for a long time 
 those moans, though I tried to hold them back, kept 
 on at intervals and toward evening I hid in a quiet 
 little room where no one could see me. 
 * Three happy days passed, each one filled even to an 
 overflow of enjoyment. Especially in the evenings, 
 there was a ring of merry voices, as my master joined 
 in the shadow-plays among the bushes and the 
 large spreading maples and locusts, where the moon 
 beams could not find a chance to drop their silvery 
 light. 
 
 The Lawrences came again as minstrels, and no one 
 who heard them could ever forget their voices as they 
 sang those sweet old songs. But I lay close to grand 
 ma as she sat and watched the others, or prepared 
 the plates of cake and cups of milk which gave the sig 
 nal for retiring. Again and again I was invited to 
 join the others in my usual way, but I could not, only 
 when the touch of that one most loved hand led me. 
 
 I do not wish my little readers to know all that I 
 suffered during those three days, the longest days I 
 had ever known. But early on the morning of the 
 fourth day the bus came to Summer Rest and took 
 our trunks to the depot. 
 
 That chain, though delicate and slender as a string 
 of pearls, was clasped to my collar, yet, as its links 
 softly came together I heard a grating, mournful sound, 
 and when Arthur said "Come Fanny," I sank back 
 upon my haunches and could not move. Then Harry 
 put his loving boy-companion arms about me and said 
 
142 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 "Fanny we are all going in the carriage now, why don't 
 you leap and play ahead as you always do?" How 
 could I refuse him? 
 
 Slowly I went on a few yards, and why I could not 
 tell, but turning back I clung to dear grandmamma, 
 kissing her hand in a pleading way to let me stay with 
 her. 
 
 My master called "Come, Fanny; old dog." 
 Quickly I ran and hid in my favorite corner. Then 
 came my Beautiful Lady who lay her cheek beside 
 my face and talked to me. This one I could never 
 disobey and so at last with downcast head, I slowly 
 went with them. 
 
 Soon we reached the depot and presently I heard 
 the shriek of the engine, then the "All Aboard" and 
 soon we were speeding on toward the home of my mas 
 ter 's parents. At a signal station four miles distant, 
 the train stopped and an elderly lady entered the car. 
 As the train pulled ahead, a white-haired doctor who 
 had known my Beautiful Lady since she was a little 
 child, was a passenger too. He was looking out of 
 the window and saw a dog running and yelping along, 
 and turning around he said, "Your greyhound is left 
 behind. She is making frantic attempts to keep up 
 with the train.'* 
 
 My Beautiful Lady became excited and looking 
 out of the window yes, there was her dog darting 
 along. Back upon the cushioned seats she sank and 
 covering her face with her hands began to cry. My 
 master tried to comfort her by saying they would stop 
 at the next station until I was found, but fear that I 
 would somehow be lost caused her still to worry and 
 say she wished she had left me with grandma for I had 
 known that it was not best to go on this journey. 
 
THE SAD VISIT 143 
 
 The next station was not many miles, and just a 
 little way off Harry thought he would go in and ask 
 the expressman how I got out when I had been chained. 
 As soon as he opened the door, there he saw me crouched 
 in the corner. Without stopping to comfort me, 
 he hastened back to his mother to tell her I was safe 
 in the car. 
 
 The incident of a "lost dog" and later of how she was 
 found had gradually spread among the passengers un 
 til it became known to the "dear old lady. " She then 
 told my Beautiful Lady that it was her dog "Beauty" 
 which she had left at the station. 
 
 Nothing further occurred of particular mention and 
 we reached the end of this journey, where I was again 
 glad to be released and feel my feet upon the ground. 
 
 At my master's parents our summer stay was short 
 because they lived in a very large city and the winter 
 visits were much longer and pleasanter. 
 
 But everything seemed so different here, and I was 
 possessed with a strange fear that I could not account 
 for. I wanted to be near my Beautiful Lady. I 
 could not leave her for a moment. I kept close be 
 side her, and tried so hard to let her know of my fear, 
 but if she realized that it had come to be an abiding 
 thing with me, she did not tell me, unless by her man 
 ner, which seemed more gentle and loving, more kind 
 than ever, as though to soften our parting. 
 
 In a few days, my master announced his intention 
 of leaving, and soon we were in readiness to depart. 
 Again I was filled with fear, and my heart was beating 
 so wildly I could hardly stand. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady was so compassionate, and 
 strove to quiet my low moans. While she was stroking 
 my head and promising me I should not be shut into 
 
144 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 the baggage car again, my master appeared at the 
 door of the room she had occupied and said to her, 
 "I am not going to take Fanny home with us. I 
 think you have cared for her too long; your health is 
 very poor, and she will be looked after with as much 
 kindness as we have shown her. Father has found a 
 new home for her. " 
 
 Do you think this was a sudden blow to my Beauti 
 ful Lady? It was not, for she, as well as I, had ex 
 pected something, just what we did not know. For 
 some time she had heard that a gentleman living near 
 my master's father had coveted me, and had made 
 several offers for me, but always until now she had 
 been able to protect me, and had induced my master 
 to refuse these offers. Now, however, she knew that 
 further appeal was useless, and while my master was 
 clasping the chain to my collar, she covered her eyes 
 and sobbed as if her heart would break. After a mo 
 ment, and hardly glancing at me, she left the room 
 fairly overcome with grief. 
 
 I shall not try to describe what the following mo 
 ments were to us. I did not see her again, and she 
 never told me what occurred, so I will leave that dread 
 ful hour to my readers to picture. As for me, I shall 
 never forget that moment, when I knew that real 
 sorrow had entered her life and mine. 
 
 When my master led me away, the chain he clasped 
 to my collar was all composed of links of sorrow, and 
 they jangled like bells out of tune, and seemed to me 
 to be playing a funeral march. 
 
 At last I was led into a strange barn and left with a 
 strange man. After my master left me my frenzy 
 became so great that I tried to tear down the walls. 
 I could only jump around in a wild attempt to escape. 
 
THE SAD VISIT 145 
 
 My strength was gone, and those links of sorrow held 
 me fast. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady did not come to see me. Had 
 the outgoing train carried her away? When last I 
 saw her, she was helpless and I was speechless. O, how 
 my moaning disturbed the stillness. We were parted. 
 Would I ever again see my Beautiful Lady? 
 
 THE ANGEL OF MERCY 
 
 "O'er all our cruel acts and plans 
 A silent angel pitying stands, 
 And all the groans of those distressed 
 She treasures in her tender breast. 
 
 She notes the burdens borne by those 
 Who cannot speak their griefs or woes, 
 The hand upraised in anger wild 
 'Gainst faithful beast or helpless child. 
 
 And when at last her soft white hand, 
 Raised in compassion or command, 
 The cruel man disdains to hear, 
 Her Sword of Justice he may fear." 
 
CHAPTER XVIH 
 
 HUMAN ERROR 
 
 " The greatest attribute of heaven is Mercy." 
 
 NO doubt the occurrence related in my last chap 
 ter has surprised my readers. You perhaps 
 question how it was possible for such a circumstance 
 to occur. How it was possible for my master to dispose 
 of me in such a heartless way; how it was possible that 
 he should grieve my Beautiful Lady, whom he loved. 
 But it is all true that he did not possess that sense of 
 feeling which guides one in the delicate natures of the 
 two separate kingdoms of love. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady and myself wish for many rea 
 sons that this chapter might have been dropped out of 
 my book of life, but it cannot be, for I want to show 
 how trials are put upon animals as well as people, but 
 for what, a dog cannot say. In justice to my master I 
 would remind my readers that it is human to err, and 
 that everyone does not have the same estimate of right 
 and wrong. There is something wrong in their nature, 
 or, it may be the result of a lack of an early heart- 
 culture in them. No doubt my master believed what 
 he did was right to do, and why he believed his 
 action right was because he did not know how much 
 a dog may suffer, nor how deep and tender the feeling 
 in a human heart may be for a dumb creature. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady kept hidden from him much of 
 the pain she had felt at our separation, because she 
 knew he did not fully understand. She knew that 
 
 146 
 
HUMAN ERROR 147 
 
 sacrifice and suffering alone could work out, through 
 length of days, the lesson to him of what his act would 
 mean to us all. 
 
 Thus, only on a few occasions did she plead with him 
 for my restoration, but firmly trusted in kind Provi 
 dence to correct this mistake as well as others, and 
 bring forth those fruits of the Spirit which make in 
 all the new life. 
 
 When my Beautiful Lady repeated the Savior's 
 words, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive others,'* she 
 realized that He knew all would need forgiveness, and 
 when she felt her love for my master was helping her 
 to endure his unkind act, she thought she knew some 
 thing of that love of the Heavenly Father which bears 
 with the erring and forgives even wicked acts. 
 
 She could not, however, understand my master's 
 disregard of her wishes in this instance, since he had 
 shown such though tfulness in everything else. Nothing 
 that money could purchase was denied; her comfort was 
 consulted on all occasions. A new and favorite picture 
 was placed on the wall to surprise her, an easy rocker 
 was put in her room, and a thousand such acts were 
 of common occurrence. 
 
 She tried to comfort herself with the thought of how 
 grateful she should be that her precious boys were left, 
 that neither had been the victim of some terrible 
 accident, that death or other cause had not separated 
 them from her. Or, how if I, like many another dog, 
 had died a peaceful death, she could have mourned 
 for me, as her faithful companion, and become recon 
 ciled in a natural way. 
 
 Thus she struggled with her grief, until she was 
 taken suddenly ill, and was sick for many weeks. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 DEPTHS OP SORROW 
 
 "The charm of man is kindness" 
 
 IT was with a surgeon my master left me, and 
 he was my new owner. His barn was on a 
 public street, and my cries and moans disturbed so 
 many people that he was obliged to take me into his 
 house, which was in a more secluded place. 
 
 As the surgeon lead me along the path to the 
 house I met a hateful looking woman, who was cross 
 to a child, which added to my distress. The links 
 in my chain were jangling the notes of sorrow, and 
 I was so weak I could scarcely stand. I had re 
 fused all food for several days, and had tasted only 
 water. 
 
 When this hateful looking woman saw me she began 
 scolding the man, and asked him if he thought she was 
 going to have that ugly-looking hound around her 
 house. My master told her I was a very harmless 
 creature, and had been owned by a lady who had made 
 of me a companion, and that he wished to keep me in 
 the house until I had overcome my grief and regained 
 my appetite; that he had paid a large sum of money for 
 me and could not afford to let me die. In answer to his 
 statements she said a good many things about nasty 
 and dirty dogs, and further remarked that she had 
 youngsters enough to bother her without having a 
 dog to care for. 
 
 I wanted to tell her how useful I could be in helping 
 
 143 
 
DEPTHS OF SORROW 149 
 
 her to care for and watch the children, but somehow 
 I shrank from even trying to speak to her. 
 
 She was clean and neatly dressed, and her outward 
 appearance should have indicated a better nature than 
 her words expressed. But there was something wrong 
 about this woman. She did not like me and I did not 
 like her, and as I looked sharply into her face, I could 
 see that she lacked what my Beautiful Lady calls 
 heart-culture. 
 
 I was left in the yard for a short time, and the children 
 gathered about me, pulling my ears and pushing me 
 about. I thought they acted very much like the 
 woman. 
 
 After a while the man led me into the house, and 
 everything looked nice, but, oh! it was not my home. 
 That flashed through my mind and I gave a long loud 
 howl, which made the woman very angry, and she 
 declared I should go back to the barn. It seemed to 
 me that the surgeon also feared her, for he lead me back 
 and tied me fast. And, now I was utterly miserable, and 
 I gave vent to my feelings by a series of loud howls, so 
 mournful and distressing that several of the neighbors 
 came to see what sort of an animal I was. Some of 
 these curious seers pleaded that I should be untied, 
 and others declared they would not be kept awake at 
 night by my unearthly howls. 
 
 Would not my own Beautiful Lady come to my 
 rescue? Would she never come to release me? She 
 would understand why I cried. She would know that 
 I was broken-hearted, and that I should be pitied and 
 comforted. 
 
 When this state of wretchedness had gone on for at 
 least two weeks, my former master's father heard of the 
 trouble I was making, and he came to see me. 
 
150 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 He and the surgeon came into the stable, and at the 
 sight of one I knew I leaped forward, but my chain 
 held me and I fell suddenly upon the floor, striking 
 my side which caused an added pain. 
 
 He was a very kindly natured man, and coming to 
 help me he said, "Fanny, Fanny, poor dog." Look 
 ing gladly into his face as he caressed me, I lapped his 
 hand in gratitude and because his presence brought 
 the thought nearer to me of my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 Pretty soon that hateful-looking woman came to the 
 barn and told my former master's father to take me away, 
 and again said some dreadful things about dogs. Then 
 my master's father unclasped that awful chain, and 
 while I was too weak to get along very rapidly, I braced 
 up, and, comforted by his cheering words, I managed 
 to rub my side against him, the first person I had shown 
 any fondness for since I last saw him, and I tried to 
 trot along as best I could, expressing my willingness 
 to go, for did I not know that this might lead me to 
 find my Beautiful Lady? 
 
 When I reached those steps leading into the house 
 in which we had parted I bounded in, and running 
 from room to room searched for her, my Beautiful Lady. 
 She was not there, and how bitter my disappointment. 
 I sank exhausted, and moaned out my grief. Food was 
 offered to me, but as yet I could not taste it. In the 
 evening time a comforting thought came to me might 
 she not return soon? and I would watch and wait. 
 Then I laid down in the corner of the room to watch 
 for that beautiful face that had vanished, but believed 
 it would again become visible. 
 
 Let me tell you of the house where I waited so pa 
 tiently for my Beautiful Lady to return and rescue me. 
 It was on a sloping street, with rows of dwellings on 
 
DEPTHS OF SORROW 151 
 
 either side. If you were passing down that way, one 
 home would attract your attention more than all the 
 rest. I remember several places which mark times of 
 pleasure and times of sorrow, but this one spot made a 
 deeper impression than any of the others. The house 
 was of grey stone with piazzas running out towards 
 the old trees and sloping yard. Hollyhocks, roses, 
 dahlias, and sunflowers bordered two sides of the 
 place. Everything bore the mark of neatness and 
 exactness, and an old couple lived in that house, and 
 they, too, and their appearance agreed with the sur 
 roundings. 
 
 Inside of that house there was not a child to break 
 the quietude, and there was an air about it that made 
 you dread to move even a paper lest it disturb the 
 perfect order. The surroundings and furnishing of that 
 house indicated comfort and ease, yet there was nothing 
 really to indicate the thought that real happiness dwelt 
 therein. There were no harsh words spoken, no way 
 ward feet straying in at late night, nor sign of intem 
 perance, but for some reason the true ring of gladsome 
 life was missing. 
 
 And again I had been brought to this home, perhaps 
 to stay, where I would have a quiet, comfortable life, 
 plenty to eat, and where I would be, in a way, kindly 
 treated. 
 
 But I wandered through the rooms. In some of 
 them the shades were always drawn over the windows, 
 and the sunlight never fell over the rich carpets upon 
 the floor. 
 
 Sometimes through all the long day that plaintive 
 moan would escape my spirit, and on those days I 
 would go to the window, and resting my paws upon 
 the sill as I had done when she had left me for but one 
 
152 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 hour I again watched patiently and long to catch a 
 glimpse of that beautiful white-robed figure coming 
 from the distance. 
 
 how gladly I would have leaped out the door, 
 tearing up the very ground beneath my bounding feet 
 as I went to meet her, closing her in circles around and 
 around as I had done in days now past. 
 
 Never before had I used my voice in so many differ 
 ent tones trying to talk as people do. Sometimes it 
 seemed I would speak the words that would tell my 
 plaintive story. 
 
 Some one would ask, "Does Fanny want a drink? 
 Would Fanny like to take a walk? " and other questions, 
 but never the one which I ever listened to hear: 
 
 "Does Fanny want to go home?" 
 
 1 had heard my Beautiful Lady often say, "Some peo 
 ple understand the wants of animals and their language 
 more quickly than others. So I watched so earnestly 
 and searched so anxiously the faces of everyone, and 
 tried so hard to find one that could understand me. 
 Sometimes I felt that there were some who did, and 
 yet none really heeded my supplications, or relieved 
 me of my sorrow. I never tired of looking into faces, 
 always with the question in my eyes, will she come home 
 along this street, or which way may I look for her? 
 How meaningless, though, to these people were my 
 ways of talking. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady had taught me not to go in the 
 streets alone as many dogs do, and so the habit of 
 staying at home had become so fixed I did not try to 
 leave the place, until one day when my loneliness was 
 so terrible I could bear it no longer, and diligently I 
 began my search on the streets for my Beautiful Lady. 
 
 I saw many faces, and few passed me to whom I did 
 
DEPTHS OF SORROW 153 
 
 not appeal, either with a pleading look or a short, low 
 moan. But, none seemed to notice me, and so the days 
 rolled on. At last hope gave way to despair and I 
 became apparently calm. No doubt many of my read 
 ers may think that I had ceased to care; that dog's love 
 was not really deep and lasting. But into my life there 
 came a something which I cannot name. I grew tired, 
 and could no longer leap and play and frolic; so I 
 would lay still for hours, with my eyes closed, but ever 
 waiting and listening for that soft foot-fall, whose sound 
 could never be lost to my ear. 
 
 When the days grew cold and stormy, and some 
 kind hand threw a blanket over me, as I lay dozing, 
 I would raise my head quickly, thinking it was my 
 Beautiful Lady, and before the hand was drawn away 
 I had kissed only the shadow and not the substance. 
 
 Many dogs, no doubt, would have been satisfied and 
 contented if a comfortable place had been provided for 
 them, just as some people are, and forget in their ease 
 and comfort the absence of the loved one. 
 
 I have told you how cold the days had grown, but 
 one day, a strange warmth, a new warmth of love filled 
 me all through and I grew warm and happy, for close 
 beside me lay a little, pulsing, soulful creature. I 
 knew that it was mine to love, and I kissed it again and 
 again, thinking how I would live for that little life. 
 How pleased my Beautiful Lady would have been to 
 see it. How glad I would have been could it have felt 
 that gentle touch from her hand which I had known. 
 
 In these first days of my new joy as the little warm 
 life lay beside me I rested more and slept in better con 
 tentment as my puppy slept, and because I was speech 
 less and could not say that I still missed all that had 
 been dear in my life, those around me said that I 
 
154 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 had forgotten. But often as I lay watching, I still 
 listened for her footsteps. How happy I would have 
 been to let her hold my baby against her heart, to love 
 it as I had seen her love other helpless little creatures. 
 
 My beautiful puppy grew, becoming playful just as 
 little puppies do. Often in its playfulness it cuffed my 
 ears or bit my nose, jumped and rolled over me, and 
 amused its poor mother very much. 
 
 But one day a woman came to call at this house. 
 When she saw my puppy, she said it was the most 
 cunning little thing she had ever seen, and it leaped 
 about so gracefully in its play. She immediately 
 wished to take it with her, and offered some money 
 to Mr. French. He told her that neither the puppy 
 nor the mother belonged to him, but that he would see 
 about it. 
 
 I sensed this woman was not a friend to me and 
 growled a warning for her to keep away. As many 
 other animal mothers have done, I tried to hide my 
 baby but could find no hiding place, so watched more 
 anxiously its frolicsome ways, and was suspicious of 
 every one. One day my chain was clasped to my col 
 lar about my neck. I drew back and did not want to 
 go, yet yielded as a kindly voice said, " Come, Fanny, 
 for a little walk." When I returned O my baby was 
 gone! Again, speechless and helpless, I sank down, 
 this time too discouraged and broken-hearted to express 
 my grief as on former occasions. Its home might be a 
 desirable one, yet after all I had suffered, would it not 
 have been more humane had I been left this one 
 pleasure? True. I was only a dog, yet defenseless, 
 harmless and faithful. If a human heart can pass 
 through "Rivers of sorrow," had I not found the trail, 
 and was I not going that way? 
 
' My beautiful puppy grew, becoming playful, just as little puppies do. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 INTO THE GREAT CITY 
 
 SOME lives ever carry a burden of sorrow, while 
 others breathe a perpetual song of joy. I do 
 not know why this is so; nor can I explain why, that 
 since the last sad day on which I beheld the face of my 
 Beautiful Lady, sorrow has been my portion, with only 
 now and then a flash of ragged sunshine. The shadows 
 have lengthened, until gloom and greyness furnished 
 the background, against which all things stood out in 
 bold relief. 
 
 On one of those days, when I felt more sharply the 
 old sorrow, the door-bell rang, and the surgeon, who 
 was still my owner, accompanied by a strange man 
 entered, and after looking me all over held a conversa 
 tion with the parents of my former master, with whom 
 I was still staying. A roll of paper was taken from the 
 pocket of the stranger and handed to the surgeon. In 
 a few minutes I had a new master, Mr. Grant, by 
 name. Again that collar and chain was fastened about 
 my neck, and I was compelled to follow the stranger. 
 
 I was not sorry to leave, for had I not suffered here? 
 had I not been bereft of my cunning baby, that could 
 have comforted me and have helped me to bear the loss 
 of my Beautiful Lady? But a new and startling 
 thought came to me. Perhaps I was going to my 
 Beautiful Lady. We were certainly going to some train, 
 for I heard a ringing bell, and a shrieking whistle, and 
 in a moment I was pulled into a baggage car and fast 
 ened securely. Again the old, haunting fear came over 
 
 155 
 
156 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 me, and I began to look for Harry. Would he not come 
 to my rescue, or at least come to comfort me? I waited 
 in vain. The train sped along with a dull, rumbling 
 sound, and swaying from side to side, with an occa 
 sional stop. 
 
 Finally came the glimmerings of day, which for once, 
 at least, were most welcome. Pretty soon the train 
 made a longer stop than usual, and Mr. Grant came 
 to lead me away, and into what I thought must be 
 another world, for the most awful feeling of loneliness 
 took possession of me, that I was now surely separated 
 from everything, everybody, that I had ever before 
 known. My new master spoke kindly to me, and 
 patted my head, as if he knew I had been lonesome. 
 
 From the train we went directly to a sort of vehicle 
 with windows and doors, and which looked quite like 
 a house. I had seen such a vehicle before, and had 
 sped along by its rumbling wheels, while my Beautiful 
 Lady rode within, but now my new master took me, 
 and placed me in the carriage, and we were driven 
 hurriedly away for a long distance. 
 
 I shall never forget how I felt as I rode along through 
 this great bustling city. I suppose it was the awful 
 state of mind I had experienced for so long a time 
 which made everything seem so horribly unreal. I 
 was excited and confused. Such tall buildings, they 
 almost reached the sky, and to me the streets seemed 
 crowded and narrow, so that people and animals were 
 rushing along in endless confusion. 
 
 I was glad to be taken into Mr. Grant's house and 
 away from the distracting scenes of the latter part of 
 my journey. Mrs. Grant and the two boys, Lee and 
 Charlie, met us at the door. They seemed as glad to 
 see me, as if I had been an old friend, and they had 
 
INTO THE GREAT CITY 157 
 
 been expecting my arrival. But I was indifferent to 
 them, for I was tired and hungry, and in regard to 
 this last matter, the boys were very thoughtful, for 
 they asked the cook to please feed me at once. 
 
 In the house there were soft rugs and carpets, and 
 beautiful pictures, and many brilliant flowering plants. 
 There were comforts for which any dog, lest fortunate 
 than myself and under different circumstances, would 
 have been truly grateful. But to me it was a strange 
 home and a strange city, and that strange feeling which 
 had entered my breast was still apparent. I was 
 neither content nor grateful. When my bedtime came 
 I found there was a kennel in the yard in which I was 
 to sleep, to live, and my readers know quite well, that 
 arrangement was not according to my taste. 
 
 About two weeks after my arrival at this home, I 
 was unchained and allowed my liberty. I had been 
 treated kindly, but I had resolved if ever I was un 
 chained, to search for my Beautiful Lady, for it was 
 her loss to me that had changed my life, and I had not 
 forgotten my grief, and as some might suppose, my 
 longing for the tender influence of her love was still 
 alive within me. This was my time and opportunity 
 to go. 
 
 The day of my escape I wandered about the great 
 city, saw many dogs, but either they or myself lacked 
 the spirit of sociability, and so I wandered on alone. 
 The first night I went to bed supperless, and slept in 
 an alley, as I found that many other poor dogs did, 
 as well as some poor people, even little children. 
 
 Some time during the night I awoke, chilled and 
 wretched. I tried to find a warmer spot, but could not 
 do so and so I shook and trembled until daylight. 
 Then as I was so hungry I tried the experiment of 
 
158 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 getting my breakfast out of the garbage boxes and 
 barrels. Yes, I was very hungry, but when I saw that 
 there were little children too, trying to get scraps of 
 food that was not fit for a dog to eat, I moved away, 
 and let the children have whatever they could find. 
 
 I had always been fed by my Beautiful Lady, and my 
 food had been sweet and clean. I could not relish the 
 food that other dogs seemed to, and as I was very 
 hungry, I concluded to find my way back to my new 
 master. 
 
 I wandered from street to street, dodging the crowds, 
 as best I could, and in my own dog fashion, seeking to 
 retrace my footsteps and follow the previous path. 
 Some time after the noon hour I noticed several nice 
 looking and well dressed young men going towards a 
 very large building which stood somewhat apart from 
 the others. These men were talking very earnestly, 
 and did not seem to notice me, although I was close at 
 their heels, determined to know where they were going. 
 They ascended the broad, marble steps, and I followed 
 them through a long hall, with rooms on either side. 
 I looked into some of these rooms, where the doors were 
 standing open, and within were a few bright, happy 
 young girls and a larger number of young men. 
 
 I was so tired and hungry that I dropped down upon 
 the floor in the corner of one room, but nobody seemed 
 to notice me. In a few minutes a fine-looking young 
 gentleman mounted a platform and began talking. I 
 could not understand all, but the following is enough 
 to convince any one of his subject, he said: "My time 
 is limited bearing upon the present question in dis 
 cussion. But I find myself taking an opposite view to 
 the majority of my professional brethren," and then 
 he made a long speech, which was so tedious and made 
 
INTO THE GREAT CITY 159 
 
 me so unhappy that I tried not to hear all that he said, 
 and what I did hear I tried to forget. 
 
 The gentleman finished after a while, and then a 
 beautiful and gentle- voiced lady read something from 
 the paper which she held in her hand, and after she 
 had finished a few clapped their hands and waved their 
 handkerchiefs. 
 
 "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh up 
 rightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that 
 shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth 
 his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes 
 from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high." 
 
 I saw there was going to be a commotion, for the 
 people did not agree, and so I got up cautiously and 
 went out, making as little noise as possible, for I was 
 afraid to have any one know that I was there. I 
 remember how distressed I was lest I should not make 
 my escape. 
 
 When I reached the street, I started off on a dog 
 trot, making my way through the crowd as swiftly as 
 possible. It was just at dinner time when I came in 
 sight of Mr. Grant's home which I had left with a 
 discouraged heart two days before. As I bounded up 
 the steps I felt glad to see faces at the window which 
 I knew, and one of the boys opened the door and called 
 out: "Oh, Fanny has come back; run quickly, broth 
 er, and tell the cook to give her something to eat, for 
 she must be very hungry." 
 
 I was hungry, as you all know, and felt that I had 
 reached home. Every one in the family was pleased 
 to see me, and I was cared for and petted to my satis 
 faction. 
 
 I was so very tired that I soon went to my bed and 
 fell asleep, to bark in my dreams as I chased along 
 
160 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 the pleasant drives with my dear Lady, watching the 
 innocent rabbits in their evening play upon the grass 
 and amid the slender ferns, while the wolf and the 
 lamb, the leopard and kid, the lion and the calf, lay 
 down together. A little child was playing about them, 
 and all were happy because the angels, Love and Mer 
 cy, were there shedding light from their beautiful, 
 peaceful wings over all that lovely scene. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 A WANDERER 
 
 " The greatest attribute of heaven is Mercy." 
 
 I WONDER if any of my readers have ever been 
 a wanderer. I wonder if they know what it is 
 that makes one want to wander; that feeling which 
 makes you get up when you want to lie down; makes 
 you lie down when you want to get up, when you are 
 lying in one corner makes you want to lie in another 
 corner. That feeling which makes you want to go from 
 place to place, from street to street, from house to 
 house, just as though an awful chain was about your 
 neck, pulling you hither and thither. If you have ever 
 suffered that unrest you will know how to sympathize 
 with me. 
 
 Dear readers, will you not help me, in my simple 
 dog-fashion, somehow to instill into the hearts of 
 humanity a more tender spirit of charity for those who 
 are wanderers, though they are only helpless, miserable 
 dogs? 
 
 After returning to Mr. Grant's, I was again chained 
 and kept in captivity, until one of the boys released me 
 for a little change, as he said. I was glad to be freed and 
 glad to get into the house. I looked through all of the 
 rooms, and finally lay down in the family room, but 
 the feeling of contentment did not return to me. 
 
 When I was sure that none of my master's household 
 was observing me I slipped quietly out and went slowly 
 down the street, crossing from one side to the other. 
 
 161 
 
162 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 In this aimless way I wandered along until nearly night 
 fall, when I stopped to watch some children at play in 
 a yard. I observed that the gate was standing open, 
 and so I made bold to walk in. One of the little girls 
 saw me, began to cry and ran away, but a little boy, 
 with long curls walked up to me and patted my neck. 
 I was very kind to him, you may be sure, and kissed 
 his soft little hand for he looked like Harry. A much 
 larger boy came along and spoke kindly to me, and in 
 vited me to come into the house. As we entered, I 
 heard him say to a lady who was standing in the 
 doorway, "Auntie, this is a well mannered and very 
 valuable dog. Had we not better keep her and adver 
 tise where she is? 
 
 The family began to talk about me, but I was so 
 tired I paid little attention and lay down on the soft 
 carpet to rest. Presently the little boy with long 
 curls came into the house, sat down beside me and 
 stroked me so gently. At dinner time I was fed, then 
 a chain was put about my neck and I was tied in the 
 carriage house. 
 
 No one came to claim me, and after several days I 
 was again given my freedom and allowed to play in the 
 yard with the children. 
 
 It was not long then until the spirit of restlessness 
 took possession of me, and I again began to wander. 
 I looked around to see if any of the family were watch 
 ing me, and as no one was looking, no good-byes were 
 spoken. 
 
 Some time during the day, and while I was wander 
 ing aimlessly along the street, I met Mr. Grant, and 
 as soon as he spied me he called out, "Here, Fanny, 
 Fanny!" I was glad to see him, and ran quickly when 
 he called. He took me into a tall building, where I 
 
A WANDERER 163 
 
 had never been before. It looked clean and pleasant, 
 still there was nothing soft for me to lie upon, and so I 
 curled myself in a corner and wondered what would 
 now happen to me. When the day was done Mr. 
 Grant led me to a street-crossing and we jumped 
 aboard a street car. I sat close to his feet, and when 
 the car stopped we were again at the home of Mr. 
 Grant. Again I saw the same boy faces at the window 
 watching, and when they saw me they shouted: Oh, 
 papa! you have found Fanny, but she is such a naughty 
 dog that we do not like her any more." I hung my head 
 for I knew that there was something wrong about me. 
 I had been well-treated. The boys had been my friends, 
 but I had run away and wandered about the streets, 
 like any other ill-natured and ill-mannered dog. I did 
 not feel that I was welcome, but I determined to stay 
 with these friends and be a good dog. What would my 
 Beautiful Lady say if she knew of my wandering street 
 life? 
 
 But the very first day I was left alone that homeless, 
 restless feeling became so strong within me that I 
 wandered from what should have been to me a palatial 
 and sheltered abiding place. 
 
 What happened to me this day my readers will not 
 care to hear, except that I got into a fight with a large 
 dog over a dirty bone. Surely it was the bone of con 
 tention. The big dog thought the bone belonged to 
 him, and I wanted it, and for the first time in my life 
 I growled and snapped my teeth with a full intention 
 to bite. But the big dog got the better of me and bit 
 an ugly hole in my side, and I ran howling down the 
 street. 
 
 Presently I met some boys who exclaimed, "Look 
 at that dog's side, it is all bloody." They did not seem 
 
164 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 to feel afraid of me, as many would have been, but held 
 out their hands, and coaxing said, "Doggie, doggie, 
 come here doggie." 
 
 I walked up to the boys very meekly, and, licking 
 their hands, tried to tell them in my dog language that 
 although I looked like a bad dog, and though I had been 
 in bad company, I had been well brought up; I had 
 been taught good manners and I knew how to be grate 
 ful for a kindness. 
 
 I think the boys understood my thoughts, for one 
 of them said, "Let's take the dog home with us. We 
 must not touch these wounds with our hands, and I 
 know that nurse will wash them with warm water and 
 something that will cleanse them and ease the pain." 
 
 I followed the boys willingly, and was taken to a 
 stable that looked fine enough to be a dwelling house. 
 I was very patient while the coachman assisted the 
 kind woman to bind up my wound. I remembered 
 that night of a time when some very hot water was 
 accidently spilled on my side and my own Beautiful 
 Lady cared for the burn until it was well. 
 
 I thought all night of my Beautiful Lady, and it 
 seemed that I must start out again to find her, but 
 where should I go? I was very restless and was glad 
 when the morning came, for the kind nurse put some 
 drops of soothing oil on my sore side, and then the good 
 boys brought my nice breakfast. My new friends were 
 so kind to me that I concluded to give up a wandering 
 life. 
 
 I remained quiet that day until it began to grow 
 dusk. Then I became lonely and went into the house, 
 laying down on the soft rug. Presently a woman saw 
 me and told the boys to take me back to the stable at 
 once, as I might go mad and have hydrophobia, and 
 
A WANDERER 165 
 
 that only lapdogs should be allowed to sieep in the 
 house. She did not know that I had been sheltered 
 as tenderly as those she mentioned, so I did not feel 
 unkindly toward her. The boys respectfully protested, 
 and their father said: 
 
 "English greyhounds do not have hydrophobia, a 
 fact which makes them especially desirable pets for 
 children. Only rabies can cause it in other dogs, and 
 this can be avoided by proper care of dogs. I do not 
 think the dog will do any harm, for she shows excellent 
 bringing up and must have been accustomed to a place 
 in the house, for like a real lady she has walked in and 
 taken a place as though perfectly at home. She is a 
 very knowing dog, and one I should not be afraid to 
 shelter." 
 
 I whacked my tail upon the floor real hard, to let 
 him know that I was pleased, and then I walked very 
 slowly across the room and looked up into his face. I 
 wanted to talk in his language, but could not, of course, 
 express myself so that he would understand me, and 
 so I only whined softly and just wagged my tail a 
 little. 
 
 The boys seemed to understand me, and one of 
 them laughed and said, "Oh! she is talking to you. 
 papa. Isn't she a nice dog?" 
 
 The father replied, "She certainly is. I think she 
 has either lost her master or was stolen and whoever 
 owns her will be glad to find her." 
 
 " Shall we not try to keep her until someone comes for 
 her?" one of the boys asked. 
 
 "We surely shall not turn her out into the street, 
 but she must have her freedom to come and go, then 
 perhaps she will find her way home. But it seems 
 strange that she did not go to her home as soon as she 
 
166 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 was hurt instead of coming with you, if she knew her 
 way." 
 
 "I hope no one will call for her, then she can be our 
 doggie," said little Tommy. 
 
 "But do you not want to do as you would be done 
 by?" the father chided. 
 
 "I will try to, papa," he answered. 
 
 As nothing further was said about my going out into 
 the barn, I took it for granted that I was to stay in the 
 house, and gave a sigh of relief, and with little Tommy 
 near me fell asleep. 
 
 In this pleasant place, and with those dear little 
 arms around me, I dreamed once more of the dear old 
 home at Somo City, where Harry and I used to lie 
 down together in our blissful hours of sleep, and how 
 we played on the soft rug, before the glowing grate. 
 My dreams were never of the exciting chase, as is the 
 case with many dogs, for I took no pleasure in fright 
 ening harmless creatures whom God has created for 
 beauty and companionship for this world, but found 
 the imaginary flights of mind pleasing, though deceiv 
 ing, and my dreams were as welcome to me as dreams 
 are to anyone. 
 
 At last I was awakened by the eldest boy who said, 
 "Come doggie, go with me to the stable, for we are all 
 going to bed now." Unwillingly, yet, obediently, I fol 
 lowed this very gentlemanly boy. 0! I always did 
 like nice boys. 
 
 In the morning the coachman was cross to the 
 horses as well as to me. I quickly noticed that he 
 acted very differently when left alone with us, and I 
 decided to leave the place at once, but I was hungry, 
 so I went first to the house to see if the boys would not 
 give me something to eat. My side was still painful 
 
A WANDERER 167 
 
 and sore, and I wished the kind nurse to rub me again 
 with the oil. But these thoughtful ones had not for 
 gotten me, and I met them all in the path. They gave 
 me a kind greeting. Tommy had my breakfast of 
 corn meal and milk, which I quickly ate while it was 
 warm. 
 
 After the boys went to school I could not remain 
 in the stable for that unkind coachman struck a barn- 
 fork into the side of a magnificent horse, and I started 
 once more to scent my way back to Mr. Grant's, with 
 the hope that I would this time be a good dog and stay 
 in their home, for I was homesick, sore, and lame. 
 
 It was evening when I reached Mr. Grant's. Some 
 of the family were very cross to me, calling me a vag 
 rant, and other hard names which nearly broke my 
 heart. I went to my bed that night, thinking of what 
 it is that makes vagrants. It is the sending away of 
 any tender or helpless life from its home where kind 
 providence has surrounded it with rightful (or proper) 
 environment. It is the breaking of those chords which 
 binds one and all that is dear in this life, and it is the 
 jostling of the crowd who knows you not and cares 
 less. Yes, I had lost my way through circumstances 
 unavoidable by myself, and became a vagrant. 
 
 There are children also who are spurred to go wrong 
 in the same way that I had been. O how I pity them ! 
 And I pity those who have that spirit that makes 
 vagrants. After all of this thinking and another night 
 of pain, I arose and shook myself, my condition being 
 still almost unbearable. Going to the back door, I 
 cried pitifully for some one to help me. Presently the 
 maid came out and I tried to tell her my woe. She 
 understood enough to know that one thing I wanted 
 
168 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 was to have my wound moistened with something 
 soothing and healing, and she was kind enough to 
 do that. 
 
 Some pity was shown me through the day, and the 
 boys were more forgiving than the older ones. 
 
 The next evening some friends came to visit Mr. and 
 Mrs. Grant. As I went into the room where these 
 guests were, I immediately felt the presence of a most 
 kind and congenial spirit. I went at once to a lady and 
 laid my head affectionately against her, and gave a 
 low whine of joy. She spoke to me in a sweet voice 
 which caused me to cling more closely to her. In her 
 face I saw a light like that which once made my life a 
 happy one. 
 
 I thought of the bright sunshine which warms the 
 earth, bringing forth all fruits of loveliness. I seemed 
 to see pansies and roses amid the fresh grass, and I 
 could also see the faces of pretty children and hear 
 their merry, laughing voices. It was through the light 
 upon her lovely countenance that I saw this happy 
 vision. I felt lost in this happy condition until I heard 
 her say, "How meek and gentle she is; her eyes full of 
 intelligent light. Yes, Mr. Grant, I should like very 
 much to have her for my companion." 
 
 "If I could know Mrs. Backus, that she would be 
 contented with you, I would indeed be glad for you to 
 take her. She is no comfort to us, as she will not stay 
 but a day or so at a time, and if this continues she will 
 become worthless.'* 
 
 Was it a humane feeling, or the spirit of mercy, or 
 both, which caused Mrs. Backus to invite me away from 
 my wandering life and into her own beautiful home 
 where peace and contentment dwells? 
 
 When my new-found friend arose to go home she 
 
A WANDERER 169 
 
 said, "Fanny, are you ready to go with Mr. Backus and 
 me? I barked to express my delight and leaped out 
 in the old-time way. I felt no sad farewell, except as 
 I saw the boys look sad. But like the sweet pansies 
 in my Beautiful Lady's garden no doubt, I too had 
 a mission in my life; so once more I was called to fol 
 low the chain which was clasped to the collar about 
 my neck, and this time I knew that its links gave forth 
 sounds of joy. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 PROVIDENCE ' 
 
 AFTER my Beautiful Lady's recovery from her 
 long illness, which followed her return to Somo 
 City, she resumed again the routine of her benevolent 
 and humanitarian work. During the long months of 
 our separation, trials had come to her as well as to me, 
 but her trials brought a more refining influence, better 
 fitting for her highest attainments in all service for 
 greater love and justice in this world. Not so with me; 
 suffering did not make me better nor more noble. It 
 nearly ruined this life, which may be the only one for 
 me, for all that I know. And yet who knows but that 
 I may live to meet my Beautiful Lady in some other 
 world? 
 
 A dog's days here are short days at best, compared 
 to man's, and we ought to not be deprived of the little 
 there is in them for us. How many have thought of 
 a dog as having character? Some of our characteristics 
 are more deeply marked than in men. Integrity, 
 fidelity, courage, our power of feeling have many times 
 been proven by our affection and grief in dying for those 
 we love. The construction of our ears are unlike those 
 of the human ear, and we catch far distant sounds 
 unheard by man. This also enables us to hear the 
 approaching footsteps of our masters and be the first 
 to announce their welcome home. Also, to catch 
 sounds of the approaching robber and other dangers, 
 and give the warning which has saved many human 
 lives. Our sense of smell exceeds that of all other 
 
 170 
 
PROVIDENCE 171 
 
 animals and all people; for who but a dog has through 
 this function traced the footsteps of man in the dense, 
 dark forest, or through mountains of snow and when 
 lost in the storm? Or has traced the birds through 
 their flight in the air? 
 
 We have been life-saving sailors, courageous com 
 panions in the thickest of battle. In searching for 
 the wounded, we have found those who fell distant 
 from their comrades, and, going into camp, we have 
 selected a surgeon whom we have quickly led to the 
 suffering ones. 
 
 I should feel sorry to think we were not worthy a 
 few bones and scraps from the plates of the masters 
 we so worthily serve, and a warm place to sleep where 
 we may be comfortable. 
 
 Why is it that men and women abuse or ignore the 
 born rights of the more helpless creation? Why does a 
 boy go seeking to destroy that unfolded life within the 
 little blue shell which may be found swinging in its 
 cradle amidst the high branches? Or when it has 
 grown into the full beauty of plumage and sweetness of 
 song with power to love, to feel joy or sorrow, that some 
 hand may remove that divine life by the whirl of a 
 stone from the sling, or a shot from the gun, or more 
 pitiful still, when the wings which give flight are torn 
 from its own feeling breast? Whoever put forth a hand 
 to destroy any inanimate instrument from which was 
 produced sweet song and sweet music? Why is not the 
 life and beauty of the flowers snatched away by ruth 
 less and cruel hands? 
 
 My dear readers, we all have the one Creator, so 
 remember that the one parental love flows out in pro 
 tection and mercy alike to us all. 
 
 I find myself awakening from one of my meditations, 
 
172 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 from which I seem to have no resistive power, but I will 
 again proceed to inform you of some of the happenings 
 to my old master and his family who have been so long 
 absent from my story. 
 
 There came a time when my Beautiful Lady and my 
 master decided that Arthur and Harry needed the 
 advantage of a college town. Mother-like, she felt 
 a dread in having her boys leaver her until they were 
 wiser concerning the constant temptations which the 
 immature youth meets away from parent care. She 
 knew also that there were yet a few years in which all 
 together the unbroken home circle could be kept, ere 
 as men they must find their best opportunities away 
 from her. 
 
 After much deliberation the City of Leaves was 
 selected as being desirable in many ways. My master 
 had previously decided upon an investment he wished 
 to make where larger opportunities must be available 
 to carry out his success. 
 
 A farewell reception was given them at the home of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Goodheart, and parting words were 
 spoken with those whose kindly faces and deeds of 
 friendship would ever remain as sweetest memories. 
 
 My family were nicely settled just as the fall college 
 term opened. As Arthur had from a little boy been very 
 studious, he entered into his enlarged opportunities 
 with eagerness and true zeal. His classmates soon 
 found he was also fond of games, and his fine physique 
 made him at once a favorite in the sports. 
 
 He also had a gift of the humorous which he displayed 
 in burlesque upon the great dramas they studied. The 
 parlors were always crowded when Arthur was to 
 appear, for everybody likes to laugh, you know. His 
 violin was never out of place on these occasions, and 
 
PROVIDENCE 173 
 
 many a pleasant evening he gave to his friends as well 
 as to his family. 
 
 Arthur and Harry still loved their home, and my 
 Beautiful Lady took great pleasure in still making 
 home a desirable place. Their rooms were a real study 
 to her, and it was not unusual that some special attrac 
 tion welcomed them on entering. The vase of favorite 
 flowers often spoke in language all their own to greet 
 these boys in their rooms. 
 
 Harry was allowed to join the games, and for an 
 hour after the six o'clock dinner, the vicinity about the 
 house was alive with the new playmates, while the 
 voices of the merry lads rang with laughter and joy. 
 
 The boys named Harry "Little Inspector," because of 
 his peculiar traits, such as seeking out the curious and 
 remarkable places. He was very fond of discovering 
 and studying about the historical things for which the 
 City of Leaves was noted. My Beautiful Lady often 
 called him her " Guide," for he took her safely and with 
 out any difficulty wherever she wished to go. He was 
 very gallant, and would look up into her face with great 
 pride as she took his arm with a leaning support. 
 
 The City of Leaves was becoming of greater interest 
 than they had anticipated, and they seemed to have 
 found the one blessed spot. 
 
 In leaving Somo City, some fears had been enter 
 tained that the new surroundings would not be so 
 agreeable as the old, and that new friends could not 
 be found, as readily, in a large city as in a small one; 
 but my Beautiful Lady has said many times since that 
 love and sunshine abound in every place. 
 
 They were all invited to gatherings, which offered 
 social culture and intellectual development, and many 
 new friends were made who proved to be loyal and true. 
 
174 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 One home feature seemed ever to follow this dear 
 family. It was the spacious and charming living-room, 
 with a beautiful window filled with plants and flowers, 
 where my master and Beautiful Lady passed such 
 happy hours. It was the same in this dear home, and 
 the evenings there have been described to me with 
 them, sitting where they could watch the great vessels 
 and the pretty white craft sailing to and fro. Yet 
 there was something sadly missing in my Beautiful 
 Lady's heart. It was the affectionate companionship 
 of her lost dog. 
 
 But step by step the changes of time were shifting 
 the scenes which would bring out the sequels in Provi 
 dence which were then as unknown to us as it is yet to 
 those who are faithfully following our story. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 TRACINGS 
 
 "V\ 7HAT a beautiful afternoon this is," said Harry 
 
 T V to his mother as he stood looking out upon 
 the street. 
 
 "Yes, my child, and this is the fourth beautiful 
 Sabbath we have had hi the City of Leaves," she 
 replied. 
 
 "Mother, I have not mentioned it before, but Fanny 
 is almost constantly in my thoughts, and tp-day I 
 can not rest from thinking about her. You know we 
 cannot be very far from where we last heard of her. 
 Have you the letter, dear mother, which the surgeon 
 wrote, giving Mr. Grant's street and home number?" 
 
 "I have it safely treasured, Harry." 
 
 "O please get it at once, mother; perhaps we could 
 go this afternoon and see Fanny. I have dreaded to 
 mention her to you because you have suffered so much 
 over the separation, but why do you not try to find 
 her?" 
 
 "Because she is not our Fanny, and if she should see 
 us and still care for us, it would be very cruel to leave 
 her again. I feel that I could never leave her if I should 
 see her loving eyes." 
 
 "But, mamma, perhaps Mr. Grant would let us 
 have her a part of the time come to visit us you 
 know. O, I shall be very unhappy not to find out for 
 sure if she is truly happy. Come, mother dear, please 
 get the letter." 
 
 "Perhaps you are right, Harry, she may still yearn 
 
 175 
 
176 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 for us." It was but a few moments when Harry had 
 read the letter, and with earnest pleading his mother 
 yielded, pressed with the thought that her poor dog 
 may not have forgotten. 
 
 An hour later my Beautiful Lady and Harry went 
 slowly up the same doorsteps over which my feet had 
 gone two years before. As Harry held his mother's 
 arm he felt her tremble, and it was with an almost hesi 
 tating hand he rang the bell. An elderly man opened 
 the door, and with lifted hat Harry bowed, and handed 
 him the letter with his mother's card. 
 
 After reading them the old man said huskily, "The 
 dog Fanny is not here. She would not stay with us or 
 anybody else. She is a roving, worthless thing and I 
 do not know where she is." This was such a shock to 
 one so delicate and sensitive as my Beautiful Lady 
 that Harry nearly carried his mother back to the car, 
 and almost in perfect silence the journey home was 
 made. But when Harry kissed his mother good-night 
 he whispered softly to her, "We will not leave one 
 whom we have loved so tenderly, to be a lonely wan 
 derer about the streets, dear mother, for I will search 
 for her until I find her, and then she will be our own 
 dear Fanny once more, never, never to leave us again." 
 
 Often my Beautiful Lady had called Harry her child 
 of the Love-Bond, and child of the Comforter, but this 
 night her kiss left an imprint upon his fair cheek with 
 a depth of meaning not felt in his young life before. 
 
 My Beautiful Lady did not leave her room next 
 morning; my master was absent on a trip, and Arthur 
 and Harry sat at breakfast alone, discussing plans of 
 search for me, when the postman rang. There was 
 one letter with a strange hand-writing addressed to 
 Mrs. French. Quickly Harry broke the seal, and 
 
TRACINGS 177 
 
 handed the contents to his mother. She only glanced 
 at the name and said, "Mr. Grant," and gave it to 
 Harry, who read it aloud: 
 
 "Mr DEAR MRS. FRENCH: 
 
 I regret very much not being at home when you 
 called this afternoon. I fear my father did not show 
 you the courtesy I should have liked you to have re 
 ceived. Pardon him, please, as he is rather old and 
 peculiar. Your card bears your place of residence, so I 
 hasten to tell you that Fanny is living now with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Backus at Lees Park, address enclosed. I am very 
 sure Mrs. Backus will be very glad to meet you and give 
 you the pleasure of seeing Fanny. I always regretted 
 her separation from you. We have not seen Fanny for 
 a long time, as Mr. and Mrs. Backus moved just after 
 she went with them. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 MR. CHAS. GRANT." 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 A KIND FAMILY 
 
 "A kind heart is a fountian of gladness making everything in its 
 vicinity to freshen into smiles" Washington Irving. 
 
 \\ 7HILE my Beautiful Lady is searching for me I 
 V V wish to tell you something of this kind family. 
 There were Mr. and Mrs. Backus, Lee, Charles, Bessie, 
 and Jamie. Mrs. Backus reminded me of my kind lady 
 more than any one I have ever met. There was a sweet 
 ness in her voice and a gentleness about her manner 
 that won the hearts of both children and animals. Mr. 
 Backus was a very pleasant man. I noticed that he 
 and Mrs. Backus were in sympathy of thought in their 
 discussions, and the childish questions from the smaller 
 members of the family were always of importance to 
 both parents, and treated at all times with attention and 
 respect. 
 
 I saw, too, that the children were gracious in manner 
 to every one, and I did not hear any loud or discordant 
 words spoken in all that household. 
 
 It was indeed a sweet refuge for me to find after all 
 my sad experiences. I felt contentment settling once 
 more in my breast, and I felt like playing with those 
 boys. 
 
 In the morning the family always met in the library 
 to exchange pleasant greetings, then Mr. and Mrs. 
 Backus led the way, while the elder boy and sister 
 walked together, and the other two children followed, 
 each taking their places at the table. Each child was 
 allowed to give its order quietly and politely to the 
 
 178 
 
1 When he was hitched to the icillow cart, he reminded me of Black Prince." 
 
A KIND FAMILY 179 
 
 servant, and I noticed the servant always wore a 
 pleasant smile, and her task did not seem a difficult 
 one even when strangers were at the table. 
 
 Breakfast was always served early to give the chil 
 dren time to take proper care of the pets before they 
 went to school. There were more pets about that home 
 than I have ever found in any other. A pretty parrot 
 which had the freedom of the house and yard, and 
 tamed rabbits that had a nice home in one room of the 
 stable, another dog besides myself who was wise and 
 well-trained, pretty white doves in a cote, arid a pony 
 which drew a basket carriage with one seat large enough 
 for two persons to ride in. 
 
 The boys had the full care of this pony, and I found 
 one of my first pleasures in watching how gentle they 
 were with him, and how he showed a fondness and 
 obedience at all times toward them. 
 
 When he was hitched to the willow cart he reminded 
 me of Black Prince, for his service was a labor of love. 
 The pony would trot off at a brisk pace, shaking his 
 pretty head as though it were play for him, while I 
 had many a long pleasant run through the parks, 
 stretching my legs as in former days. 
 
 Mrs. Backus had made a harness of pretty blue rib 
 bon for the pugs, and, when she and Bessie took them 
 for a walk they acted just like a pair of frisky colts, 
 who were trying to get away from their driver. It was 
 fun to see them run about, when they knew there was 
 a chance for them to go. They would rush up to their 
 mistress, look into her face, and then stand as still as 
 pugs ever could, to have their harness put on. 
 
 After once manifesting my desire to go, Mrs. Backus 
 seemed to understand, and after that I always walked 
 by her side. Trix was never allowed these pleasure 
 
180 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 trips for some reason, but he could go with Mr. Backus, 
 or the boys. 
 
 The parrot was such a smart bird, and always 
 pleasant. She would call out, "Come here, sweet 
 heart," when she saw Bess, and then in such a pretty 
 coaxing way, say, "You are a dear girl; I love you." It 
 was just the echo of the whole household when she 
 talked. I have heard parrots talk who scarcely made 
 one sentence without using bad words, and sometimes 
 the words were so bad that they shamed even dogs, 
 for they would hang their heads and run away. Par 
 rots are not to blame for using such language; they have 
 been taught to by hearing coarse and vulgar people do 
 so. 
 
 It was the children's custom to divide some of their 
 candies, sweetmeats, and apples with their pets, for 
 this taught them unselfishness, and made them feel 
 that something depended upon them for pleasure and 
 happiness. 
 
 I was allowed to sleep in the boys' room, which was a 
 fellowship you know that I had not received since I left 
 the home of my Beautiful Lady. I was given a cover 
 ing, also, which kept me warm on chilly nights. 
 
 Sometimes I startled Lee as I lay my face on his 
 pillow in the night and he would ask me why I did 
 this, yet he was never cross to me. 
 
 The whole family seemed to understand a great deal 
 of my sensitive nature, and sometimes would say of me, 
 "She cannot stand the cold or rougher treatment that 
 Trix can." 
 
 They often praised my good manners and obedience, 
 and talked a great deal to me, because they knew I 
 could understand what they were saying. 
 
 I know that my noble birth was appreciated in this 
 
A KIND FAMILY 181 
 
 family, and I have since thought that the education 
 which children and dogs receive at home becomes of 
 greater service to them through life than they can ever 
 realize while receiving it. If I had been sent out into 
 the world like some dogs, without proper dog-culture, 
 what would have become of me? It was my early 
 associations which made every one take an interest 
 in me, and I thank my Beautiful Lady, Arthur, and 
 Harry for doing so much for me. It made me the 
 respectable and admirable dog which I have always 
 been, aside from the vagrant life which I led for a 
 while. 
 
 I hope my little readers will take my advice in this: 
 Remember all the good lessons which your father and 
 mother try to teach you, and accept graciously every 
 advantage offered you; then if misfortune comes any 
 time in your life some one will take an interest and try 
 to help you back into your own. 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 A CHRISTMAS GIFT 
 
 "T3APA, this is our first Christmas morning in the 
 A City of Leaves," said Harry, "and I am very 
 thankful for the gifts which I have received from you 
 to-day. Some of them are truly expensive and rare, 
 but the one gift that my heart desires, would contain 
 the true spirit of a gift such as the real nature of our 
 Christmas day implies. It would make me happier 
 than anything else can." 
 
 "What is so great a gift?" the father asked. 
 
 "It is Fanny, and Mamma still grieves for her." 
 
 " How can I present you with that gift ? Fanny passed 
 from my possession more than two years ago, and 
 while I have regretted very much having separated 
 her from mamma and you, yet I have no right to 
 her now, and I have no knowledge of where she is. 
 No doubt she has a good home and is contented." 
 
 "But, papa, she can be returned to us by your con 
 sent, because mamma and I know where she is." 
 
 "How did you find out where she is? Nothing has 
 been said to me at any time." 
 
 "No, we did not talk to you about it because you 
 have been away so much, and mamma feared you might 
 deny her." 
 
 "Strange she should have such fear of me. I did 
 not mean to do a cruel act to her. I did not realize 
 it all until it was too late. I think I was almost 
 jealous of her love for this dumb animal. Their de 
 votion to each other, seemed so foolish to me, and 
 
 182 
 
A CHRISTMAS GIFT 183 
 
 your mamma was so delicate to have that extra 
 care." 
 
 "But mamma's sufferings were made much harder, 
 for she loved to do all those things for Fanny." 
 
 "Yes, yes, I know; but how did you learn where 
 she is?" 
 
 "Shortly after we returned home mamma wrote 
 the surgeon asking him to express Fanny back to us, 
 saying she would more than refund the money he paid 
 for her; but he answered that she had passed from his 
 possession to a Mr. Grant, and he gave the address. 
 Mamma kept the letter, but did not try to follow her, 
 as the surgeon said Fanny was traveling with Mrs. 
 Grant and their children. But we have traced her 
 to where she is now in the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Backus, at Lees Park. Here is the last letter in answer 
 to mamma's. Read it, papa. You will see she con 
 sents to let Fanny return to us. Mamma is so frail; 
 I fear, some times, that we will not have her long. 
 Would you not be glad to bring her such a happy 
 surprise this Christmas day?" 
 
 "Is it possible that my own boy must plead with 
 me to undo a wrong and bring happiness to his mother? 
 Harry, how far is it to Lee's Park?" "Not over an 
 hour's ride, papa." "Then we will go at once." 
 
 It was not unusual for Harry and his papa to spend 
 a few hours together, enjoying some amusement or 
 visiting some interesting place, so no questions were 
 asked as to where they were going. No doubt they 
 would have some pleasant experience to relate upon 
 their return. 
 
 When Mr. French and Harry rang the door-bell 
 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Backus, a maid took 
 their cards and seated them in the reception-room. It 
 
184 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 was not a moment ere the face of a beautiful greyhound 
 with the kindest eyes was gazing from behind the satin 
 draperies into the faces of two she had known and 
 loved. It was I, and in an instant more I had made 
 one bound across the floor, and springing upon my old 
 master, placed my two paws upon his shoulders as I 
 had done in my playful moods when a young dog. 
 Then I begun that low, half-barking, whining, a way 
 I had of talking to any one, especially if I were deeply 
 interested or excited. 
 
 My master stroked my head and called me, "Fanny, 
 old dog, " as was his former way of greeting me. Harry 
 had remained quiet, a painful look deepening upon 
 his face as his dog companion seemed to not notice 
 him. But my master said to me, " Fanny, where is 
 Harry?" Looking toward him, slowly I began to 
 scent one not strange to me; I went over and rubbed 
 my face against his hand, and he knelt on the floor 
 beside me, and putting his two arms about me, with 
 his face close to mine, he said, "Fanny, have you for 
 gotten Harry?" Something stirred my heart then. 
 Was it a voice I remembered? These were tones I 
 knew and felt, yet there was some change somewhere. 
 Yes, it was Harry. But he was so much taller and 
 stronger; he was not the small boy I had seen last with 
 my Beautiful Lady, and yet, was I not seeing pictures 
 of fond memories, a scene of a loving boy face with long 
 sunny curls clinging about my neck? The long wooded 
 roads where those beautiful white lilies grew? The 
 bunnies hopping across the way? The arbutus beds? 
 Just then Mrs. Backus entered. 
 
 I bounded at once to her side, and then leaped 
 about the room, back with my forefeet upon my former 
 master, then upon Harry, and it seemed no one could 
 
A CHRISTMAS GIFT 185 
 
 speak or be heard, for I was as wildly excited as a 
 hound in its natural chase. 
 
 Then Mr. Backus entered and said, "Fanny, Fanny, 
 come here and lie down while we have a chance to find 
 our voices to greet these friends of yours. Mr. French 
 and Master Harry French, you are most welcome to 
 our home. This is Mrs. Backus, Mr. French, and 
 Master Harry, Mrs. Backus." 
 
 For some moments my dear friends were in conver 
 sation concerning me, and then Mrs. Backus said, 
 "We could not part with Fanny under any other 
 circumstance, for we think too much of her to give 
 her to any one who had not as much right to her as 
 ourselves. But I think that twelve years is enough 
 to give Harry and his mamma a clear title, although 
 the year which she has been ours has made her very 
 dear to us. I hope if she is not contented that you 
 will let her return to us." 
 
 "Mamma will never let her go away again," said 
 Harry, with his arm about my neck. "You want to 
 go with me, dont you Fanny? Dear Fanny." 
 
 I looked from one to the other, not yet knowing 
 what to do next, when presently Mrs. Backus brought 
 my collar and chain, and Harry clasped it about my 
 neck. We all went to the door, Mrs. Backus opened it 
 and my master passed out, Harry following, but I drew 
 back, looking at Mrs. Backus to tell me if I were to go 
 or stay. But she was silent, and I did not feel at ease 
 from the look I saw in her face. Then Harry patted 
 me so kindly and pleadingly said, "Come, Fanny, we 
 will go home now." As no one else spoke to me, I 
 trotted along, but I had had so many different expe 
 riences with that chain about my neck, that I could 
 not tell this time what the sounds were like. I could 
 
186 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 only follow my instinct, which strongly led me to 
 follow Harry. 
 
 When we reached my Master's home, a maid opened 
 the door. We went in, and Harry unclasped my col 
 lar. Nothing was familiar to me, and feeling strange, I 
 sank upon the floor. 
 
 " You will have to show her the way," said my master. 
 Then Harry bade me follow him again, which I did, up 
 a long stairway into a room where the glow of a soft 
 red light fell shadowy everywhere. Then I heard that 
 long-loved voice exclaim, "O Fanny, Fanny! My 
 precious Fanny!" 
 
 My delight was so great it seemed that I would tear 
 up the very rug as I ran back and forth, kissing my 
 Beautiful Lady's hands at each turn, talking to her as 
 I used to do in my dog fashion, listening to her words 
 of welcome and praise, and watching the pleasure of 
 my master and Harry as they witnessed this most 
 joyful meeting between my Beautiful Lady and her 
 dear dog. 
 
 Presently I heard another familiar voice, and as I 
 started to find it, Arthur met me and said, "Well, 
 this is the cause then of the commotion which has 
 disturbed me from my book. Fanny, old friend, 
 don't you know me? Ah, of course, you do, don't 
 you? and you can wag your long slender body and 
 tail in that same wonderful degree of expression or 
 feeling just as ever you did? That will do. That will 
 do, Fanny. I understand you. Yes, you are welcome 
 home. Well groomed, charming, and polite as ever, 
 Fanny, we all welcome you home." Affectionately I 
 kissed Arthur's hand. 
 
 Then back to the side of my Beautiful Lady I went, 
 that I might listen to that voice which had not changed, 
 

 "Into a room where the glow of a soft red light fell shadowy everywhere" 
 
A CHRISTMAS GIFT 187 
 
 unless it were still softer and sweeter. Calling my 
 master and Harry to her, she thanked them in her own 
 sweet kind way, saying this was the gladdest Christmas 
 day in all her life. A bright rosy flush came upon her 
 cheeks, and a smile upon her face, that was not visible 
 when I entered her room. 
 
 This was the first Christmas since Arthur and Harry 
 could remember that there were no guests in the home 
 to share the gladness of the day. But the old friends 
 were far distant and the new ones were not yet of those 
 close ties which usually make the family reunion. The 
 day had opened as a lonely one, and, with the stillness, 
 all preparations had been made toward quietness and 
 peace. But my Beautiful Lady said it seemed this 
 was to be a Christmas day unlike all others. When 
 I arrived their long lost dog-companion each 
 heart was filled with fullness to overflowing; there was 
 not room for any other. 
 
 The boys showed me the new home, telling me so 
 many interesting things, but just as they thought me 
 most interested, I would suddenly leap gracefully up 
 the stairs to be near my Beautiful Lady and master 
 again, and with my old-time eager way of trying to 
 talk, I looked into her face and heard her say, "O, 
 Fanny! Fanny! I know you are trying to tell us the 
 story of your wanderings which are all obscure to us. 
 Never, Fanny, have I felt the same desire to under 
 stand you as I do to-day. Never have I so much de 
 sired to interpret your thoughts which cannot find the 
 speech of human tongue. But, Fanny, you have had 
 your part in teaching us all our highest attainments, 
 and, some day, we shall all understand the mysteries of 
 life. " Then I felt my dear boy-companion's arms about 
 my neck and the circle of by -gone days once broken 
 
188 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 were again joined by those threads of which my 
 Beautiful Lady has spoken in the beginning of our 
 story. How it seemed they must have been doing 
 their part, also, and why we had not noticed the threads 
 was because they, too, were hidden in their own myste 
 rious way, to be seen only when their work was finished. 
 
 Dear readers, I have lived one more delightful, peace 
 ful year since the kind family made it possible for me 
 to be restored to my Beautiful Lady. I wish you to 
 share in the brightness which this one year contains. 
 
 You wish to know if I am happy. I truly am. Many 
 times I have visited the Backuses, who are fast friends 
 now of my master's family, I, of course, being the tie 
 that binds them. Whenever I was restless my Beau 
 tiful Lady would say, "Harry, I think Fanny would 
 like to visit her dear fniends." So we would go together, 
 and while I enjoyed the visit, I was always ready to 
 return with him. 
 
 Arthur and Lee are about the same age, and have 
 become close companions. Arthur is studying law. 
 His mother thinks his power for argument his chief 
 one, and while she had hoped to cultivate her ideal in 
 him, yet she knew for his success nature must have 
 its own way. 
 
 As Christmas days will never end, I draw my last 
 pen picture of the second one in the City of Leaves. 
 Arthur and Harry made so many bells of holly and 
 mistletoe, hanging them in every room, and they were 
 so natural and lovely, one watched to see them swing 
 and ring forth the sweet Christmas carols which the 
 shepherds heard as they sat upon those far-away east 
 ern hillsides watching their flocks when He came with 
 His gifts of love and mercy for all. 
 
A CHRISTMAS GIFT 189 
 
 From the beams in the dining-room, over the long 
 drawn out table with so many plates laid, they had 
 twined ribbons of purple, of white and of red, and many 
 dear doves were resting all peaceful where the ribbons 
 had formed them a nest. 
 
 Each room in the house was retouched with some of 
 Arthur's and Harry's handwork, but my Beautiful 
 Lady's was the dreamland of them all. As my old 
 habit was still upon me, I had gone back to look at her 
 often that morning, and, at one of those times, I saw 
 my master holding her hand fondly as in the old days. 
 I went up and kissed both of their hands with an 
 affection which seemed greater than ever before. 
 
 My master said, "Fanny, have you come for your 
 share? You shall have it." Then I felt the touch 
 of her hand together with my master's, and I knew 
 that I had lived to find their blessings resting as one 
 upon my head. Then the door-bell rang, and I leaped 
 down the stairs just in time to be the first in greet 
 ing Mr. and Mrs. Backus, with their whole family. 
 Presently everybody went to the parlor where the 
 gifts were to be received. Arthur handed each one to 
 Lee with a rhyme or funny saying, until the whole 
 house rang with merry laughter and Yule-tide cheer. 
 Even Trix and the pugs were with us and received 
 presents. 
 
 Knowing how interested you will be in mine, I wish 
 to tell you that I, too, have received a beautiful gift of a 
 gold collar, with gold chain and a gold badge. On one 
 side of my badge is the ensign for the prevention of 
 cruelty to animals, and the inscription, "Open Thy 
 mouth for the dumb. Proverbs 31, 8." On the other 
 side is the date of my birth, and the inscription of my 
 name, and below that the date when I was restored 
 
190 
 
 GREYHOUND FANNY 
 
 to my old home ties, through a Providence that brings 
 about circumstances which can correct human error. 
 
 My dog's days are nearly run, as I am now fifteen 
 years old. I have had many reasons to bless the day 
 I was born, and as you know, I have also experienced 
 great unhappiness, but if the life which I have lived 
 proves a lesson for the benefit of my animal kingdom, 
 or is a help for even one family to live the Christ spirit, 
 I shall be glad I passed this way. 
 
 My dear little readers, my last request to you is: 
 that you will please never forget to add to your good 
 night prayer, "I will be kind to all living creatures, 
 and I will protect them from cruel usage," and when 
 Mercy asks to live in your hearts, do not send her 
 away, but remember me, and since you have loved me, 
 love Mercy. 
 
 Yours affectionately and sincerely, 
 
 FANNY 
 
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