That Little Dog

"That little dog 'ud scratch at that

And go on a-whinin' two hours

He'd ever let up!

There!_--Jane:

Let him in.--(Hah, there, you little rat!) Look at him grin!        Come down off o' that!--        W'y, look at him!

You! you-rascal-you!_)--bring me that hat!

Look _out!_--He'll snap

He_ wouldn't

You_ take it away from him, now you kin bet!

That little rascal's jist natchurly mean.--I tell you,

I _never_

Git out!! _) never seenA _spunkier_ little rip!

Scratch to git in_,

And _now_ yer a-scratchin' to git _out_ agin!

Jane:

Let him out!) Now, watch him from

Out through the winder!--You notice one

Kindo' _in_ side-_out_, like he holds

He's_ got a _tick_ in

I_ kin tell!        Yes, and he's cunnin'--        Jist watch him

Sidelin'_--see!--like he ain't '_plum'd true_'And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do:--Plowin' his nose through the weeds--I jing!

Ain't he jist cuter'n anything!"W'y, that little dog's got _grown_-people's sense!--See how he gits out under the fence?--And watch him a-whettin' his hind-legs

His dead square run of a miled er more--'Cause

Noey_'s a-comin', and Trip allus

When

Noey_'s a-comin'--and off he goes!--Putts out to meet him

There they come

Well-sir! it's raially singalar how        That dog kin _tell_,--        But he knows as

When Noey's a-comin' home!--Reckon his _smell_'Ud carry two miled?--You needn't to _smile_--He runs to meet _him_, ever'-once-n-a-while,

Two miled and over--when he's slipped

And left him at home here, as he's done to-day--'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin'--But that little dog allus hits the right way!

Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin'

Little tormentin' fice!_) Jane:

Let him in.        "--You say he ain't _there?_--        Well now,

I declare!--Lem _me_ limp out and look! ...

I wunder

Heuh_,

Heuh_,

Heuh_,

Trip!...

There_ he is!--Little

There_ he is--quiled up as meek as a mouse,

His tail turnt up like a teakittle-spout,

A-sunnin' hisse'f at the side o' the

Next_ time you scratch, sir, you'll haf to git in,

My fine little feller, the best way you kin!--Noey _he_ learns him sich capers!--And

Both_ of 'em's ornrier every

Both_ tantalizin' and meaner'n sin--Allus

Listen there!_)--Jane:

Let him in."--O! yer so _innocent!_ hangin' yer head!--(Drat ye! you'd _better_ git under the bed!)        --Listen at that!--        He's tackled the cat!--Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that!--Git yer blame little eyes scratched out'Fore you know what yer talkin'

Here!_ come away from there!--(Let him alone--He'll snap _you_,

I tell ye, as quick as a

Hi_,

Hey_,

Oo! ouch!_ 'Ll I'll be

Blast ye!_

IT

UT!...

O, it ain't nothin'--jist _scratched_ me, you see.--Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite

Plague take him!_--Bet he'll not try _that_ agin!--Hear him

Pore feller!_) Jane:

Let him in."