Mabel F. Stryker

“ But Ready had always been taught that snapping and growling are very wicked; so he only moaned a little and shed a few dog tears when no one was looking. You see it is a disgrace to a dog’s doghood to be found in tears.
Of course he was not the least bit hungry. How could any dog be hungry shut up all day [Pg 12] in a stuffy old room? And then nothing takes away a dog’s appetite so quickly as sad thoughts.
Shed a few dog tears when no one was looking
At first he did not eat anything, and then he began to have a very queer feeling in his legs. ”

“ Wasn’t it splendid that Ready remembered this very spot? He had noticed it during Mr. Sandpiper’s first teeter. As you see, Ready was really a very observant little dog.
After the Sandpiper had gone, and Ready was left all alone with the pain, it felt very bad indeed. Life seemed pretty hard. There was always something unpleasant happening to him.
He wondered if he would ever really reach [Pg 109] his journey’s end. Perhaps his leg would grow worse and worse. He had heard of legs that did do that. Perhaps—but just then from right around the corner a big shaggy brown dog appeared! ”

“ Now the only way a dog can be really polite to flowers is to keep away from them; so Ready turned and ran around the path.
Quick as a wink he was out of the window
But in spite of this long way around, Ready [Pg 20] was soon on the main road. He must make no mistake now. He must never let his head get turned again. Which was the right direction? The road looked so strange, so dark and lonely, that it was hard for a dog to tell anything about it.
Ready felt that he must not wait a moment; so he started. But he soon heard an owl hooting from a tree near by, “No, no, no!” ”

“ WHO LOVE DOGS
CONTENTS
[Pg 1]
LITTLE DOG READY
CHAPTER I
HOW READY LOST HIS HEAD
He was a little black and white dog with a shaggy coat and a waggy tail. He had very polite eyes which were always watching people to find out what they would like to have him do. Whenever people were kind enough to tell him what they wanted, he would always do it for them if he possibly could, and that is why he was named “Ready.”
Ready loved his little master Dick more than any one in the world, and Dick never wanted Ready out of his sight; and that is how this story came about. ”

“ So what is an animal to do? It used to be that an English sparrow’s vote counted nothing, but now these worthless creatures have as much to say as we do. Why, no cat has a chance because the [Pg 31] mice are all invited. Times are sadly changed.” And poor Paf sighed.
They allow all kinds of cats to vote
[Pg 32]
CHAPTER IV READY AT THE GREAT GATHERING
At last they reached the place, and it was a wonderful sight. All the four-footed animals sat on the ground in front. The birds were perched on the trees, and the flowers massed themselves around the Eagle’s throne. ”

“ He said, “You remember that the Heron was to go with you and show you a short cut through the marshes. Perhaps it is just as well for you that he had appendicitis, as he always stops a long time to get his evening meal. Then if he is startled he flies at once to a tree. Moreover, [Pg 116] he is rather apt to pick a quarrel. It is thought by some of the best authorities in Birdland that his appendicitis came from eating too heartily one night and quarreling violently afterwards.”
It was after twilight when the Sandpiper finally said good-bye and left Ready alone on the long dark road. ”

“ There were five of them. A Blue Heron for watchfulness; a Crow for good judgment; a Swift for rapid flight; a Night Hawk for keen eyesight; and a little Sparrow for running the errands.
The Eagle talked to them all in a low tone for a few minutes, giving them directions and money for the journey.
Then the dance began, and who do you think [Pg 55] was Ready’s partner this time? Why, the Eagle of course! It is a splendid thing to dance with the King of Birds, and a rare thing for a dog.
It seemed to be dog night, for the Owl, who had not danced for years, stepped out with a dog. ”

“ Mr. Sandpiper was a very pleasant traveling companion, although it must be said that he had some queer habits. He would run along the beach very rapidly and then stop for a few [Pg 100] minutes and teeter while talking to Ready. His voice was very sweet and low.
Ready greatly admired his neat and slender body, his very neat and slender legs, and his particularly neat and long slender bill.
Mr. Sandpiper
By this time Ready, having had so much experience with so many different birds and beasts, knew very well how to entertain them. ”

“ Good running will bring you to the end of the woods by dawn. I have telegraphed ahead to have your breakfast waiting for you under the last oak tree in the woods.
“It is to be guarded by the Red Headed Woodpecker, who has kindly consented to give his services. Rest here a half hour, but no longer.
“Then the Swallows will show you the way to the beach. They have promised to fly low so that you will not lose them. ”

“ By my tail, you must be a stranger here,” said the panting, [Pg 28] fat one. Ready afterwards called him “Paf” for short—“P” standing for panting and “F” for fat, you see.
“At midnight on the 21st of June, if it is moonlight, a wonderful thing happens. All the beasts, birds and flowers in this part of the world meet in an open space near the woods. They have music, dancing and refreshments. Then the Eagle, who is the king of the birds, grants a wish to any animal who has a clear record. ”

“ At this Ready broke down altogether, tail and all, and sobbed out the whole story.
“Come, come,” said Rover at last, “be a dog and keep up your courage. Try wagging your tail a little, that always helps.”
So Ready wagged his tail and it did help a little speck. Then Rover gave him some breakfast and that helped a great deal.
After breakfast was over, Rover gave Ready letters of introduction to several traveling dog [Pg 24] friends of his in the hope that they might happen to know Master Dick’s seashore home. ”

“ After he had hung up the receiver, which was hidden in a curled-up oak leaf, the Woodpecker said: “Bad news, indeed. One of the mother swallows has a frightful pain and cannot be left alone.”
Then Ready knew why he had carried the Frog’s hot-water bag all this time. He had wanted very much to drop it on the way as it had been so warm and heavy. Moreover, some [Pg 84] large bats had called out as he passed, “What is it? What is it?”
He now went at once to Mother Swallow’s house, which was in the hollow of a tree near by, and put the hot-water bag on her pain. ”

“ This turned Ready’s head. It would have turned any dog’s head. Did you ever have your head turned? You will some day, and when it happens, try hard to look where you are going, for you are always going wrong.
Of course Ready did not know this, and when Big Yellow Dog said pleasantly, “Come along,” Ready went. Faster and faster ran Big Yellow Dog. Faster and faster ran Ready, although he felt that his legs were getting shorter and shorter. ”

“ If she says, ‘Ready,’ you will follow her to a place where your dinner will be hidden. There you will meet the Sandpiper, who will take you along the beach until you come to an inlet.
[Pg 67]
“You must go the rest of the way alone, as the Heron, who was to take you, has appendicitis. The road, however is straight ahead and will take you to your master’s home.”
The Chipmunks were putting on their overcoats
Ready bowed low before the Eagle, barking his thanks again and again, while the Chipmunks were putting on their overcoats for the journey. ”

“ Then he tapped his rod three times and said, “Ready!”
Little Ready started to his feet. This was certainly his great chance, but he wished, oh [Pg 40] so much, that refreshments had come first, as his knees were weak from hunger and from pulling around Paf.
A rather handsome black dog arose and a large white cat. There was a terrible silence as they walked slowly around the Eagle’s throne. All eyes were turned upon them. The near-sighted ones put on glasses which they had brought for the occasion. The white cat, being the only lady of the party, was called first to the throne. ”

“ Then the Eagle rapped loudly with his terrible rod and said, “Every one may dance.” And every one did.
The orchestra was made up of thrushes, whippoorwills and woodpeckers. The woodpeckers beat time on the bark of the trees. Sometimes the robins and song sparrows joined. It all sounded very well indeed until some blue jays and roosters started in. Then an old crow [Pg 37] commenced keeping time with his “caw, caw, caw.”
This was too much for the Eagle, who beat angrily on the oak tree with his rod and stopped the dance immediately. “Too much like a jazz band,” he shrieked. ”

“ But he did not know; so he only wagged his tail, hoping that would make her feel a little better. He thought that he must do something in return for his good breakfast.
The young lady grew crosser and crosser and finally stamped her foot. This made Ready decide to leave at once, for there is no knowing what may happen to dogs or dishes when any one begins to stamp a foot!
Ready stood up and said his prettiest good-bye, which was three little barks and then one long one, with tail wagging all the time, of course. ”

“ The Eagle gives the wish to the beasts, instead of the birds and flowers, because nobody ever has anything against the flowers anyway, and they don’t care for new experiences. As for the birds, they have so many chances to travel and do interesting things that His Majesty, [Pg 29] the Eagle, decided to go outside of his own family and give the wish to the four-footers. You see, they get around very little as they have no wings. ”

“ They were such wobbly and uncertain legs that they frightened Ready. He remembered going once to a dog lecture where the speaker had said:
“Fellow dogs, beware of unreliable legs! [Pg 13] There is nothing left in life for a dog if his legs go back on him.”
Ready remembered that this great dog doctor had given him a number of prescriptions. This was one of them:
FOR RAPID RUNNING LEGS
Eat carefully, exercise regularly, and don’t ever be cast down. ”

“ At first he broke down completely and moaned and moaned. Then he thought: “Perhaps if I walk by her side very nicely it will soften her heart; and then there is always a chance when [Pg 16] out in the great beautiful open world.” ”

“ He must sleep, anyway, and only needs some one about to see that he is not disturbed. You will be back in time to take him home.”
Oh, how Ready loved Dr. Barn Swallow for those words! Even to this day he never passes a barn swallow without saluting most politely and asking if he can be of any service.
And so it was all settled. Soon the good-byes and thank-yous were said, the Doctor’s fee was paid, and Ready and Father Swallow were speeding along the meadow road.
Ready was afraid that it was too late for the Field Mouse to appear. He felt that it must [Pg 92] be long past noon. ”

“ Baby!” It was hard indeed not to run after him and give him a good whipping, but this time Ready kept his head by saying to himself in a low tone, over and over again:
“My Master Dick is waiting, waiting, my [Pg 89] dear, dear Master Dick.” This helped wonderfully.
In a few minutes the little bed was made. It was a lovely soft one, beautifully lined with feathers brought from a chicken yard near by.
Dr. Barn Swallow
Fluffy Forked Tail felt better immediately, and when two of the swallows, who had been watching on the telephone wire, twittered excitedly, [Pg 90] “They are coming!” ”