Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-06-07
The Dog that was too faithful for his
Master.
BY WILLIAM wHITFoRE.

BY WILLIAM wHITFoRE.
In the bleakest and most barren portion of the
county of Derbyshire, England, there lived, long
time ago, a man and his wife of the name of Pol
lard. The former was the keeper of the turnpike
gate, and he had only been married some or
months, when the circumstances occurred of which
we are about to write. The small toll house in
which he lived was situated at point where three
roads met, and in place where the scenery was
singuarly wild and dreary 1t stood in deep
hollow formed by two chains of high hills, whose
sides were covered with nought but a continuous
surface Of dark brown heath, OF occasional bushes
of prckly goose. Not another house was to be
seen for miles, and the only evidences of life were
in the few focks of sheep which were here and
there browsing along the mountains side; or
the mail coach and few wagons which at inter-
walls passed along the road. The only person
who ever paid visit to the toll house was butch
the purpose of supplying the Pollards with fresh
meals.
MIR. Pollard had lived in his present abode dur
ing several years previous to his marriage and
heing of very courageous disposition, and hav
ing become accustomed to the loneliness of his
place of residence. he was much affected there
by but his wife, who had ever been accustomed
to living in populous town, and being wihal of
a very timid nature, now lived in a constant state
of alarm and dread-more particularly whenever
her husband paid visit to the neighboring town
for such necessaries as they required. And what
tended to increase this feeling of alarm to still
greater extent that part of the country was at that
time infested by band of lawless men, who al
most nightly robbed and murdered some unfortu-
nate cavalier, or broke into and plundered some
lone farmhouse nor could the utmost vigilance
of the authorities succeed in detecting them Of
these men she lived in daily dread, lest they, dis
covering that her husband was possessed of large
sum of money-the savings of former years
should seize an opportunity, when he was from
home and murder her to obtain it. She frequent
ly pressed her husband to give up his station, and
remove to some safer place of abode but he inev-
taby laughed at her fears. assuring her that there
was not the least danger, as none but themselves
were aware of the fact of his possessing the mo.
ney in question. One day in December he re.
ceived letter, informing him that his father was
lying at the point of death, and earnestly wished
to see him before that event took place. This let
ter gave him great uneasness for, apart from the
grief occasioned at his fathers situation if he
went he could not possibly return before the mex
day, ss his parents resided more than thirty miles
distant, and his wife would be obliged to stay ant
take care of the gate" He must GO, however
he could not refuse his fathers dying request
When he impaired his intention to his wife, sh'
Twas seized with the utmost terror, and earnestl,
entreated him to forego his resolution nor was
until after long time, during which he had use
the utmost endeavors to soothe her, that he coul
venture to proceed on his journey.
It was Saturday morning when he started, an
one of the dreariest days of the season. Th
snow lay thick upon the ground, and still contin
ued to fall heavily, causing the face of the SUI
rounding scene to look more wild and lonely thai
ever. As Mrs Pollard sat IN the small fron
apartment of the house,, her fears gradually in
creased more and more, as her Imagination cor
jured up thousand dread forbodings, and amos
fancied that each sound of the wind whistlin
through the valley, was some one even now abou
to break in. Time sped, when at length Gonfrey
the butcher, approached /; her terror had attaine
to such height that she determined to ask him
stay in the house, until her husband returned.
This Gonfrey was tall, powerfully built man
about forty five or fifty years of age, and with
rough countenance by no means prepossessng.-
He resided in house some five miles distant, an
which was at least that distance from any othe
He had occupied it for years. followed his presel
business, and disposed of his meat by taking it
his wagon to the different families in the vicinit
She was unacquainted with him until the tim
of her marriage but the familiarity arising fro
his weekly visit to her house, and the cordiali'
with which her husband invariably received hin
now inspired her with more confidence towarc
him, than from his looks she would otherwis
!have done.
81 am so glad you are comen' said Mrs. Pc
Hard, as the butcher entered her dwelling. "Joh
If has gone to see his father who is not expected
live. and will not return until tomorrow, and al
n nearly frightened to deathNfnr we have got MOI
!, than hundred sovereigu the house, and
: any of these robbers wers 10 come, they wou!