Good-Bye, My Lady

by James H. Street

“Lost Dog: No one believed Skeeter when he said that the animal he heard laughing in the swamp was a dog. But when he and his Uncle Jesse tried to catch the animal, they discovered that was exactly what she was: a beautiful little dog Skeeter named Lady. Skeeter took lady home; he grew to love her and taught her to be the best hunting dog ever. But their short, close friendship was threatened when Skeeter got unexpected news about Lady - and had to make the hardest decision of his life!”

Genres: Fiction, Dogs, Animals, Classics

222 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1954

About the author

From Wikipedia:

James Howell Street (October 15, 1903 – September 28, 1954) was a U.S. journalist, minister, and writer of Southern historical novels.
Street was born in Lumberton, Mississippi, in 1903. As a teenager, he began working as a journalist for newspapers in Laurel and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. At the age of 20, Street, born a Roman Catholic, decided to become a Baptist minister, attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Howard College. Unsatisfied with his pastoral work after ministering stints in Missouri, Mississippi, and Alabama, Street returned to journalism in 1926.
After briefly holding a position with the Pensacola, Florida Journal, Street joined the staff of the Associated Press. The AP position took him to New York, where he began freelance writing fiction. Hired away from the AP by the New York World-Telegram in 1937, Street sold a short story ("A Letter to the Editor") to Cosmopolitan magazine, which caught the eye of film producer David Selznick, who turned it into a hit film, Nothing Sacred. The Broadway musical, Hazel Flagg, was based on his short story, as well as the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis-film Living It Up.
His success allowed him to write full-time, and throughout the 1940s he worked on a five-novel series of historical fiction about the progress of the Dabney family through the 19th century. The Dabney pentology--Oh, Promised Land, Tap Roots, By Valor and Arms, Tomorrow We Reap, and Mingo Dabney--explored classic Southern issues of race and honor, and strongly characterized Street's struggle to reconcile his Southern heritage with his feelings about racial injustice. The series was a critical and popular success, with several of the books being made into feature films. Street modeled characters in his Dabney family saga on Sam Dale, Newt Knight and Greenwood LeFlore.
Street also published two popular novels about boys and dogs, The Biscuit Eater and Good-bye, My Lady, both were turned into movies, and a set of semi-autobiographical novels about a Baptist minister, The Gauntlet and The High Calling, both were bought by Hollywood but never produced.
Street's short stories and articles appeared regularly in Cosmopolitan, The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's and Holiday.
Street died of a heart attack, in Chapel Hill, N.C., on September 28, 1954, at the age of 50.

Reviews

[Calder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very poignant story about a young orphaned boy growing up dirt poor in the Florida Everglades with his aged grandfather. The boy's only two desires are to be able to afford a set of dentures for his grandfather and to have a dog, but sadly, they are too poor to keep one.

One night he hears a baby crying in the swamp, goes looking for it and ends up finding a small mutt of a dog with this strange form of vocalizations; when the dog is happy, she sounds like a baby laughing, when sad, she sounds like a crying one. The boy begs his grandfather to keep her, promising he will train her to hunt and thereby earn her keep.

At first, the dog seems impossible to train and may even be more of a detriment, the grandfather warning that she seems to be turning into an "egg-sucker" dog- the worst kind. The boy persists and then things begin to turn around and radical and revealing events change both the boy and his new dog and there-in begins the marvellous tale.

A wondrous, joyful and heartbreaking story; all children and adults should read it.

[A.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an absolutely amazing tale of a boy and his love for a dog he found wandering around. Lady, a rare Basenji,especially way back when the book was written, was found wandering around in the woods after being accidentally set free. The boy takes care of Lady until her owner comes back to claim her from him. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking story. Even the movie made from the book is wonderful.

It's a shame that this book is no longer being published as it really is a wonderful story for kids of all ages. If you love stories about dogs, This one is a must read if you can find a copy of the book. Even the movie made in 1956 is a must see. I was lucky enough to find the book and see the movie.

[Sherry (sethurner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The swamp was sleeping the night away, but the boy was wide awake as he sat on the steps of the cabin and listened to the moonlight rhythm of things -- the swish of the river around the cypress knees, the hum of insects, the low rumblings of the bullfrogs and the high cries of wildcats."

So begins James Street's class young adult novel about a young man and his dog, and a very clear but difficult decision. I read this one years and years ago then was lucky enough to find a second hand copy, since the novel is out of print and our library did not have it. I was impressed by the writing, especially the way the writer describes the atmosphere of the Mississippi swamp. The story is sad without being maudlin, and the simple dignity of the characters is very very appealing. I was glad to have the chance to revisit this memorable story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favorites. My mom read this to me when I was little. I just got done reading it to my 3rd and 5th grade boys. It is an old book that is about the love between a boy and his dog, and the love between the boy and his uncle that raises him. Takes place in the swamps of the mississippi bayous.

[Jeanine Malarsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book for children. No longer in print. Read my review of the "other" book that comes up on Goodreads when you type in this title. I found the correct cover attached to the James H. Street author information that came up with this title, "In My Father's House".
Both are fabulous books. I read them to my children and they still remember them.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a boy finding a rare basenji "laughing and crying" in the woods, and ... well, it's a proper book with a good deal of age to it.

No one really talks in writing like this anymore, it's a mess of words like "heah" instead of yeah and "howdied", and "som'n" which makes reading it quickly a mess of going back over these words. I've not seen the word Som'nt in a long long long time, if more than once.

I'd like to say I felt for the bond Skeeter has with Lady/Isis of the Blue Nile(what a name), but he is pretty easy to let her go and then switch gears to getting a hundred dollars worth of the reward. It's a very sharp change in the literature. An acceptance most kids simply do not have in them. Skeeter gives up and gives up hard and that's basically it.

To quote the book's weird speeches, reading this was brisk and slick as el'em.

[Kathryn Asbahr]

I bought this book over 30 years ago when my first basenji girl came into my life. Our last boy was only a few generations removed from Africa on both side. He acted so much like Lady in the book. He would yodel and talk to me for hours. He loved boys even though they often are not that good with children. They are a wonderful breed but not for everyone. Mr. Street did a wonderful job capturing the quirks of the breed. If you are still interested in reading more about the breed, I highly recommend the 2 books by Veronica Anne Starbuck, Savannah and August Magic.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspiring "coming of age" story about a young teen, Skeeter, his Uncle Jesse, and an African Basenji dog, named Isis of the Blue Nile - or Lady, which Skeeter called her. Skeeter and Uncle Jesse who live near the Pascagoula Swamp, are poor in material things, but very rich in family love, honesty, integrity, and care for others. I enjoy finding these older gems, with their local flavor of speech, customs, and lifestyle. The simple lifestyle, although often due to poverty, begat a generation that cared for others, and endeavored to do what was right, rather than seek riches.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is listed as a juvenile book, but to me it was anything but. It is about a young boy growing up in a difficult and different situation, but it's full of some very adult thoughts. Must admit it was not what I expected, in some ways was very sad, but also illustrated some very adult thoughts and situations. It was more than I had bargained for.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple sweet book about a boy and his dog....and the pains of integrity and growing into a man.
It's a sad book and a triumphant book as well. The worst part for me was the dog's emotions at the end.

[Cindy Clapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I watched the movie a few years ago. And, I’ve had one purebred basenji and two basenji mixes. They are incredible dogs.
So, when I found a copy of this book, I had to read it! The author did a wonderful job of describing Lady. Very worthwhile read.

[Judith Swartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

bring lots of tissues.

[Jori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically feels like a reminder that poor people can’t have nice things (in this case a dog). If they do, it is only temporary.

[Chuck Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story.

Lots of details about living in a southern swamp, illiterate and poor. Very nice round about coming of age story. It is written as though the real story is a side story and just happens while the plot plays out. Emotional without being maudlin.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sad book where a boy finds a dog and trains it. then the dog has to go back to its old owner. The boy takes it very well. I think that it is a must read if you like realistic fiction and animals.

[Philip Dampier · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years I read this book every year during Christmas vacation. Every year I cried at the end. I saw the movie and loved it as well but nothing is as good as the book. If you like dog stories this ranks with the very best. Highly recommend it.

[Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was in 6th or 7th grade somewhere around 1977 I think. I remember it being pretty good, but can't remember all the details.

[Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and classic tale of a boy and his dog. Heartbreaking ending.

[Sara Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love awesome book suggestions from friends. :) good read.

[Karina Ueno]

Uno de las historias más lindas, tristes, enriquecedoras ¡todo a la vez!

[Sansabark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic boy-and-his-dog story with a well drawn setting in a swampy part of the south. Since the dog in this tale is also my favorite breed, this is by far the best boy-and-his-dog novel ever.