Roamin’ in the gloamin’ (1928)

88 ROAMIN' IN THE GLOAMIN' sleep with his good father in Troon, but that he snored dreadfully! Once I had to sleep with a dog! It was at a village in Stirlingshire. There were very few houses in which boarders could be accommodated and at the very last house on the list I was told that it was quite impossible to put me up. I said I would gladly sleep on the floor rather than walk the streets all night. The occupants of the house were a miner and his wife. I told them I was an old miner myself and that I was now a comedian touring with a concert party. This information caused them to relent a bit and the upshot was that I was shown into a small room and told that I could sleep on the floor with a pillow and a couple of blankets which they would provide. To my astonishment there was quite a nice bed in the corner of the room and on the bed was lying, curled up but with a suspicious glint in its eyes, a lurcher dog. I asked whose bed that was. "Oh," said the miner, "that's Jock's bed!" "An' wha's Jock, may I ask?" said I. "That's him!" was the reply, pointing to the dog. The wife explained that the lurcher was the apple of her husband's eye. He was being trained for a race due to come off in a week or two. He always slept in this bed. But he was a quiet dog and wouldn't disturb me if I didn't disturb him! I felt inclined to suggest that Jock should be made to sleep on the floor and that I should have his bed but the night was cold and wet outside and I deemed it better to cause no unnecessary complications. So my "shake-down" was duly prepared and we all wished each other good-night. An hour or two later I was startled out of my sleep by Jock licking my face. I was very cold and uncomfortable. But the lurcher was evidently quite friendly inclined. Stretching out my hands I happened to touch his bed. How cozy and warm it felt ! So I just slipped into the dog's bed. He jumped in beside me and together we fell sound asleep.