obody is looking, he dashes off, barking at any imaginary ox-cart, in
wild, unrestrainable impetuosity, generally in the direction of the
Williamsons' cottage, and bringing up, almost invariably, under the
Williamsons' kitchen stove.

He would rather be shut up, in the Williamsons' kitchen, with John and
Sarah, and with a chance of seeing Flossie through the wire-screened
door, than roam in perfect freedom over all his own domain.

He will bark at horses' heels until he is brought home, some day, with
broken ribs. Nothing but hard experience teaches Roy. There is no use of
boxing his ears. That only hurts his feelings, and gives him an extra
craving for sympathy. He licks the hand that licks him, until everyone
of the five fingers is heartily ashamed of itself.

[Illustration: "He is stone-deaf when he is asked to
come back"]

[Illustration: "He pretends he has forgotten all about it"]

[Illustration: "He poses willingly and steadily"]

[Illustration: "He waits patiently about"]

[Illustration: ROY]

Several autograph letters of Roy's, in verse, in blank-verse, and in
plain, hard prose, signed by his own mark--a fore paw dipped in an
ink-bottle and stamped upon the paper--were sold by Mrs. Custer at
varying prices during a fair for the benefit of the Onteora Chapel Fund,
in 1896.

To one friend he wrote:

"My dear Blennie Beckwith,--You are a sneak; and a snip; and a
snide; and a snob; and a snoozer; and a snarler; and a snapper; and
a skunk. And I hate you; and I loathe you; and I despise you; and
I abominate you; and I scorn you; and I repudiate you; and I abhor
you; and I dislike you; and I eschew you; and I dash you; and I dare
you.

"Your affectionate friend,

"P. S.--I've licked this spot.
"R. H.

His
Roy [paw print] Hutton.
mark.

"Witness: Kate Lynch."

Inspired by Miss Flossie Williamson Burns's bright eyes, he dropped into
poetry in addressing her:

"Say I'm barkey; say I'm bad;
Say the Thurber pony kicked me;
Say I run away--but add--
'Flossie licked me.'

his
"Roy x Hutton.
mark.
"Witness: Sarah Johnson."

In honor of "John Ropes,