Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-06-03
The PedIar and his Doc.

Some yearsago l travelled through
a portion Of Michigan. j went OF
foot, or rode, as best suited my pur
pose. ca rried rich silks and jew
elry to sell to those disposed to buy
My only col npanion during my jour
ney, was a large dog Of the New
foundland b reed. Lion was fit to be
the king of his species. He was
good ed and quiet, and there
was something almost human in his
eyes. He attended to his own busi-
ness, and never guarreIed like ours
of low degree. lie would bear an
insult from worthless puppies, with a
philosophy worthy Of emulation.
And | never kneW him, save on a few
occasions, to resent the undue liber-
ties of p Puppie$ Of larger growth.
When his rile, however, was thor
oughly aroused, he made such oifen-
ders a terrible warning to ''evil do
ers. =
! When | ttavelled, he trotted along
By my side, and when | stopped to
trade, he seatd d himself near me
and watched my movements with a
businesslike Expression. Itannoyed
him a little sometimes, to see my
customers dI tag he goods from my
pack, and h hItndle them with such
freedom viii ch hb expressed with a
low growI, while he followed every
piece with his eyes, to see that they
were mot appropriated without proper
COMPENSATION, and with my full con-
sent.
lie really seemed to take a dis
like to those who were disposed to
| find fault with Everything and my
pricbs in particular. L believe he
lSnek the v due df everything l car
ried. and the value | attached to
them. Be this it may, he seemed
satisfied wllen l fas. and wagg4d his
tail when | made a good trade. He
Was an excellent watch dog, and
there was no danger Of anything
confded to his care being taken
away. | found h Him very useful and
companionable in my travels
Conveyances y ere so scarce and
uncertain, that l \ Ias often obliged to
go on foot from pne settlement to
another. These i ipurneys we're any
thing but. pleasant I, and sAhe country
was new, and the ) tate ofsociety any
thing but good. Robberies we re
frequently perpet rated upon those
lonely roads, and there were those,
no doubt, to whom the rich stufs |
carried would-Le a sufficient tempta-
ton to commit murder The idea
frequently oeeurred d to me in travel
ling through the wild woods Of the
West. But old Lion was always by
my side, ready to die in my defence,
and proud to share in my wanderlngs.
/ always went arm led. An excellent
brace of pistols, st EEL barrelled, and
loaded with BALL were never from
my pocfets-save ve long enough to
see that they were in order, and at
night they lay beneath my pillow.
/ felt quiet safe with these and
Lion, who was the companion Of my
nights as well as days. Hd alwa Us
laid down between my bed and tie
door, with his face toward the latter.
Mo- one could enter without attrac ct
Ing the attention Of Lion.
One day in the summer Of 1880, |
found myself in a small settlement
on the border of a small lake, anx-
ioqs to get forward to the next, which
waf about eighteen miles distan
Nd conveyance could be had without
wal ting till the next day, which |
wa aB not inclined to do, sol sat out
on foot. 1t was near night and !
walked forward brislzly. | was not
long in discovering that my expedi-.
tic n would beby no means an agree
able one.
The road-if road it could be
called-was very bad, and through
the thickest forest in this part Of the
country. The night, too, crept on
apace, and promised TO be darker
than common. But Lion trotted
along by my side; | was a smart
walker and was confident | was set
ting over ground fast; so ! didn't
mind it much.
The darkness was on me before L
was aware of it. 1t seemed to me
that | had already walked eighteen
miles, but l could see no settlement.
This surprised me a little, for | was
used to travelling and knew well my