Clown, the Circus Dog

by A. Vimar

  Produced by Chris Curnow, Matthias Grammel and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (Thisfile was produced from images generously made availableby The Internet Archive)

  This book belongs to]

  Clown the Circus Dog

  Clown the Circus Dog]

  CLOWN

  The Circus Dog

  Story and Illustrations By

  A. Vimar Author of "The Curly-Haired Hen"

  Translated by Nora K. Hills

  Clown the Circus Dog]

  The Reilly & Britton Company Chicago

  Copyright, 1917 by The Reilly & Britton Co.

  _Clown, the Circus Dog_

  _To My Little Daughter Genevieve Vimar_

  Child with cat and dog]

  Table

  Clown's Puppy Days 15

  The Capture of Clown 43

  Clown Escapes 54

  Clown at the Circus 64

  The Return Home 101

  Dog on book]

  Clown, the Circus Dog

  1

  CLOWN'S PUPPY DAYS

  Summer was here at last. The winter had not been very cold, but it hadstayed long after spring should have come. Now it seemed almost toowarm, perhaps because only a few days before it had been so cold.

  Desk with books, paper, quill, laurel wreaths]

  It was the end of the school-year, the time for examinations and thegiving of prizes, and these last few days were hard on both teachersand children.

  Girl with dogs]

  Already a holiday breeze was blowing over the budding and blossomingcountry, and the hum of insects and the singing of birds made one thinkof the fun that would come with vacation.

  Among the scholars bending over their desks was Bertha, a littledark-haired girl, her black eyes fringed with long lashes. She wastwelve years old and was working for her first certificate. Morning andafternoon she came to the school, sometimes brought by the maid, butmore often by her mother.

  As a child she had always been petted and spoiled by her parents, whogave her all the candies and toys she wanted. Her little room wascrowded with dolls and playthings of all sorts, each of which had itsname.

  There were fair dolls, dark dolls, white dolls, black dolls, bigdolls--some even were life-size--fat dolls, thin dolls, little dolls,tiny dolls; there were jointed dolls, who opened and shut their eyes;there were dolls who could talk, and dolls who kept silent. I believemyself that Bertha loved the silent ones best; they could not answerback, you see.

  Uncle Jean, the brother of Bertha's father, had made a point of givingBertha her first toy. He brought her, one fine morning, a lovely whitepoodle, which had pink silk ribbons on it and little tinkly bells.There was a spring inside, and when Bertha pressed this gently withher fingers, the dog barked. It was altogether so well made that youwould have thought it was alive.

  When he gave it to her, before the whole family, Uncle Jean made herthe following speech:

  Desk with toys...and dog puppet]

  "My dear niece, I give you this dog rather than a doll, because thedog is the friend of man, but a doll--" here he mumbled into his bigmoustache a lot of long words which got so mixed up with the barking ofthe dog that nobody could catch them. Perhaps it was just as well.

  Woman with child, man with dog]

  Uncle Jean was always saying funny clever things to make people laughbut really he was very wise and thoughtful. Everybody liked him and hewas invited places all the time.

  So Bertha's first plaything was this dog, who was then and there giventhe name of "Clown." Why they hit upon this name I really cannot say.

  After the dog there came, one by one, all the dolls I just told youabout, but Bertha loved Clown best. You see, he was the only dog shehad, but there were many dolls to share her love.

  Bertha and dog puppet]

  Every night he was put to bed at the feet of his little mistress, who,each morning as she woke up, took him into her arms and hugged himtight.

  Later on, as Bertha grew older, she would talk to him for hours, Clownanswering with long barks, really made by Bertha's fingers pressing onthe spring.

  They were then, as I was just now telling you, on the eve of theexaminations. Bertha was working her hardest. For several days she hadbeen very, very quiet, and just a little worried; her parents werequite anxious and petted her even more than usual.

  Bertha and her mother]

  At last one morning, when her mother asked her what was the matter,Bertha decided to tell her all about it. After a long sigh she said:

  "Mother, if I pass my examination, will you give me what I have beenwanting for a long, long time?"

  Then, without waiting for an answer, she went on:

  "I want a dog, a little dog, but--a real live one. It will be quiteeasy to get one if you will only let me. Miss Lewis, our principalat school, is going to have some. Don't laugh, Mother, it is quitetrue. She told me so herself, and she promised to give me one if youand father would let me have it. Oh, you will ask father, won't you?Everything depends on him," she murmured, snuggling up to her motherand hugging her, "for I know you will let me, won't you, sweetest? Oh,I am so happy, so proud to think of having a dog of my very own." Shewas so excited, she clapped her hands and danced for joy.

  Bertha passed her examinations with honors and, true to his promise,her father said that she might have her dog.

  After that nobody could think of anything but the doggie, so eagerlyexpected. What would he be like? What color would he be? She imaginedhim now black, now white, now black and white, now sandy. She askedall sorts of questions of everybody she met. She dreamed of him, shethought of him all day long, of nothing but him.

  Marie with a letter for Bertha]

  Her father told her not to get too excited, as he was afraid she mightbe disappointed. Bertha listened at last to his good advice, but eventhen she could not resist stopping to look in at the windows of theleather goods stores, where muzzles, collars, chains, leashes, whips,boots for the mud, coats and blankets--in short, all the things a dogcould need--were displayed.

  Dreamily she gazed at the poodles and pet-dogs which passed her, led byfine ladies.

  But, what was this? Marie with a letter for the little girl? Bertharecognized the handwriting. Miss Lewis had written to tell her thegreat news--the puppies had arrived. Five of them. Five little puppies,each with different markings, and Miss Lewis graciously invited herpupil to come and choose.

  Mrs. Lewis' dog with five puppies]

  Bertha was breathless, wild with joy.

  "Mother, Mother, let's go quick! My doggie is waiting."

  Dressing hastily, mother and daughter went straight to Miss Lewis'shouse, where they found her beside a beautiful black poodle, who,jealously ready to protect her babies, looked at her visitors as thoughshe didn't quite trust them.

  Little black puppy]

  After much hesitation Bertha at last decided upon a sturdy little blackpuppy, with a white lock set exactly in the middle of his forehead,like a pennant, which made him look very quaint and cunning. Perhaps itwas the white lock that decided Bertha, anyhow, directly she saw him,the darling, she cried:

  "That's the one I want! I choose him."

  She couldn't have told you herself why she chose that one. She thoughthis brothers and sisters all very pretty, but he was
the one she wanted.Love is often like that.

  Bertha, who already loved the puppy she had chosen, wanted to take himhome with her at once, but her mother and even Miss Lewis insistedthat he was too young yet. Just think, he was only just born. It wouldnot be wise to bring him up on the bottle--such a bother--and then therisk of sickness and all that might cause his little mistress all sortsof worry.

  Puppy with mother]

  Bertha saw that they were right, but she begged Miss Lewis to let hercome every day to see him, to which her teacher willingly agreed.

  After that Bertha did not let a day go by without a visit to her littlefriend. The mother-dog soon grew used to seeing the girl; she was atrifle greedy, I must confess, and her affection was quite won by thecakes and dainties which Bertha brought her.

  Clown as puppy]

  For more than a month the puppy stayed with his mother. He had to beentirely weaned before his mistress could have him.

  In the meantime Bertha was busier than ever, busier than she would havebeen if she had had the doggie at home. She was making all sorts ofpreparations for him. She bought a regular outfit for her baby, as shecalled him, and she even wanted to get him nightcaps and pajamas. Theseher mother did not think necessary. However, to make up for not gettingthem, she had to get all kinds of other things: curtains for his bed,cushions, ribbons, a collar, a leash, even a tiny muzzle. Her doggiemust be well provided for.

  Dog on book]

  After hesitating a long time over the name to be given to the newcomer,Bertha decided to call him "Clown," after her first dog, Uncle Jean'stoy. Besides, the name suited him exactly; he was very active, and hada happy look and clumsy ways which made you laugh.

  He would spend hours chasing his tail, but as it was rather short andhis body very chubby, he never quite caught it. The look of disgustwhich came over his face when he finally gave up was so funny thatBertha laughed till the tears came to her eyes.

  Clown]

  Meantime all his brothers and sisters had been given away. This didnot worry Clown a bit; he certainly did not lose his appetite over it;on the contrary, he stuffed himself nearly sick. He drank so hard thatsometimes the milk would run out of his nose. Eating like that, he soonbecame a big fat doggie, strong and active, barking at everything, andsnapping at flies.

  When Clown was at last old enough to be taken away, Bertha, with herfaithful maid, Marie, went to get the little fellow and bring him tohis new home.

  They had a regular christening party to which all Bertha's littlefriends and their brothers were invited. There was a fine lunch withlots of candy; they even drank fruit-juice punch. The party was talkedof long after by the guests, who enjoyed themselves immensely.

  But, alas, a month afterward, a cloud dimmed Bertha's happiness. UncleJean did not like the looks of Clown. It is true that although hiscoat was well brushed and curled and perfumed, the dog did look morelike a little bear than a poodle. Uncle Jean was very particular aboutthe training of dogs. He had horses and dogs of his own (he even had amonkey) and he insisted that his grooms keep all his animals, of whomhe was very fond, slick and clean.

  No poodle of his would have remained unshaven, with tail uncut, whenall proper poodles are shaven and have their tails trimmed off.

  He said so much about it that at last it was decided that the dogshould be sent to the veterinary surgeon, who in a minute had cut offClown's tail and shaved him like a lion, leaving just a rim of hairaround his hind-quarters as an ornament, and a bushy tuft at the endof his trimmed-off tail.

  Poor little Clown was terribly upset.

  He was brought home looking like a martyr and horribly ashamed; formore than a week he was feverish and had fits of trembling. Berthacried and cried. I need not tell you what care she took of him. You canguess that for yourself.

  Clown was terribly upset]

  Cured at last, he soon forgot about having his hair cut, and became aproud, fine-looking dog. Only he could not bear the sound of shears,and when he heard the dog-clippers go past he would fall into a rage,wanting to run out and bite them, barking furiously in chorus with theother dogs who felt as he did about it.

  Bertha ceased to be angry with her uncle. When as she led Clown on theleash she noticed people turn round and go into raptures over thelooks of her dog, it made her feel very proud.

  Dog training]

  The dog grew so fast you could almost see him getting bigger. Histraining was undertaken carefully, Uncle Jean looking after it himself.Clown learned quickly and easily; he was naturally intelligent and hada truly wonderful memory.

  Uncle Jean found that Clown learned tricks easily--he seemed to like toshow off--but in other ways he was not so easily managed. He was ratherfond of having his own way, and his young mistress got more than onescolding for spoiling him. He insisted on being fed from her own hand,and he would sleep nowhere but in Bertha's room.

  Clown learned tricks easily]

  Men are conceited things and think themselves much wiser than theanimals, but I don't believe they know so very much more after all.It's a question whether the animal's instinct isn't of as much useto him as intelligence is to man. Anyhow, animals can understandone another, even animals of different kinds. I rather think theyunderstand one _=another=_ better than we understand them.

  However that may be, Clown was a wonder. You had only to say what youwanted him to do and he would do it like an old hand. He would jumpthrough a hoop, give his right or left hand as he was asked, leapbackward or forward, walk on his hands or feet--all this was child'splay to him.

  Clown's tricks]

  He dearly loved games--such as he could play, of course. He wouldtoss a ball, hunt the thimble, and without ever making a mistakebring back the handkerchief to its owner, grinning with delight. Witha policeman's helmet on his head, and a piece of sugar on his nose,looking like a soldier on parade, he would carry arms for hours at atime. What surprising things he could do! You would scarcely believeit, but he had learned to recognize certain letters of the alphabet andto put together the word, B-E-R-T-H-A.

  He never made a mistake in spelling the name of his little mistress,although that was, however, the first and last word that they succeededin teaching him.

  Alas, with all his good qualities Clown had his failings. Nobody, sadto say, is faultless. He was given to stealing. A sugar bowl leftwithin his reach had a very bad time of it; he ate all the sugar, tothe very last piece, and it was a lucky thing if he didn't break thebowl as well. Clown was greedy, there was no denying.

  Clown eats sugar from the sugar bowl]

  After a while, sadly spoiled, unfortunately, he began to put on airsof independence. His leash made him impatient, and when he met a dogfriend running free about the streets he would behave badly, forcingBertha to drag him along like a toy without wheels, or he would wallowin the dust, both of which made his mistress very angry.

  One day, when he had gone marketing with Marie, he managed to slip hishead out of his collar and set off with a rush to join a group of veryill-kept tramp dogs.

  Poor Marie called and called, but in vain. Then she ran after him.Not only could she not overtake him but, worse still, at a turning inthe road she lost sight of him altogether. In vain she searched theneighborhood, questioning everyone she met, but no one had seen poorClown.

  Marie and Clown]

  Clown running away from Marie]

  The excited woman began to cry, not daring to return home without thedog. Anxiously she walked up and down in front of the house. Afterabout half an hour she heard a noise and soon saw a band of childrenappear, yelling and running after a poor wretched, muddy little dog, towhose tail was tied an old tin can which knocked against the pavementwith every jump he took.

  Marie could not believe her eyes.

  Clown in Marie's arms]

  You would _=never=_ have known it was poor Clown, so terrified, hiseyes almost bursting from his head, his tongue hanging. As soon as hecaught sight of Marie, he hurled himself into her arms, co
vering herwith both kisses and mud.

  Marie was so sorry for him that she hadn't the heart to scold the pooranimal. She took him in her apron and after untying the horrible tincan he had been dragging after him, she carried him up to her room andthere bathed him from head to foot. He needed it, I can tell you.

  "If this will only be a lesson to him," she said to herself; but shedid not dare to tell anybody about his running away.

  Clown playing with ball]

  After this adventure Clown behaved very much better and was quiet andobedient for several weeks. When his mistress took him out he followedher quietly on the leash, without making any objection. Thus his lifeflowed on, calm and happy. He had everything a dog could wish, except,perhaps, a little more freedom. In the house, in the garden, in thecountry, he could run about as he pleased, but in the streets Berthaalways kept him on the leash. The leash was held by a hand very gentle,very easy and discreet, but in spite of that he always resented it.He had tried everything he could to get rid of it. When he could getat it, he would hide it or chew it up so that it was not fit to use.Bertha just bought another one at once. Then, to show his hatred of it,Clown invented all sorts of tricks, winding himself round the feet ofpassers-by, getting himself caught behind a tree, planting his feet andrefusing to move. That was his revenge.

  One of Clown's tricks]

  In this way, two years passed without anything happening worth tellingyou about.

  Our doggie, cared for as he was, had grown into a very handsomecreature.

  Clown with tin can]