"I am going out to see the world," said a pug puppy.
He ran down a hill as fast as his wabbly legs could carry him, and
looked into a little brook which flowed by.
"How queer!" he said, "I did not know that puppies live in water.
This one looks just like my brothers, but it can not be one of
them. They were all asleep when I came away. I will run home to
tell mother about it," and up the hill he went as fast as he could
carry his fat little body.
When he arrived at home, he panted out, "Oh, mother! I have found
out something that you do not know. There is a pug puppy living in
the creek."
"You are either dreaming, my son, or you have seen your own
shadow," said his mother.
"I know what I saw, mother. I am not dreaming. It was not my
shadow. It was a puppy dog," and the little pug barked savagely at
his mother. "Come with me, mother. I will show you that I know
what I am talking about." So the mother followed her puppy.
When they came near the foot of the hill, the little pug ran on
ahead of his mother and looked into the stream.
"How lucky!" he said, "he is still here. Now, mother, you see that
what I said is true."
"It is your shadow, little one."
"No, no, my eyes are better than yours, mother."
Just then his mother came up and stood beside him.
"How queer!" said the little dog. "That is the pug's mother. I did
not see her before. It would be too cold for me down in that
water. Why do they live there?"
"You foolish child," replied the mother. "It is our shadows that
you see there. See, they are just like us."
"I am not a baby. I know what dogs are, mother. Those are real
dogs."
"Watch, my son, and see what happens," and the mother dropped a
stone on the two shadows. They were gone.
The little pug stood surprised. He dropped his ears and went
slowly home without saying another word.