BRUNO [Illustration: The Old City Gates, St. Augustine.--_Frontispiece._] BRUNO BY BYRD SPILMAN DEWEY New Edition WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY CALVERT SMITH BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1908 _Copyright, 1899, 1908,_ BY BYRD SPILMAN DEWEY, _All rights reserved._ Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. THIS LITTLE SKETCH Is dedicated TO ALL WHO HAVE EVER LOVED ONE OF THOSE FAITHFUL CREATURES OF WHOM WE, IN OUR IGNORANCE AND VANITY, ARE WONT TO SPEAK AS "THE LOWER ANIMALS." B. S. D. ILLUSTRATIONS. THE OLD CITY GATES, ST. AUGUSTINE _Frontispiece._ "I FELL ON MY KNEES TO HUG HIM" Page 25 "HE WAS HISSING AT BRUNO" " 62 CHASING CRABS AND SEA-BIRDS " 111 BRUNO CHAPTER I We do not count the first half-year of our married life, because, during that time we did not live, we boarded. Then we found we had developed a strong appetite for housekeeping, so we began to look about us for a house. In the small northern village where we must live, it was not possible to rent anything that suited us; so we decided to take what we could get until we could manage to build what we wanted. The house we took was one which had originally been built out in the country, but the town had crept around it until it now seemed to be almost in the heart of the village. While we were furnishing and embellishing this our first home, was, I think, the most entirely happy time of our lives. Julius often said, "I know now why the birds always sing so joyously when they are building their nests." We were just beginning to feel settled, when a letter came to Julius from his only sister, who lived in a city. It was not unusual for him to have letters from her, but this particular letter stands by itself. It had a postscript! The postscript said: "Would you like a nice dog? The children have had a valuable puppy, seven months old, given to them, and we cannot keep him here, in a flat. He is half setter and half water-spaniel; pure on both sides. We call him 'Bruno.'" How our dignity increased at the idea of owning live-stock! So far we had only achieved a cat, who had by this time achieved kittens. But a dog! That was something like! It did not take us long to decide and send off an enthusiastic acceptance. Then another letter came, saying that Bruno had started on the journey us-ward. The next afternoon a colored car-porter walked into Julius's place of business escorting a shaggy brown dog by a chain fastened to his collar. We have never known just what transpired during that eighteen hours' journey; but something notable there certainly was, for Bruno could never endure the sight or presence of a negro from that time as long as he lived. He seemed utterly humiliated and dejected when he was led in. Julius looked up from his day-book, and exclaimed,--