Press enter after choosing selection

The Story Of A Noble Newfoundland Dog

The Story Of A Noble Newfoundland Dog image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
July
Year
1880
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The first dog of any note that my fathcr potMWed waa black Ncwfoundland, says a writcr in Chamber's Journal. He was a ve.ry poworful and intelligent animal. My father trainod hini well, and taught him to go i'rom our country place to the towu with a basket fastened round his neuk, with notes innide lor the different tradespeopje, wbo understood that he would readily give theiu up, and if required, would bring anytliing sent, safely back. He was of'ten dispatched for a car to & hotel about a niile distant. Heotor would go into the yard, and the hostler knew at once what waa wantod. One day there was a strenge man in the yard, who could not understaud what Héctor raeant. But the dog was not to bc baffled. He went straight to the to bar, and gently barked to attract attontioDI " Ah !" sid the girl, " HcctoT wants a car," which ettled the business. At that time it was very dangeroua to walk at night in the country roads. It was bufore the rural pólice were appointed. When my father was absent of an eyening, Ueetor was always sent to meet him. A spiked collar was put on to protect hi.s throat. He was tóld to wait at a certain piuco, and he never failcd to be there. One night I was walking hoine with my father ; it was so dark we could scarccly seo anythingi My father said, " We ought to have met George by this time. I told him to come with the lantern. " We walked on a few yards, and I lector met us. He was half a niile ahcad of his accustomed waiting-plaoe. My father was a striet disciplinarían, and spoke sharply to the dog, soolding him for coming on. But I begged him not to do so, thinking there might ba soiue good reaaon for his coming. When we reacbed the stile to cross the fields, the dog was restluss, and growkd savagely. " Back, Héctor, back !" said my father, but the dog would not obey him, and bounded over first. " Tkerc is something the matter," said my i'ather, as he took out his ulasp knife and oponed it, whispcring to me : " We inay have a iigbt. He &urü you do not lay hold of my arm." He then Htruck a light with his Hint and steel, whercujion a man sprung up and movud on before us. " Mind yourself, father," said I ; "Hector will take care of me." The dear creaturc camc close to uiy .side and put his noso into my hand. I knew he would figbt iör us to the doath ; for thougb as gentle as a lamb to those he loved, bc was tiercé as a liuu in defense of them. My father was a very powerful and fcarlcss man. He had his daughtcr to protect, and his spirit was thoroughly rouaed ; but hc knew it would be well to trust to the sagacity of the dog and see what he would do. Wlicii wo reached the stile he stood still and growled. My father said : " Come, you fellow, come at once over tbis stile. know you are there. Come at once, or I will set my dog on you, and hu will show you no mercy. ' There was a movement, and one, and then another man, carne grumbling. Héctor stood firra, uttering a low, continued growl. "Come along," ezclaimcd my father; " there are more of you. You had bettcr lic uniek." A notlier camc, saying, "That ho had a much right to the road as we had." Still the doL would not crosa the stile. " Tlioro is inother of you. If you do not come at once my dog wijl kill jou." llesaw the iininial'.s pationee was wel 1 nigh exhaustcd. The last then slunk oyer, and thé dog bunnded over the stile into the IMM. Thon wo knew the bravo creatnre h:ul saved us. When we came to the public house, George, our luan-servant, was sitting comfortably iu the porch waiting for us with the lantoru. llu had seen two men and was afraid to come on ! I oould teil many interesting stories ol iliis noble animal. His end was sad. Whsn we were removinp to another house, he was taken to protect some of' the things that Wore being put in the loft above the Htable ; the stupid men who iut him thero tied liim up ; the poor creature's feet had alipped, and when the door was oiened next morniiiK our f'aithful i'riond wsis tbund Btraogled.

Article

Subjects
Dogs
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier