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dog； scream； and runplayful young dog thinks it a game； jerks chain
out of uncle's grasp； and flies after themuncle flies after dog；
calling it namesfond parent in front garden； seeing beloved children
chased by savage dog； followed by careless owner； flies after uncle；
calling _him_ nameshouseholders come to doors and cry；
〃Shame！〃also throw things at dogthings don't hit dog； hit
unclethings that don't hit uncle； hit fond parentthrough the
village and up the hill； over the bridge and round by the greengrand
run； mile and a half without a break！ Children sink exhausteddog
gambols up among themchildren go into fitsfond parent and uncle
come up together； both breathless。
〃Why don't you call your dog off； you wicked old man？〃
〃Because I can't recollect his name； you old fool； you！〃
Fond parent accuses uncle of having set dog onuncle； indignant；
reviles fond parentexasperated fond parent attacks uncleuncle
retaliates with umbrellafaithful dog comes to assistance of uncle；
and inflicts great injury on fond parentarrival of policedog
attacks policeuncle and fond parent both taken into custodyuncle
fined five pounds and costs for keeping a ferocious dog at
largeuncle fined five pounds and costs for assault on fond
parentuncle fined five pounds and cost for assault on police！
My uncle gave the dog away soon after that。 He did not waste him。 He
gave him as a wedding…present to a near relation。
But the saddest story I ever heard in connection with a bull…dog； was
one told by my aunt herself。
Now you can rely upon this story； because it is not one of mine； it is
one of my aunt's； and she would scorn to tell a lie。 This is a story
you could tell to the heathen； and feel that you were teaching them
the truth and doing them good。 They give this story out at all the
Sunday…schools in our part of the country； and draw moral lessons from
it。 It is a story that a little child can believe。
It happened in the old crinoline days。 My aunt； who was then living
in a country…town； had gone out shopping one morning； and was standing
in the High Street； talking to a lady friend； a Mrs。 Gumworthy； the
doctor's wife。 She （my aunt） had on a new crinoline that morning； in
which； to use her own expression； she rather fancied herself。 It was
a tremendously big one； as stiff as a wire…fence； and it 〃set〃
beautifully。
They were standing in front of Jenkins'； the draper's； and my aunt
thinks that itthe crinolinemust have got caught up in something；
and an opening thus left between it and the ground。 However this may
be； certain it is that an absurdly large and powerful bull…dog； who
was fooling round about there at the time； managed； somehow or other；
to squirm in under my aunt's crinoline； and effectually imprison
himself beneath it。
Finding himself suddenly in a dark and gloomy chamber； the dog；
naturally enough； got frightened； and made frantic rushes to get out。
But whichever way he charged； there was the crinoline in front of him。
As he flew； he； of course； carried it before him； and with the
crinoline； of course； went my aunt。
But nobody knew the explanation。 My aunt herself did not know what
had happened。 Nobody had seen the dog creep inside the crinoline。
All that the people did see was a staid and eminently respectable
middle…aged lady suddenly； and without any apparent reason； throw her
umbrella down in the road； fly up the High Street at the rate of ten
miles an hour； rush across it at the imminent risk of her life； dart
down it again on the other side； rush sideways； like an excited crab；
into a grocer's shop； run three times round the shop； upsetting the
whole stock…in…trade； come out of the shop backward and knock down a
postman； dash into the roadway and spin round twice； hover for a
moment； undecided； on the curb； and then away up the hill again； as if
she had only just started； all the while screaming out at the top of
her voice for somebody to stop her！
Of course； everybody thought she was mad。 The people flew before her
like chaff before the wind。 In less than five seconds the High Street
was a desert。 The townsfolk scampered into their shops and houses and
barricaded the doors。 Brave men dashed out and caught up little
children and bore them to places of safety amid cheers。 Carts and
carriages were abandoned； while the drivers climbed up lamp…posts！
What would have happened had the affair gone on much longerwhether
my aunt would have been shot； or the fire…engine brought into
requisition against herit is impossible； having regard to the
terrified state of the crowd； to say。 Fortunately for her； she became
exhausted。 With one despairing shriek she gave way； and sat down on
the dog； and peace reigned once again in that sweet rural town。
THE END。