Judge required even his own son to relate a story, in punishment for
his rudeness in barking that terrible bass solo at Pixie, which a well
mannered dog should not have done. The father had had Bob rehearse just
what he would say, to make certain that nothing in regard to the family
skeleton would be disclosed, although almost every family has some such
secret to guard. However, Judge thought it best to be on the safe side
in regard to theirs.
Right now I will tell you what this great secret was, but it must
go no further. Some ancestor of Judge’s was killed for slaughtering
sheep. That was about the most disgraceful thing of which a dog
could be guilty--to be called a kill-sheep dog! Of course younger
generations had done honor to the Airedale name, and nobody would hold
them responsible for what had occurred in their family so long ago.
Still, they seldom mentioned it among themselves, and never, never, to
outsiders.
[Illustration: The Comical Young Airedale Terrier]
Bob was inclined to be boastful, and was more than anxious to square
himself with the little Pom. After asking his father many questions in
regard to their family history, he finally succeeded in ferreting out
some very interesting facts.
The Airedale family are noted for their ability to look after their
own welfare, and as guards for children and for property liable to be
invaded by burglars. They are not beautiful, but what is of far more
value, they are useful. As they are partly Irish, they have a sense of
humor and do many comical things.
As an instance of the cleverness and humor of the Airedale terrier, one
that was young liked to dig holes in his master’s front lawn. He had
been repeatedly punished for this naughtiness. Yet whenever he saw the
tracks of a ground mole, he would forget everything and start digging
until he had made another large hole. Then he would stop and look at
what he had done. Feeling guilty, he would run to the porch, where
there was a large door mat. This he would drag to the place and cover
the hole. Satisfied that his guilt was hidden, he would run off to play.
Another of Bob’s stories was about a clever dog named King who took
care of a baby.