Canine Jealousy


[Dec. 12, 1891.]



I am not versed in dog-lore, and it may be that my love for the animal

makes me an ill judge of the importance of the following story; but a

friend vouches for its truth, and to my mind it has its importance, not

from its display of jealousy, but from the dog's deliberate acceptance

of the undoubtedly changed condition, and the clearly metaphysical

character of his motive.

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The story is this. A young man had owned for some years a dog who was

his constant companion. Recently the young man married, and moved with

his bride and his dog into a house on the opposite side of the street

from his father's house, his own former home. The dog was not happy, for

the time and attention which had formerly been his was now given to the

young wife. In many ways he showed his unhappiness and displeasure, in

spite of the fact that the master tried to reconcile him and the bride

to win him. One day when the master came home, his wife sat on his

knee, while Jack was lying by the fire. He rose from his place, came

over to the couple, and expressed his disapproval. "Why, Jack," said the

master, "this is all right, she's a good girl," and as he spoke, he

patted her arm. Jack looked up at him, turned away, and left the room.

In a moment they heard a noise, and going into the hall, they found Jack

dragging his bed downstairs. When he reached the front door, he whined

to be let out, and when the door was opened, he dragged his bed down the

steps, across the street to his old home, where he scratched for

admittance. Since then he has never been back to his master, refusing

all overtures.



CHAS. MORRIS ADDISON.



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