The Italian pretended to be
cross, and said, 'Come, come; this won't do,' and he called the other
pony to him, and told him to take that troublesome fellow off the stage.
The second one nosed Diamond, and pushed him about, finally bit him by
the ear, and led him squealing off the stage. The gander followed,
gabbling as fast as he could, and there was a regular roar of applause.
"After that, there were ladders brought in, Joe, and dogs came on; not
thoroughbreds, but curs something like you. The Italian says he can't
teach tricks to pedigree animals as well as to scrubs. Those dogs jumped
the ladders, and climbed them, and went through them, and did all kinds
of things. The man cracked his whip once, and they began; twice, and
they did backward what they had done forward; three times, and they
stopped, and every animal, dogs, goats, ponies, and monkeys, after they
had finished their tricks, ran up to their master, and he gave them a
lump of sugar. They seemed fond of him, and often when they weren't
performing went up to him, and licked his hands or his sleeve. There was
one boss dog, Joe, with a head like yours.
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