publisher, and am sure
that the issue of the story will honor the Publication Society. In the
development of the book, I believe that the humane cause has stood above
any speculative thought or interest. The book comes because it is called
for; the times demand it. I think that the publishers have a right to
ask for a little unselfish service on the part of the public in helping
to give it a circulation commensurate with its opportunity, need, and
influence.

HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH.

(Of the committee of readers of the prize stories offered to the Humane
Society.)

BOSTON, MASS., Dec., 1893.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. ONLY A CUR

II. THE CRUEL MILKMAN

III. MY KIND DELIVERER AND MISS LAURA

IV. THE MORRIS BOYS ADD TO MY NAME

V. MY NEW HOME AND A SELFISH LADY

VI. THE FOX TERRIER BILLY

VII. TRAINING A PUPPY

VIII. A RUINED DOG

IX. THE PARROT BELLA

X. BILLY'S TRAINING CONTINUED

XI. GOLDFISH AND CANARIES

XII. MALTA THE CAT

XIII. THE BEGINNING OF AN ADVENTURE

XIV. HOW WE CAUGHT THE BURGLAR

XV. OUR JOURNEY TO RIVERDALE

XVI. DINGLEY FARM

XVII. MR. WOOD AND HIS HORSES

XVIII. MRS. WOOD'S POULTRY

XIX. A BAND OF MERCY

XX. STORIES ABOUT ANIMALS

XXI. MR. MAXWELL AND MR. HARRY

XXII. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TEA TABLE

XXIII. TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS

XXIV. THE RABBIT AND THE HEN

XXV. A HAPPY HORSE

XXVI. THE BOX OF MONEY

XXVII. A NEGLECTED STABLE

XXVIII. THE END OF THE ENGLISHMAN

XXIX. A TALK ABOUT SHEEP

XXX. A JEALOUS OX

XXXI. IN THE COW STABLE

XXXII. OUR RETURN HOME

XXXIII. PERFORMING ANIMALS

XXXIV. A FIRE IN FAIRPORT

XXXV. BILLY AND THE ITALIAN

XXXVI. DANDY THE TRAMP

XXXVII. THE END OF MY STORY

BEAUTIFUL JOE

CHAPTER I

ONLY A CUR

My name is Beautiful Joe, and I am a brown dog of medium size. I am not
called Beautiful Joe because I am a beauty. Mr. Morris, the clergyman,
in whose family I have lived for the last twelve years, says that he
thinks I must be called Beautiful Joe for the same reason that his
grandfather, down South, called a very ugly colored slave-lad Cupid, and
his mother Venus.

I do not know what he means by that, but when he says it people always
look at me and smile. I know that I am not beautiful, and I know that I
am not a thoroughbred. I am only a cur.

When my mistress went every year to register me and pay my tax, and the
man in the office asked what breed I was, she s