The Gay Old Dog by Edna Ferber

This story is “The Gay Old Dog” by Edna Ferber. Many of Ferber’s stories were made into blockbusters you probably recognize, such as “Giant”, “Show Boat”, and “Cimarron”. She was known for characters who had to overcome some form of discrimination, or who weren’t the “pretty people.” She tended to favor these characters the most.
At one point in her life, she became a reporter. She covered both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions for the United Press Association before turning to writing her popular novels.
Ferber never married, had children, or known romantic relationships. As one of her characters states in an early novel: “Being an old maid was a great deal like death by drowning — a really delightful sensation when you ceased struggling.” Enjoy!