This column originally appeared in the Victoria Daily Times on Oct.聽25, 1941
Skipper, the old doctor鈥檚 black retriever, sat on the veranda wondering what it was all about. There had been strange comings and goings at his house and he had heard his name mentioned in more than one conversation.
The first cause for anxiety was a policeman鈥檚 visit. Skipper was not afraid of policemen, for he was a model of good conduct; but聽his people had never had any visits from policemen and he had only seen them down in the city where the cars were thick, dogs were on leashes, and there were ugly sounds and smells.
Skipper had never felt quite right since all these houses had been built up against his house, and he was pretty sure his people hated all the noise of cars coming in and going out, the parties at night and people shouting. He and his people had owned every thing in sight in this district not so long ago, all the nice green grass with gopher holes, wolf willows, places to run and bark, and hawks to chase.
Now it was all changed. There were houses and people everywhere. There were new dogs too, if you could call them dogs; some of them were blind looking little things with their hair in their eyes. When they passed his house they barked at him as he lay on his own veranda, wanting to be noticed most likely, but he made it a rule never to give them a glance.
He wished again that his people would move away, far away. Oh well, the doctor would know what to do. The doctor knew everything, so Skipper turned around three times and went to sleep on his mat.
He might not have gone to sleep so peacefully if he had heard the conversation going on inside 鈥� the doctor and Mrs. Thorne were discussing their new problem.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a strange thing,鈥� he was says, 鈥渢hat neither of us nor any of the neighbours ever hear Skipper barking at night; but we can keep him in I suppose, though he is far happier outside with his own house to sleep in.鈥�
Mrs. Thorne鈥檚 voice was raised, 鈥淚 have no intention of keeping Skipper in,鈥� she said, 鈥渨e will simply do nothing and see what happens. The policeman even, was ashamed of his errand, but he said she had phoned twice and he thought he had better come so he could tell he had called on us. A dog has a right to bark if he wants to. He鈥檚 not a canary or a skylark. To see her back out that big car does not give the impression that she is so delicate the bark of a dog would disturb her whole night.鈥�
The next day, Dr. and Mrs. Thorne had another visitor, the husband of the nervous woman next door. He looked pale and troubled and had evidently been driven to make this call.
鈥淢y wife is not at all well,鈥� he said, miserably, 鈥渁nd I know this sounds unreasonable. She has taken a dislike to your dog and I cannot do anything but humuor her. She had a fright from a dog once, a black dog like yours. She was very nearly bitten at that time.鈥�
鈥淒oes she think it was our Skipper who very nearly bit her?鈥� Mrs. Thorne asked dryly.
鈥淥h no, that was in Toronto when she was only three years old. She really hadn鈥檛 though of it until she saw your dog. Then it all came back to her, and at night when she hears him barking it seems to throw her into a panic.
鈥淚 have come over to ask you if you would consider sending your dog away, perhaps you could send him to some friend in the country until my wife is feeling better. I聽am afraid she has always had her own way, she was an only child and her parents spoiled her and perhaps I do, too. I am very sorry about all this.鈥�
The doctor and his wife sat looking at each other in an embarrassing silence, then came scratching at the door and Mrs.聽Thorne let Skipper in. He crossed the room and sat down beside the doctor, and looked intently as the visitor.
鈥淚 can see his is a great pet,鈥� the young man said,鈥� and I know what I am asking you to do is painful, but he鈥檚 not a young dog I聽can see and perhaps you would consider parting with him permanently. I would be glad to make any settlement in reason.鈥�
鈥淵ou mean,鈥� said Mrs. Thorne, 鈥測ou would be willing to pay us to have Skipper shot?鈥�
At the mention of his name Skipper stood up, and putting his paw on the doctor鈥檚 knee searched his face for an explanation of this strange talk.
Then the doctor spoke. 鈥淭here is not enough money in the Royal Mint to pay us for this dog. My wife and I have kept house for 45聽years and we have always lived in peace with our neighbours. I do not think we have added to their worries and we do not want to add to yours, Major Brant . . .鈥�
鈥淲ait a minute, Ben.鈥� Mrs.聽Thorne interposed. 鈥淒on鈥檛 say what you have in mind. Skipper will stay right here. I will find a way out. It take women to understand women. I take it from your remarks, Major Brant, your wife is going to have a baby. Is that so?鈥�
The major nodded his head.
鈥淲ell that鈥檚 nothing to make a row about. I brought eight children into the world, all of them well and healthy, and I was often alone when the doctor was away on his trips in all weathers. I listened to the howling of wolves and thought nothing of it. Skipper, this is our new neighbour Major Brant. I believe he would like you if he knew you.鈥�
Skipper walked over and offered his right paw, which was taken with some embarrassment.
The next day Mrs. Thorne went to see Mrs. Brant. She was admitted by a pretty maid in a cap and apron, and shown into the living-room. Mrs. Brant received her graciously.
Then Mrs. Thorne introduced herself. 鈥淚 live next door,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd it is our dog you have complained of but I want to tell you about that dog, Skipper. If you knew him I believe you would love him as we all do. He has never hurt anyone in his life, and twice he saved a child from drowning.鈥�
鈥淚 am afraid I am not interested in your dog,鈥� said Mrs. Brant coldly.
鈥淲ell, that鈥檚 too bad. I was hopping I could interest you, but perhaps I shouldn鈥檛 have expected that. I am afraid you are not very interested in your husband either, or you would not have humiliated him by sending him over to ask us to do away with our dog. I could see it went sore against his grain to do it. As an officer in the Canadian army it is not good for him to be humiliated. He has to exercise authority with dignity.鈥�
鈥淲hat right have you to criticize me,鈥漵aid the young woman, 鈥渉ere in my own home?鈥�
鈥淚 have not started to criticize you yet,鈥� said the old lady, 鈥淚 am merely telling you something your mother should have told you before you were seven years old, about your duty to other people. No one changes much after that. I聽am sure you were a cute little thing when you were small, and your temper and rages were amusing. But they are not amusing me. Certainly your husband is not amused by them.鈥�
鈥淒id you ever think that all of us have to put up with something? Now when you came here to this house you weren鈥檛 here a week until you had a party which lasted till three o鈥檆lock in the morning, a noisy party with screaming laughter and a great commotion on the lawn before your guests got away 鈥� cars that wouldn鈥檛 start, and great arguments. None of us got much sleep that night, but we didn鈥檛 phone the police and we didn鈥檛 come over to tell you that you must get rid of your friends.鈥�
鈥淚 still cannot see why I have to be bothered with a dog that I do not like. In fact, I find you quiet impertinent, Mrs. Thorne, and ridiculously sentimental. But don鈥檛 think I am going to break down and promise to do better, like they do in the radio serials. That black dog of yours has to go. I鈥檒l speak to the chief of police myself and have him shot. You can see I am not the soft type.鈥�
Mrs. Thorne stood up and in a very quiet voice, said: 鈥淣o, I didn鈥檛 really expect you to soften, and that鈥檚 why I didn鈥檛 tell you that my husband is losing his sight and the dog is a great comfort to him. But I鈥檓 not through yet. I have one more argument, and this one will appeal to you. I hoped I would not have to use it.鈥�
鈥淢y granddaughter has just got a job on the paper here and the editor told her to go out and get a human-interest story 鈥� suggesting the title: 鈥淭he Meanest Woman in Town.鈥� You see everyone is working now so unselfishly in the Red Cross and other societies that virtue and heroism is no longer news. But meanness like yours, is news at any time, and between us I think my granddaughter and I can do a very good story. I have a good memory for conversations and Mary has a keen pen.鈥�
Mrs. Brant looked helplessly at the determined old lady, rose to her feet and then sat down suddenly. 鈥淵ou wouldn鈥檛 do that! You wouldn鈥檛 dare to do that!鈥� she gasped.
鈥淒o I look like a woman who would hesitate in a good cause? My husband was a country doctor for 40 years. For 40 years he drove the prairie trails in all weathers 鈥� frozen face, frozen feet, dust, frost and all, but he served the sick and the needy day and night. Is he going to be made to suffer the loss of his dog to please the whim of a spoiled doll, who will have a new whim next week?鈥�
There was a long silence in the room 鈥� then from the chair where Mrs. Brant sat huddles, came the words 鈥� 鈥淵ou win, but this is nothing short of blackmail.鈥�
鈥淏lackmail in reverse,鈥� said Mrs. Thorne: 鈥淚 am not extorting anything from you but a bit of good behaviour. I am only helping you to grow up!鈥�
Some of McClung鈥檚 columns from the 1930s and 1940s have been collected in a book, The Valiant Nellie McClung: Selected Writings by sa国际传媒鈥檚 Most Famous Suffragist, by Barbara Smith.
