My twin puppies by Edna Groff Deihl - HTML preview

Once upon a time two little puppies were born on the very same day. Of course that made them twins! One day when they were quite small, Jimmy’s father brought them home in a big basket. Their backs were turned to each other. One big, black eye was sticking out over one side of the basket, and two saucy brown ones over the other side.

“Oh, Daddy!” was all Jimmy could say.

“What shall we name them?” asked Daddy, after he had laid the doggies on a pretty green cushion by the fireplace. Jimmy turned his blue eyes way up. He was trying to think.

In the next yard a little girl was blowing bubbles. The bubbles shown like the puppies’ eyes. “Let’s call the BROWN ONE BUBBLES!” he said suddenly. “Fine!” answered Daddy.

Then he left his seat in the big arm-chair. The black-eyed puppy had gotten off his cushion, and was trying to chew Jimmy’s shoe! “Go back to your cushion!” he commanded, “You’ll make a lot of trouble, I can see!” “Oh, Daddy!” shouted Jimmy. “Let’s call him TROUBLES!”

One evening Daddy came home with a package. “Is it mine?” asked Jimmy. “It is for your twins,” said Daddy.

When Jimmy opened it, two nice, new collars fell out! On one was a silver plate with TROUBLES. On the other a silver plate with BUBBLES.

Soon the puppies were very well trained. Every morning Jimmy took them walking. He walked in the middle. Troubles stayed on the outside, while Bubbles was on the inside. They never got out of line.

But one morning, before Jimmy could turn, they ran wildly across the street, barking furiously! There on the other side was A BIG BLACK CAT! Such a noise as they made! “Bow, Wow, Bow, Wow, Bow, Wow! Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo! Bow-wow!”

Suddenly the big, black cat arched her back and hissed at them! “Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! P-f-f-f-f-f-f-f!”

Jimmy laughed and laughed when the twins ran back pell-mell! He knew they were afraid. “Fall in line!” he said, sternly. Then they marched on down the street.

One day Jimmy decided to be a circus man. “I will have trained dogs!” he said.

Daddy taught him some tricks. First they got a big barrel-hoop. Troubles and Bubbles did not want to jump through it at first, but soon they learned how. Then they thought it heaps of fun.

Soon they could do lots of tricks. They sat up and begged. Bubbles could not hold his front paws as gracefully as Troubles.

It was so hard to teach them to walk! Bubbles seemed to be bow-legged, and Troubles pigeon-toed, but at last they succeeded in taking ten steps at a time.

And how beautifully they sang after a few lessons! Troubles sang high and Bubbles sang low.

But best of all they loved to play dead! They lay so still when Jimmy covered them with an old shawl, that sometimes it frightened him!

Then Jimmy had a birthday. His father said he might have a circus in the garage! They trimmed it with flags and bunting, and fixed up some soap boxes for a stage. Jimmy was so thankful for such a nice father, that he gave him a BIG HUG!

At last it was time for the circus. All the boys and girls in the neighborhood came. Jimmy charged a penny admission. He wanted to buy a gift for the little lame boy who lived in the alley. He let him come in without paying anything.

When the children were all in the garage Jimmy closed the doors. Then he went to get the performers. THEY WERE GONE! Jimmy looked and looked but he could not find them. His father looked and looked, but he could not find them! His mother looked and looked, but she could not find them! The children looked and looked but they could not find them!

Jimmy felt like crying, but he didn’t! Instead he gave back a penny to each girl and boy who had come to the circus. They all went home! Only the little lame boy from the alley stayed. He and Jimmy sat on the garage steps with their faces in their hands and their elbows on their knees. They were thinking.

“Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!—Yip!—Yip!”

Jimmy looked at the lame boy. The lame boy looked at Jimmy! “Where are they?” asked Jimmy. “It sounds as if they’re in the garage,” answered the lame boy. But when they got into the garage it was EMPTY and VERY QUIET!

Once more they went out and sat on the steps. Soon they heard the crying noise again. Jimmy called his father. Then they all listened.

“Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!—Yip!—Yip!”

It came from the corner where the automobile stood. But when they went in to the car it was EMPTY. Jimmy’s father was as much puzzled as the boys. Soon they heard it again. “Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip!” It was very weak.

Suddenly Father laughed! Then he lifted up the big front seat!

Huddled in the corner, frightened out of their wits were the puppies! He lifted them out by the back of their necks and placed them on the hood. “You scamps!” he said, “You hid in there while I was getting some tools, and I shut you in because I did not see you!”

Soon the children heard that the circus dogs were found! They came rushing back with their pennies! In a few minutes the garage was as noisy as THE BIG TENT! Such clapping! Such shouting! Such barking!

When it was all over the children went home. The little lame boy got his present. The puppies had a good supper. Then Jimmy took them for a nice long walk. Across the street was THE BIG BLACK CAT!

But the twins paid no attention to her. They were too happy and full and sleepy.