"
"Well," she said, "I'm afraid that Joe will 'wallop' you some day if you
worry him about his food, for even a gentle dog will sometimes snap at
any one who disturbs him at his meals; so you had better not try his
patience too far." Willie never teased me after that, and I was very
glad, for two or three times I had been tempted to snarl at him.
After I finished my tea, I followed Miss Laura upstairs. She took up a
book and sat down in a low chair, and I lay down on the hearth rug
beside her.
"Do you know, Joe," she said with a smile, "why you scratch with your
paws when you lie down, as if to make yourself a hollow bed, and turn
around a great many times before you lie down?"
Of course I did not know, so I only stared at her. "Years and years
ago," she went on, gazing down at me, "there weren't any dogs living in
people's houses, as you are, Joe. They were all wild creatures running
about the woods. They always scratched among the leaves to make a
comfortable bed for themselves, and the habit has come down to you, Joe,
for you are descended from them."
This sounded very interesting, and I think she was going to tell me some
more about my wild forefathers, but just then the rest of the family
came in.
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