Mark Twain for Dog Lovers by Rasmussen R. Kent;

Author:Rasmussen, R. Kent; [Rasmussen, R. Kent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyons Press
Published: 2016-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

28.

A Dog’s Tale

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The most sentimental work Mark Twain ever wrote is almost certainly A Dog’s Tale, which he published in a magazine in 1903 and as a small book the following year. A contemporary reviewer said of the story that “few can read it and not be moved to tears. It is one of those rare books which appeal to grown-ups and children.” It is also, incidentally, one of Mark Twain’s few stories narrated by an animal. Aileen Mavourneen, the simple, trusting canine narrator, tells a story of human ingratitude that does, indeed, reduce many readers to tears. The entire book follows below.

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Chapter 1

My father was a St. Bernard, my mother was a collie, but I am a Presbyterian. This is what my mother told me, I do not know these nice distinctions myself. To me they are only fine large words meaning nothing. My mother had a fondness for such; she liked to say them, and see other dogs look surprised and envious, as wondering how she got so much education. But, indeed, it was not real education; it was only show: she got the words by listening in the dining-room and drawing-room when there was company, and by going with the children to Sunday-school and listening there; and whenever she heard a large word she said it over to herself many times, and so was able to keep it until there was a dogmatic gathering in the neighborhood, then she would get it off, and surprise and distress them all, from pocket-pup to mastiff, which rewarded her for all her trouble. If there was a stranger he was nearly sure to be suspicious, and when he got his breath again he would ask her what it meant. And she always told him. He was never expecting this, but thought he would catch her; so when she told him, he was the one that looked ashamed, whereas he had thought it was going to be she. The others were always waiting for this, and glad of it and proud of her, for they knew what was going to happen, because they had had experience. When she told the meaning of a big word they were all so taken up with admiration that it never occurred to any dog to doubt if it was the right one; and that was natural, because, for one thing, she answered up so promptly that it seemed like a dictionary speaking, and for another thing, where could they find out whether it was right or not? for she was the only cultivated dog there was. By and by, when I was older, she brought home the word Unintellectual, one time, and worked it pretty hard all the week at different gatherings, making much unhappiness and despondency; and it was at this time that I noticed that during that week she was asked for the meaning at eight different assemblages, and flashed out a fresh definition every time, which showed me that she had more presence of mind than culture, though I said nothing, of course.

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