A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain

A Dog's Tale by Mark Twain
Section [1 | 2]

fell

;

descended, for_the

rang wildly out

, "

! "

rushed

bones

the pain was cruel , but , matter , I_must not lose any_time ; might come back any moment ; I limped three legs to_the other end of_the hall , where there_was dark little stairway leading into garret where old boxes and such things were kept , I had heard say , and where people seldom went I managed climb there , then I searched way through_the dark among_the piles things , and hid in_the secretest place I_could find it_was foolish to_be afraid there , yet still i_was ; afraid that I held and hardly even whimpered , though would_have_been such comfort whimper , because that eases the pain , you_know but I_could lick leg , and_that did some good

for half hour there_was commotion downstairs , and shoutings, and rushing footsteps, and then quiet again quiet for some minutes, and_that was grateful spirit , for then fears began to_go down ; and fears are worse than pains--oh, much worse then came sound that froze they were calling --calling name --hunting for_me !

it_was muffled distance , but that could_not take_the terror out , and was_the most dreadful sound to_me that I had ever heard went all about , everywhere , down there : along the halls, through all the rooms, both stories, and in_the basement and_the cellar ; then outside , and farther and farther away -- then back , and all about_the house again , and i_thought would never , never stop but last did , hours and hours after_the vague twilight of_the garret had long_ago been blotted out black darkness

then in_that blessed stillness terrors fell little little away , and i_was peace and slept it_was good rest I had , but I woke before_the twilight had come again i_was feeling fairly comfortable , and I_could think out plan now I_made very_good one ; which_was , creep down , all the way down the back stairs, and hide behind the cellar door , and slip out and escape when_the iceman came dawn , while he_was inside filling the refrigerator ; then i_would hide all day , and start journey when night came ; journey -- well , anywhere where they_would not know and betray to_the master i_was feeling almost cheerful now ; then suddenly i_thought : why , what would life without puppy !

that was despair there_was plan for_me ; I_saw that ; I_must stay where i_was ; stay , and wait , and take what might come -- it_was not affair; that was what life -- mother had said then -- well , then the calling began again ! all sorrows came back I_said myself , the master will never forgive I_did_not know what I had done to_make him bitter and unforgiving, yet I judged it_was something dog could_not understand , but which_was clear man and dreadful

they called and called --days and nights, seemed to_me so_long that_the hunger and thirst near drove mad , and I recognized that i_was getting very weak when_you_are this_way you sleep great deal , and I_did once I woke awful fright -- seemed to_me calling was right there in_the garret ! and it_was : it_was Sadie's voice , and she was crying; name was falling from her lips all broken , poor thing , and I_could_not believe ears for_the joy when I heard her say :

" come back to_us --oh, come back to_us , and forgive -- it_is all sad without our --"

I broke with_such grateful little yelp , and_the next moment Sadie was plunging and stumbling through_the darkness and_the lumber and shouting for_the family hear , " she 's found , she 's found ! "

the days that followed -- well , they were wonderful the mother and Sadie and_the servants-- why , they just seemed worship they couldn't seem to_make bed that was fine enough ; and for food , they couldn't satisfied with anything but game and delicacies that were out season ; and every day the friends and neighbors flocked hear about_my heroism -- that was_the name they called , and means agriculture I remember mother pulling kennel once , and explaining in_that way , but didn't say what was , except that_it_was synonymous with intramural incandescence ; and dozen times day Mrs gray and Sadie would tell the tale new -comers, and say I risked life to_say the baby 's, and both had Burns to_prove , and then the company would pass around and pet and exclaim about , and you_could_see the pride in_the eyes Sadie and her mother ; and when_the people wanted to_know what made limp , they looked ashamed and changed the subject , and sometimes when people hunted them this_way and_that way with questions about_it , looked to_me if_they were going cry

and this_was not all the glory ; , the master 's friends came , whole twenty of_the most distinguished people , and had in_the laboratory , and discussed as_if i_was kind discovery ; and some_of_them said it_was wonderful dumb beast , the finest exhibition instinct they_could call mind ; but the master said , with vehemence , " 's far above ; 's reason , and many man , privileged to_be saved and with_you and better world right of_its possession , has less that_this poor silly quadruped that 's foreordained perish "; and then laughed, and said : " why , look --I'm sarcasm ! bless you , with all grand intelligence , the_only_thing I inferred was_that the dog had gone mad and was destroying the child , whereas but for_the beast 's -- 's reason , I tell you ! -- the child would_have perished ! "

they disputed and , and I was_the very center subject all , and I wished mother could know that_this grand honor had come to_me ; would_have made her proud

then they discussed optics , as_they called , and whether certain injury to_the brain would produce blindness not , but they_could_not agree about_it , and said they_must test experiment and ; and next they discussed plants, and_that interested , because in_the summer Sadie and I had planted seeds--I helped her dig the holes, you_know -- and after days and days little shrub flower came there , and it_was wonder how that could happen ; but did , and I wished I_could talk -- i_would_have told those people about_it and shown then how_much I_knew , and been all alive with_the subject ; but I didn't care for_the optics ; it_was dull , and when_they came back to_it again bored , and I went sleep

pretty soon it_was spring , and sunny and pleasant and lovely , and_the sweet mother and_the children patted and_the puppy good - , and went away journey and visit to_their kin , and_the master wasn't any company for_us , but played together and had good times, and_the servants were kind and friendly , got along quite happily and counted the days and waited for_the family

and one day those men came again , and said , now for_the test , and_they took the puppy to_the laboratory , and I limped three -leggedly along , too , feeling proud , for any attention shown to_the puppy was pleasure to_me , of_course they discussed and experimented, and then suddenly the puppy shrieked , set him on_the floor , and went staggering around , with_his head all bloody , and_the master clapped his hands and shouted :

" there , I've won -- confess ! 's blind bat ! "

and_they all said :

" 's -- you 've proved your theory , and suffering humanity owes you great debt from henceforth ," and_they crowded around him , and wrung his hand cordially and thankfully , and praised him

but I hardly saw heard these things , for I ran once little darling , and snuggled to_it where lay, and licked the blood , and put its head against mine , whimpering softly , and I_knew heart it_was comfort to_it its pain and trouble to_feel its mother 's touch , though could_not_see then dropped down , presently , and its little velvet nose rested upon_the floor , and it_was still , and did_not move any more

soon the master stopped discussing moment , and rang in_the footman , and said , " bury in_the far corner of_the garden ," and then went with_the discussion, and I trotted after_the footman , very happy and grateful , for I_knew the puppy was out of_its pain now , because it_was asleep went far down the garden to_the farthest end , where the children and_the nurse and_the puppy and I used play in_the summer in_the shade great elm , and there the footman dug hole , and I_saw he_was going plant the puppy , and i_was glad , because would grow and come fine handsome dog , like robin Adair, and beautiful surprise for_the family when_they came home ; I tried help him dig , but lame leg was good , being stiff , you_know , and you_have to_have two , it_is use footman had finished and covered little robin , patted head , and there were tears in_his eyes , and he_said : " poor little doggie, you saved his child ! "

I_have watched two whole weeks, and doesn't come ! this last week fright has_been stealing upon i_think there_is something terrible about_this I_do_not know what it_is , but the fear makes sick , and I_cannot eat , though the servants bring the best food ; and_they pet , and even come in_the night , and cry , and say , " poor doggie-- give and come home ; don't break our hearts ! " and all this terrifies the more , and makes sure something has happened and I_am weak ; since yesterday I_cannot stand feet anymore and within this hour the servants, looking toward the sun where it_was sinking out sight and_the night chill coming , said things I_could_not understand , but they carried something cold heart

" those poor creatures ! they_do_not suspect they_will come home in_the morning , and eagerly ask for_the little doggie that did the brave deed , and who will_be strong enough to_say the truth to_them : ' the humble little friend gone where the beasts that perish '"

Section [1 | 2]