49 



house he had been so humble-minded that he 

 was very grateful to be noticed at all, and eager 

 to learn tricks and show them whenever they 

 were called for. But now he refused to do anything 

 unless he felt in the humor for it. 



One day some visitors were at the Wilsons' when 

 Fax came strolling quietly into the parlor where they 

 sat. Mrs. Wilson becjan tellinsf them what a clever 

 dog he was and how many tricks he knew. The 

 visitors said they would like to see him perform 

 some of them. 



" I don't know whether he'll do them to-day or 

 not," said Mrs. Wilson. " He's not always very 

 obedient." Then she told Fax to close the door, 

 but he only sat down in the middle of the room and 

 looked around him cheerfully. He would not 

 jump, he would not fetch a glove ; he would not do 

 anything but play dead dog, and then, when he had 



once lain down he 

 would not get up again. 

 There he stayed 

 stretched at length un- 

 til the visitors rose to 

 Playing "Dead Dog" g.Q_ Then he jumped 



up and politely escorted them to the door. 



Pyle's Humble Friends. — 4. 



