Arthur Scott Bailey

The Tale of Old Dog Spot Arthur Scott Bailey

Nobody ever spoke of old Spot's master as "old Johnnie Green." Yet the two-boy and dog-werealmost exactly the same age. Somehow Spot grew up faster than Johnnie. He had stopped being apuppy by the time his young master learned to walk. And when Johnnie was big enough to playaround the farm buildings his parents felt sure that he was safe so long as "old Spot," as they calledthe dog, was with him. Spot thought himself years older than the small boy; or at least he always acted so. If a goose hissedat little, toddling Johnnie Green, old Spot would drive the goose away, barking in a loud voice,"Don't you frighten this child!" If Johnnie went into the stable and wandered within reach of thehorses' heels Spot would take hold of his clothes and draw him gently back out of danger. And ifJohnnie strayed to the duck pond the old dog wouldn't leave him even to chase the cat, but stayedright there by the pond, ready to pull his young charge out of the water in case he happened to fallin.