Pierrot (Maupassant)
Madame LeFèvre, a widow living in a small house in Normandy, had her onions stolen from her garden. She and her servant, Rose, decided to get a small dog to guard their property.
One night someone stole twelve onions. As soon as Rose became aware of the theft, she ran to tell madame, who came downstairs in her woollen petticoat.
One night someone stole twelve onions. As soon as Rose became aware of the theft, she ran to tell madame, who came downstairs in her woollen petticoat.
They found a small, strange-looking dog named Pierrot, who was given to them for free.
However, Pierrot never barked at strangers and only barked when he was hungry. When Madame LeFèvre was asked to pay a dog tax of eight francs, she decided to get rid of Pierrot.
Unable to find anyone to take the dog, they decided to throw him into a chalk pit, a place where unwanted dogs were left to die. After throwing Pierrot into the pit, they were haunted by his cries and had nightmares about him.
Then Rose, who was crying, kissed the dog and threw him into the chalk pit, and they both leaned over, listening.
At night they were haunted by frightful nightmares. Madame Lefèvre dreamed she was sitting down at table to eat her soup, but when she uncovered the tureen Pierrot was in it.
At night they were haunted by frightful nightmares. Madame Lefèvre dreamed she was sitting down at table to eat her soup, but when she uncovered the tureen Pierrot was in it.
Madame LeFèvre decided to rescue Pierrot, but the quarryman demanded four francs to retrieve the dog. Outraged by the price, she refused to pay.
Instead, Madame LeFèvre and Rose decided to feed Pierrot by throwing food into the pit. However, another dog was thrown into the pit, and the two dogs fought over the food. Realizing that they could not afford to feed both dogs, Madame LeFèvre decided to stop feeding Pierrot altogether. Rose followed her mistress, wiping her eyes on her apron, as they left the pit and the dogs behind.