king up
the sneaking-looking thing.) He's no breed, boys; look at him--see his
tushes; growl, Barney, growl!--Ain't them tushes, boys? He's no breed,
boys; _he's original stock!_"

"Well, so I was going to say," says one.

"That dog," says another, "must be valuable."

"Waluable?" re-echoes the old man; "he is all that, boys; I wouldn't
sell him; but, boys, I'm dry, dry as a powder horn--so much talkin'
makes one dry."

"Well, come up, poppy; what'll you take?" said the boys.

"Sperrets, boys; good old sperrets. I do like good sperrets, boys, and
that sperrets, Mister (to the ruffled-bosomed bar-keeper), o' your'n is
like my dog--_can't be beat!_"

"Well, daddy," continued the dog men, "where'd you get your dog?"

"That dog," said the old fellow, again giving his mouth a back-hander,
and his "ah-h-h!" accompaniment; "well, I'll tell you, boys, all about
it."

"Do, poppy, that's right; now, tell us all about it," they cried.

"Well, boys, 'd any you know Ben. McConachy, out here at the Risin' Sun
Tavern?"

"We've heard of him, daddy--go on," says they.

"Well, I worked for Ben. McConachy, one winter; he was a pizen mean man,
but his wife--wasn't she mean? Why, boys, she'd spread all the bread
with butter afore we sat down to breakfast; she'd begin with a quarter
pound of butter, and when she'd got through, she had twice as much
left."

"But how about the dog, daddy? Come, tell us about your _dog_."

"Well, yes, I'll tell you, boys. You see, Ben. McConachy owned this dog;
set up, Barney--look at his ears, boys--great, ain't they? Well, Ben's
wife was mean--meaner than pizen. She hated this dog; she hated any
thing that _et_; she considered any body, except her and her daughter (a
pizen ugly gal), that et three pieces of bread and two cups of coffee at
a meal, _awful!_"

"Blow the old woman; tell us about the _dog_, poppy," said they.

"Now, I'm coming to the pint--but, Lord! boys, I never was so dry in my
life. I am dry--plaguy dry," said the old one.

"Well, daddy, step up and take something; come," said the dog men; "now
let her slide. How about the _dog?_"

"Ah-h-h-h! that's great sperrets, boys. Mister (to the bar-keeper), I
don't find such sperrets as that _often_. Well, boys, as you're anxious
to hear about the dog, I'll tell you all about him. You see, the old
woman and Ben. was allers spatten 'bout one thing or t'other, and
'specially about this dog. So one day Ben. McConachy hears a feller