IN MEMORY OF DAISY…”YOU GOOD DOG, YOU!”
WE TRAINED our dog Daisy to run this treadmill which in turn made the grain cleaner work…fanning mill. Daisy loved doing the work
for no reward. she would just hop on the machine and get everything moving. In this case we had her down at
the CNE where she was a big hit. Earlier Daisy did the work at a farm show near Milton which got me in a bit of trouble…see dialogue.
“OK, Daisy hop on…I’ll release the brake.”
“the poor dog!” Exclaimed one woman at the show.
“She loves doing the work.”
“How do you know that, young man!”
“Look at her…”
“How long will she have to turn the machine?”
“I let her work until she drops.”
“You do that…the nerve…terrible…then what do you do?”
“I go down to the SPCA and get another dog.”
Now that was a stupid thing to say. Little wonder that some people
think I’m a fool. The woman took off fast and
I expected a visit from animal cruelty people but no one ever came.
Daisy continued her demonstrations for a long time. Her death was
very sad. At the time I was doing CBC radio broadcasts on Radio Noon
in Toronto. The broadcast about the death of Daisy was delivered to an
empty broadcast room. Everyone was crying…me included. Remember
that song about OLD BLUE?
The song comes from the Mississippi region of the USA when hunting
was a common thing and eh need for a good hunting dog was essential.
I think of Daisy every time I hear the song.
I had a dog and his name was Blue
And I betcha five dollars he’s a good dog, too
Come on, Blue
You good dog, you
I shouldered my gun and I tooted my horn
And I went to get a possum in the new ground corn
Come on, Blue
You can come too
(chorus)
Old Blue bayed, and I went to see
Blue had a possum in a ‘simmon tree
Come on, Blue
You good dog, you
That possum come out on a swinging limb
Blue barked at the possum, possum growled at him
Come on, Blue
You good dog, you
(chorus)
Blue grinned at me and I winked at him
I shook out the possum out, Blue took him in
Come on, Blue
You good dog, you
Baked that possum nice and brown
And I layed them sweet potatoes round and round
Come on, Blue
You can have some, too
(chorus)
Well, Old Blue died and he died so hard
He shook the ground in my backyard
Go on, Blue
You good dog, you
Dug his grave with a silver spade
Lowered him down with a golden chain
Go on, Blue
You good dog, you
(chorus)
When I get to heaven first thing I’ll do
Take my horn and blow for Blue
Go on, Blue
I’m comin’ too
Come on Blue, come on Blue
There’s a possum in Heaven for me and you
Go on, Blue
You good dog, you
(chorus)
