A PUPPY PROBLEM

    When Midget was a puppy
    And to the farm was brought,
    She found that there were many things
    A puppy must be tought.

    Her mother oft had told her
    The first thing to be known
    Was how to gnaw and bite, and thus
    Enjoy a toothsome bone.

    So Midget practiced biting
    On everything around,
    But that was not approved at all,
    To her surprise, she found.

    The farmer spoke severely,
    Till Midget shook with fright;
    The children shouted "No, no, no!
    Bad Midget! Mustn't bite!"

    'Twas just the same with barking;
    At first they all said "Hark!"
    Whenever Midget tried her voice;
    "Good puppy! That's it! Bark!"

    But then, as soon as Midget
    Could sound a sharp "Bow-wow!"
    Alas! the talk was changed to "Hush!
    Such noise we can't allow!"

    Now wasn't that a puzzle?
    It seemed a problem dark
    That it was right and wrong to bite
    And right and wrong to bark.

    A puppy's hardest lesson
    Is when to bark and bite;
    But Midget learned it, and became
    A comfort and delight. 

    				Emilie Poulsson

    
				Through the Farmyard Gate