Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

The fox which Mr. Fairgrieves now has occupies a yard back of the store, to which Mr. Fairgrieves’ dog has free access. The dog and fox are great friends. They frolic together, play “no end” of jokes on each other, and live in the most perfect harmony, save at ‘meal time.” The discussion that a choice bit will call forth is sometimes most interesting. Mr. Fairgrieves gave the fox a bone the other day. The dog had been taught by experience that it was no use for him to try to capture it, so he retired into the store to watch the proceedings, doubtless hoping something would turn up in his favor. The fox ate what he wanted of the bone and preferred to lay it away for future use. The dog pricked up his ears, but yawned and betrayed no especial interest.
The fox dug a deep hole, placed the juicy bone in the bottom, and covering it over with earth, “patted” it down. He then went into his kennel, brought out an old bone that he had kept away from the dog for several days “out of pure cussedness,” placed it in the hole over the sweet one, covered it up with apparent care and returned to his kennel to watch operations. The dog saw the fox safely housed, and, as he had done before, stealthily approached the treasure, resurrected the dry bone and trotted off.-Somerest [Me.] Reporter.