Pierrot (Maupassant)

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Pierrot is a novella by Guy de Maupassant . It first appeared on October 9, 1882 in Le Gaulis .

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The countrywoman Madame Lefèvre lives in Caux in Normandy . When her maid Rose discovers that onions were stolen from the garden at night, a small yellow mongrel dog called Pierrot is bought from the baker to prevent future theft. However, Madame Lefèvre did not consider that the animal would eat so much and that dog tax would also have to be paid. The dog is allowed to roam during the day, at night it stays in the garden. But he's so trusting that he can be petted by anyone, and he only barks when begging for food. His presence doesn't keep the thieves away. Mrs. Lefèvre throws Pierrot into a marl pit. This is a very common way of disposing of unwanted animals in this area. The dogs are often seriously injured when they fall through the shaft, but stay alive for days below, until they starve to death. If several dogs are thrown down quickly, the stronger will eat the weaker before they die themselves. Now Madame Lefèvre is getting a remorse. She asks the marl conveyor, who goes down into the pit once a year to remove the carcasses, to bring Pierrot back up, but is not willing to pay the four francs he is asking for. She and the maid now throw bread into the chute every day. One morning they hear that a larger dog is in the shaft eating the bread, but Pierrot does not get anything. The two women then leave the little dog to its fate.

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