im; but don't whine, or go on as if you all had the
tooth-ache.'

"All this time I was such a gump, I sat quite still; but when I saw
the boys come out and rush at me with rude words, I said to my-self,
'Come on, Frisk; I do not think it will do to get a new place here.'
So I made up my mind to take to my heels; when, O my dog-star! down
came a great bat on my head, and the three boys fell on me all at
once; grab'd me by the ears, tail, and one leg, at the same time, and
would have torn me to bits, I am sure, if their mam-ma had not come
and made Bob and Ned let go.

"I was put in the front room then, in a whole skin, and here, in
spite of all he could do, I broke from Sam and hid my-self at the back
of a couch that stood by the fire-place.

"'Now what's to be done?' said Sam.

"'Let's hunt him out with sticks,' said Ned.

"'Good! come on!' cried Bob and Sam; and with-out more words, Bob
armed him-self with the broom, and Ned and Sam got canes, as if they
were in chase of some wild beast, and all flew, with a loud whoop! to
bang poor me out of my strong-hold.

"I don't know what would have been my fate, if I had not hit on what to
do just in time. The sides and front of the couch, by good luck, came
down past the seat, and bands of broad tape were put from side to side,
to keep the white slip in its place. I gave a jump, made out to land on
the tapes, and sat on them in great fear lest they might give way.

"It was well I did so; for the boys made their sticks fly from side
to side at such a rate, that the first blow would have been the death
of me. This game went on for some time, till they were quite at a loss
to know why I did not come out or make a cry.

"'Why where _can_ he be?' cried Sam. 'Look and see, quick!'

"Ned went down on his knees--'Why he's gone!' he said with a gasp.

"'O the b-a-a-d thing!' cried Sam. 'Ma! ma! our dog's lost! Boo! hoo!
hoo!' and to my great joy, all three left the room to treat their dear
'ma' to a howl. Oh! how I _did_ long to snap at their legs.

"By this time so much fluff and dust had got up my nose in my close
nook, that I was fit to choke; and as the boys were gone, I dared to
come out. There was a large arm-chair close by, with a deep, soft seat
that was just to my taste. I hopt in, laid down, and was soon in a
fine nap.

"Think, then, what was my state of mind to wake up with a yell and a
land-slide on top of me! Up flew a fat old dame from the arm-chair,
where s