He was an affectionate dog, but very thoughtless, and I often heard our mistress say that he was very different from the majority of St. Bernard dogs, for they were generally very intelligent and trustworthy.
Perhaps Brian had not been well treated during his puppyhood, for that is the time to form a dog’s character. By talking to us when we are little we soon learn to understand what is required of us, and, then if people are kind, we always will try to do as they wish.
My mistress used to say that the worst thing a person could do was to abuse a dog or a horse, for both were too good friends to be ill-treated.
There were four horses on the farm, a black mare named Dot, a black horse, Billy, a large bay, Milo, and a young chestnut horse called Archie.
When my mistress and the children went for a drive Milo generally took them, and then I used to go, too. Sometimes I ran ahead to see if the roads were all clear, and one day I saw a snake going across the road. I ran back as fast as I could to tell Milo to hurry so the children could see it. They were taught not to be afraid of everything, as some children are, but to be interested in all living things, so I always told them when I found snakes or turtles or any odd things out of doors.
One day, soon after I had recovered from Brian’s playfulness, I heard the little boy’s father say to my mistress: “We will have to send Dick away.” She said, “Why so; on account of Brian?” and he replied, “Yes, I think it will be better for Dick to have a more gentle playmate.” “Well,” said my mistress, “I can send Dick down home.”
I was lying on the floor beside her chair, listening as hard as I could and wondering where “down home” was and whether I would be treated well and if the people would like me and a hundred other things. But under all ran the thought that I was to leave my dear little master, the baby and my mistress, and it made me feel so badly that I gave a howl of sorrow before I knew it.
My mistress looked surprised and exclaimed, “Why, Dickie, what is the matter?”
I climbed up in her lap and licked her face and hands and tried to beg her to keep me with her. I must have succeeded, for she hugged me close and said, “Did you hear what I said, my doggie?
“Well, never mind, Dickie, you will be happier there than you are here.”