that he would kill himself if he could eat all he wanted to.

As soon as meals were over, Billy and I scampered after Miss
Laura to the kitchen. We each had our own plate for food. Mary
the cook often laughed at Miss Laura, because she would not let
her dogs "dish" together. Miss Laura said that if she did, the larger
one would get more than his share, and the little one would starve.

It was quite a sight to see Billy eat. He spread his legs apart to
steady himself, and gobbled at his food like a duck. When he
finished he always looked up for more, and Miss Laura would
shake her head and say: "No, Billy: better longing than loathing. I
believe that a great many little dogs are killed by overfeeding."

I often heard the Morrises speak of the foolish way in which some
people stuffed their pets with food, and either kill them by it or
keep them in continual ill health. A case occurred in our
neighborhood while Billy was a puppy. Some people, called
Dobson, who lived only a few doors from the Morrises, had a fine
bay mare and a little colt called Sam. They were very proud of this
colt, and Mr. Dobson had promised it to his son James. One day
Mr. Dobson asked Mr. Morris to come in and see the colt, and I
went, too. I watched Mr. Morris while he examined it. It was a
pretty little creature, and I did not wonder that they thought so
much of it.

When Mr. Morris went home his wife asked him what he thought
of it.

"I think," he said, "that it won't live long."