e
goes with-out his bone.'

"The poor dog with the bow-legs gave a great howl when he heard this;
but the show-man hit him on the nose with his whip, and he slunk off,
while the big tears ran in a stream down his face.

"The rest stood on their hind-legs in a row, while the old dame with
the nut-shell face took the pot from the fire.

"'Here,' said she to the show-man, 'hold the dish while I pour the
stew out.'

"Oh! how it did smoke! and what a fine smell it had! The man got a
loaf of bread and two blue plates from the shelf, and a knife and fork
for each; and then they went to work to eat as fast as they could,
while the dogs and I did look on with all the eyes we had. When the
show-man had eat-en all he could, he took some more meat, cut it up
in bits, and said: 'Now, I shall give each dog a bit in turn. Look
sharp you! If the wrong dog starts when I call, he gets none at all.
Now then, Pete!'

"The dog in the cap made a jump and one snap, and the meat was gone.

"'Now then, Hop!' said the man; and the dog in the girl's hat got it;
and then it was Pete's turn, while poor Bob with the bow-legs, who
lost the three cents, kept up a kind of soft howl and a sob, as if his
heart would break.

"All this time I did think I must die for want of food, and I made up
my mind to stand on my hind-legs till the show-man gave me some meat
too. So I got up and did not fall, while you could count ten, then I
ran up to the show-man, and stood on my hind-legs at his side.

"'Why bless me, dame!' he cried, 'where did this dog come from?'

"'Where to be sure,' said the dame; 'you let him in your-self.'

"'Did I, Gran-ny? Well, that is queer. I did not see him. He seems to
know how to stand up--sit down, sir.'

"Down I went like a flash.

"'Get up, sir,' and up I got once more as stiff as a po-ker.

"'Why don't you take him for one of your set,' said the old dame. 'He
must be lost, for just see here! his name is on the brass ring round
his neck.' Then she put on a pair of old horn specs to spell my name
out. 'F-r-i-s-k Frisk; what a nice name! and what a clean, trim chap
he is! Why, John, he would be a great help to you, he seems so smart.'

"'So he would,' said the man. 'He would soon learn to dance, and he
knows now how to stand up. I can soon teach him more. Here, you, sir!
take that!' and he threw me a large bit of meat, which I was glad to
get, you may be sure. Then I took the rest of my share in my turn with
Pete an