Mrs. Baker's Pet.
Mrs. Baker, feeling lonely during her husband's absence at his business, has purchased a dog in the streets for a Pet. The animal has been brought home, and Mrs. Baker has been for some time anxiously awaiting the arrival of the husband to dinner, to introduce him to her new favorite. The gentleman's latch key has been heard in the door, and Cook has received orders to dish the dinner. Mr. Baker, Mrs. Baker, Mary the Servant, and Scamp the Pet meet at the door of the dining-room. Scamp commences an infuriated assault of barks and springs, meant for the inoffensive and astonished Baker, but which have all the appearance of being directed against Mary, who is entering at the moment with the dinner-plates. Mary drops the plates, smashing two, and begins screaming. Scamp, excited by the row, redoubles his barks, and bounds to and fro on the door mat. Mr. Baker, who has heard nothing of the dog, is naturally indignant at the reception, and commences an assault upon him with his umbrella. Mrs. Baker, who feels that the reputation of her Pet is at stake, endeavors to soothe him by ordering him to “Lie down, and be a good dog;” but Scamp is insensible to the power of moral suasion. A domestic representation of the old play of “Family Jars,” takes place; the leading parts by Mr. and Mrs. Baker “for the first time;” the orchestra under the direction of Mary and Scamp. The performance lasts till bed-time; when the gentleman insists that the dog shall pass the night in the yard. This does not meet Scamp's approbation, and he expresses his discontent, by a serenade under the windows of Mr. and Mrs. Baker's bedroom, which lasts the whole night, and consists in running up and down the howling scale, winding up with a prolonged shake in C above the line. The performance is enlivened by the perpetual raising of the windows from the neighbors' houses, and an occasional crash in Mr. Baker's yard, which is accounted for the next day by the appearance of half a score of boot-jacks of various sizes and patterns.