Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1848-12-13
Canine Fidelity.



On Saturday night n man residing in East Mar
ket street found in that part of the city called Moores
Survey, a child of six or eight years of age, sitting
on the road side crying bitterly The child was at
tended by Newfoundland dog, which attempted to
pacify its companion by lying beside him and lick
ing his face. The man took the child IN his arms
and brought him TO the engine house, thinking that
the parents would be more likely to hear of their
child tl,nn at any other place. The dog followed
quietly, and upon Mr. Rykman, whose humanity
and care are well known, making bed for the
child, the dog testified lis delight by jumping about
the room and licking the host and child alternately
The boy being comfortably bcddcd for the night,
the dog took his posi- beside him. and could not be
coaXed from the spot
During the night, Mr.. Rykman had occasion to
90 into the rooln but the moment he crossed the
threshold, the dog, which was so docile when he
left, became lurousy cnragcd and actually drove
him out of the room. Neither coaXing or scoidlng
had tile slightest effect upon the faithful animal he
had taken the child under his protection, and APP
rearcd determined to perform his duty Early in
the morning. another of the family, who was not a
ware that they had visitors, went into the room but
had hardly placed foot inside when he was inrl-
ousy attacked by the dog, and compelled to decanp
before doing So however, he seized chair to de-
iend himself and broke it to pieces over the dog,
without producing any other effect than rendering
j; more savage and determined than before.
Finding it impossible either to get into his room
or soak the dog ont of it, or awaken the child Mr.
Kykman procured assistance, and an entry was eff
fected simultaneously by the door and window
Still the dog remained resoute; he would permit
no one TO approach the child, and it was actually
necessary TO beat him severely with clubs ere he
could be driven out of the house. This being al
last effected the dog started of as rapidly could
and i'll the course Of couple of hours returned
accompanied by the child's mother, jumped into
the room and began licking and fondng its little
companion Even then it was with difficulty that
the woman could prevent the dog from flying al
those who had been compelled in sefdeience, &c
heat aud drive him from the house. The woman
said she had been III search of the child all nigh
without success, and that in crossing the common
near Dundurn, she saw the dog following her a
the greatest speed.
Upon reaching its mistress the faithful animal i'm
mcdlaey caught her by the dress, and began pulling
her IN the direction of the town. The woman, a
ware of the intelligence of the animal and knowing
that it had accompanied the boy when he strnveC
from home followed, in the certainty that she woulc
be taken TO her child, whether dead or alive. No
was she disappointed. The woman lives on poin
nr!, a. s.,,s ~ e II o nc
house, went straight home, and finding its mistres
absent, got upon her track and followed it until III
found her. Not the least interesting fact that W.
have to narrate in this rambling sketch, is that thu
moment the woman and child left the house, the do
became perfectly quiet, and even made advance
toward reconciliation with those he had savage
" assaied few hours before.