two or three dogs of a reasonable length to enter. Boonder's feet were decided; his toes turned out considerably, and in repose his favorite attitude was the first position of dancing. Add to a pair of bright eyes ears that seemed to belong to some other dog, and a symmetrically pointed nose that fitted all apertures like a pass-key, and you have Boonder as we knew him. I am inclined to think that his popularity was mainly owing to his quiet impudence. His advent in the family was that of an old member, who had been absent for a short time, but had returned to familiar haunts and associations. In a Pythagorean point of view this might have been the case, but I cannot recall any deceased member of the family who was in life partial to bone-burying (though it might be post mortem a consistent amusement), and this was Boonder's great weakness. He was at first discovered coiled up on a rug in an upper chamber, and was the least disconcerted of the entire household. From that moment Boonder became one of its recognized members, and privileges, often denied the most intelligent and valuable of his species, were quietly taken by him and submitted to by us. Thus, if he were found coiled up in a clothes-basket, or any article of clothing assumed locomotion on its own account, we only said, "O, it's Boonder," with a feeling of relief that it was nothing worse. I have spoken of his fondness for bone-burying. It could not be called an economical faculty, for he invariably forgot the locality of his treasure, and covered the garden with purposeless holes; but although the violets and daisies were not improved by Boonder's gardening, no one ever thought of punishing him. He became a synonym for fate; a Boonder to be grumbled at, to be accepted philosophically, but never to be averted. But although he was not an intelligent dog, nor an ornamental dog, he possessed some gentlemanly instincts. When he performed his only feat, begging upon his hind legs (and looking remarkably like a penguin), — ignorant strangers would offer him crackers or cake, which he did n't like, as a reward of merit. Boonder always made a great show of accepting the proffered dainties, and even made hypocritical contortions as if swallowing, but always deposited the morsel when he was unobserved in the first convenient receptacle, — usually the visitor's overshoes. In matters that did not involve courtesy, Boonder was sincere in his likes and dislikes. He was instinctively opposed to the railroad. When the track was laid through our street, Boonder maintained a defiant attitude toward every rail as it went down, and resisted the cars shortly after to the fullest extent of his lungs. I have a vivid recollection of seeing him, on the day of the trial trip, come down the street in front of the car, barking himself out of all shape, and thrown back several feet by the recoil of each bark. But Boonder was not the only one who has resisted innovations, or has lived to see the innovation prosper and even crush But I am anticipating. Boonder had previously resisted the gas, but although he spent one whole day in angry altercation with the workmen, leaving his bones. unburied and bleaching in the sun, somehow the gas went in. The Spring Valley water was likewise unsuccessfully opposed, and the grading of an adjoining lot was for a long time a personal matter between Boonder and the contractor. These peculiarities seemed to evince some decided character and embody some idea. A prolonged debate in the family upon this topic resulted in an addition to his name, we called him "Boonder the Conservative," with a faint acknowledgment of his fateful power. But, although Boonder had his own way, his path was not entirely of roses. Thorns sometimes pricked his sensibilities. When certain minor chords were struck on the piano, Boonder was always painfully affected and howled a remonstrance. If he were removed for com pany's sake to the back yard, at the recurrence of the provocation, he would go his whole length (which was something) to improvise a howl that should reach the performer. But we got accustomed to Boonder, and as we were fond of music the playing went on. One morning Boonder left the house in good spirits with his regular bone in his mouth, and apparently the usual intention of burying it. The next day he was picked up lifeless on the track, apparently, by the first car that went out of the depot. run over, VOCABULARY. A-boon' (Scotch), above. Ab-o-rig'i-nals, the first inhabitants of a coun try. (Usually written Aborigines.) A-brad'ing, rubbing or wearing off. | And'i-rons, utensils for supporting wood in a An'gli-cism, a form of expression peculiar to the A-ca'ci-a, a tree growing chiefly in tropical An'nals, a history of events year by year. countries. A-nom'a-ly, an irregularity; a deviation from law or rule. An'ser-ine, relating to or resembling a goose. Ac-ces'so-ry, aiding; additional; an accompaniment. A-crid'i-ty, sharpness and bitterness to the An-tag'o-nist, an opponent; an adversary. taste. An-te-di-lu'vi-an, existing before the flood. Ad-a-man'tine (-in), hard like adamant; inca- An'them, a sacred song. Ad'e-quate-ly, in an equal degree; sufficiently. taste. Af'fa-ble, easy in conversation; courteous. mass. A-glee' (page 392), aglow; active. A-lac'ri-ty, cheerful readiness; sprightliness. Al'le-go-ry, a fable or parable; a description of Al'ma Ma'ter (Latin), fostering mother; the An-thro-poph'a-gi, cannibals. An'ti-dote, that which counteracts the effects of any drug. An'tres (Latin), caves. A-o'ni-an, relating to Aonia, a country of Ap-prox-i-ma'tion, near approach. Aq'ui-line (-lin or -lin), resembling an eagle; Ar-ca'di-a, a country in Greece, noted for the Ar-is-toc'ra-cy, government by the nobles; the Ar-te'si-an, relating to Artois, in France; a term applied to wells formed by boring into the earth. As-cen'den-cy, controlling influence; power. Am-big'u-ous, having a doubtful or double As-cet'ic, one who too rigorously applies himmeaning. self to religious practices. Am-bus-cade', a lying concealed in wait to at- As-sim-i-la'tion, the act of bringing to a liketack an enemy. ness. A-me-li-o-ra'tion, the act of making better; As-size', an inquest; a measure or adjustment. improvement. A-men'i-ty, pleasantness; civility. As-trol'o-ger, one who professes to foretell fu- Au-ro'ra, the dawn, or a light in the heavens | Car-a-van', a company of travelers in the East. Au'spi-cate, to foreshow. Au-to-bi-og'ra-phy, an account of one's own Car'ni-val, a festival celebrated just before Av'a-lanche, a mass of snow and ice, sliding Car-niv'o-rous, subsisting on flesh; flesh-eat down a mountain. Av-a-tar', the descent of a Hindoo deity. Ba-salt', a greenish-black stone. ing. Casque, a helmet. Cas-sa'va, the plant from which tapioca is obtained; manioc. Ca-tas'tro-phe, the termination of an event; a disaster. Ca-the'dral, the principal church in a diocese. Bass-re-lief', carved work in which the figures Cat'e-go-ry, a class of things. Bay'ou, an inlet of the sea, connected with riv- Cel'i-ba-cy, unmarried state; single life. Be-a-tif'ic, producing bliss. Bel-lig'er-ent, waging war. Be-nef'i-cent, doing good. Cen'ser, a vessel for burning perfumes. Cen'sure, blame; reproof; judgment. Cha'os, a confused mass; disorder. Chi-ca'ner-y, trickery; deception. Ben-e-dic'tion, act of pronouncing a blessing. Cha-ot'ic, in a state of chaos; disorganized. Be-nig'ni-ty, kindness of disposition; good- Chi-mer'i-cal, fanciful; unreal. will. Bib'li-cal, relating to the Bible. Bi-og'ra-phy, a history of any person's life. Boon, anything granted as a benefit or favor. Brake, a place overgrown with shrubs; thicket. a Chiv'al-rous, gallant; valiant; brave. Chiv'al-ry, knighthood; gallantry. Ci-ce-ro'ne (che-che-ro'ne), one who shows Civ'ic, civil; not military; municipal. Clan-des'tine (-in), secret; underhand. Bri-a re-us, a fabled giant having a hundred Cock 'et, a custom-house certificate. hands. Co-e'val, of the same age. Bro-cade', silk stuff, wrought or woven with Cog i-tate, to think; to meditate. |