Chapter II (Death Of Bull Mcmastiff) (Death Of Bull Mcmastiff). Death Of Bull Mcmastiff. - Accession Of Pup Mcpoo-Dle. - His Evil, Reign. - Trouble With The Dogs Of Kyhidom And How It Ended. - National Debt. - A Fleas' War And A Dogs' Fight. - How The Victorious Dogs Became National Pets.

Mephistopheles. (Stngs.)

There was a king once reigning, Who had a big black flea -

FROSCH.

Hear, hear! A flea! D'ye rightly take the jest? I call a flea a tidy guest.

MEPHISTOPHELES. (Sings.)

There was a king once reigning,

Who had a big black flea, And loved him past explaining,

As his own son were he. He called his man of stitches;

The tailor came straightway: Here, measure the lad for breeches,

And measure his coat, I say!

BRANDER.

But mind, allow the tailor no caprices: Enjoin upon him, as his head is dear, To most exactly measure, sew and shear.

So that the breeches have no creases!

MEPHISTOPHELES.

In silk and velvet gleaming

He now was wholly drest - Had a coat with ribbons streaming,

A cross upon his breast. He had the first of stations,

A minister's star and name; And also all his relations,

Great lords at court became.

And the lords and ladies of honor Were plagued, awake and in bed;

The queen she got them upon her, The maids were bitten and bled.

And they did not dare to crush them.

Or scratch them, day or night: We crack them and we crush them.

At once, whene'er they bite.

chorus, (Shouting.)

We crack them and we crush them, At once, whene'er they bite!

FROSCH.

Bravo! Bravo! That was fine.

SIEBEL.

Every flea may it so befall.

- Goethe.

NOW all the inhabitants of Canisville walked righteously all the days of Bull McMastiff, and the blessing of Heaven was upon them. They kept his statutes and judgments and laid up his commandments in their hearts, and were blessed in their uprising, and their downsitting, in their going out, and in their coming in. Plenty crowned their years, and full were always their basket and then store; their bread was certain and their water sure; peace and everlasting joy were in all their borders, and want and poverty and plague were far away and unknown, save as by stories of travelers in strange and heathen lands.

But it came to pass that Bull McMastiff died and was gathered to his fathers, full of days, full of honors, and toothless, and Pup McPoodle reigned in his stead. And Pup McPoodle did evil in the sight of all the community, and walked not in the ways of Bull McMastiff. In the cussedness of his heart, he caused the whole community of dogs to turn aside from following the wise maxims and counsels of Bull McMastiff, in keeping of which they had grown fat and strong and sleek and well-to do. He scoffed when certain good old conservative canines reminded him of McMastiff's vigilant care of the community, and when they quoted his maxims, he barked and said "Rats."

And the canines turned aside from following Bull McMastiff. And it came to pass that they neglected to haul up for punishment those who scratched with the hind leg; and soon it was found that many were with flea.

In those days other trouble fell on the inhabitants of Canis-ville; for the fleas of Kyhidom, who had ordered the dogs of Kyhidom to drive out the rebellious dogs that flew in the face of Providence, felt the loss of the driven-out dogs; and although they hated much their heretic doctrines, they hated more to lose the tribute of blood they had been accustomed to get out of them. So they sent some delegate fleas over the pond to beg of the outlawed and exiled dogs, to be good enough not to forget the fleas of their own beloved native land, but to send over at stated times a little of their blood to keep them from starving. And the delegates pleaded so hard in the names of religion, patriotism, the old country, the old ties of blood, and for old acquaintance' sake that the exiled dogs relented and repented, and consented to bleed themselves so much a month and send the blood over in a bowl for the sustenance of the Kyhidom fleas, who were content to receive it thus, although they grumbled at the quantity which they said ought to have been at least two bowlfuls.

In process of time, however, when the fleas of Kyhidom had grown accustomed to receiving regularly the monthly bowlful, and the dogs of Canisville had become accustomed to being bled, the appetite of the fleas began to grow, and they grew fretful and began to say that the dogs over the pond were growing mean and unmindful of the duty they owed to their mother country.

So they sent over another delegation to tell the dogs of Canis-ville that the appetite of the fleas of Kyhidom had very much improved, and that it was very necessary unto their health that the dogs send over a double tribute of blood, and that in case of refusal the fleas would feel very much hurt in their feelings; and above all, that the refusal would be very displeasing to Gorgeous Littlehead Flea, the King of Kyhidom, who was the especial friend and protector of fleas; in fact, so dearly and devotedly did be love them that they were to him as the apples of his eyes, and any insult to them he would regard as tantamount to treason against him. But the dogs made reply that they could not conscientiously comply with the new request; that they themselves were cot doing as well as formerly ; that they bad fleas of their own to support now, and that really, while holding the very highest regard and reverence for the fleas of their beloved old Kyhidom (having forciven the outrage perpetrated there upon their forefathers), they hoped the fleas would kindly excuse any additional contribution, and try to rest content with the usual monthly bowlful.