He wagged his plumed tail, in gladness, and thrust his nose into
her palm and began to "talk" in gleeful treble. To none but the
Mistress and the Master would Lad deign to "talk." And, none
listening to him could doubt he was trying to copy the human
voice and human meanings.
"Dear old Laddie!" praised the Mistress, running her fingers
through his lion-like ruff. "GOOD Laddie!, Thank you, ever so
much! Nobody but a very, VERY wonderful collie named Lad could
have had the perfect taste to pick out such a parasol. And now
we're going to have a whole handful of animal crackers, for
reward."
The crooningly sweet voice, the petting, the gift of animal
crackers of which he was childishly fond--all these delighted Lad
beyond measure. And they confirmed him in the belief that he had
done something most laudable.
What he had done was to pick up a stray object, away from home,
and bring it to the Mistress. He knew that. And that was all he
knew. But, having won high praise for the deed, he resolved then
and there to repeat it.
Which proves that old dogs can be taught new tricks.
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