PUPPIES 87 



To me a two-months' pup is a source of pure 

 joy. His little, fat, waddly hind legs ; his forever- 

 wagging, busy deevilduyvil of a tail; his bright, 

 inquisitive little face, with pricked-up ears and 

 head cocked to one side ; his hopeless innocence in 

 this naughty and cruel world ; his slashing bravery 

 with which he tackles things that discretion would 

 counsel him had better be left alone; his utter, 

 appalling ignorance of the proper times and 

 places to do whatever his fancy for the moment 

 listeth all these are a constant pleasure to me to 

 watch. They do not irritate me; I laugh at his 

 misdemeanours, condone his faults, revel in his 

 virtues, and adore him from the end of his small 

 black muzzle to the tip of his tiny tail! 



You miss a lot when you begin with a year-old 

 pup ; yet you avoid a lot, too. During those early 

 months he will do at least a million things to ag 

 gravate you and make you lose your temper, and 

 many a time you will shake your head and call 

 him a hopeless lemon. And then, being a thor 

 oughbred, he will be far less hardy than a mongrel 

 pup and will take all his ailments badly, giving 

 you many an anxious hour. But, if you bring him 

 through, he will be your dog, ten times more so 

 than if you started with him later in life. And, 



