The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-05-20
From the Posion olive Branch
THE pEDLAR AND HIS DOG.

Some ears ago Travelled through por
ton of Michigan. went on foot; or rode
as best suited nv purpose. | carried rich
silks aud iewery 10 seIl to those disposed
10 buy My only companion dnring IN
journey, was large dog Of the Newioand-
iaua breed Lion was iii to be the king
5f his species. iie was COED natured Hnd
quiet, and there was something almost hn.
rua in his eyes. lie attended 10 his own
business and never qnarrelod with ''curs Of
ow degree" lie would bear an Insult from
worthless puppies, with philosophy wor-
hy Of emulation And never knew hin,
.ase on lew occasions, resent the undue
berlies Of fpuppiesof larger growth, When
his r'c, however, was thoroughly aroused,
he made such offenders a terrible warning
10 ..osii doers.a
When itraseled, he trotied along by nv
.ijc, aud when stopped to trade, he seated
hmsetf near me and watched all my move
sneuis with a business like expression. IL
annoy ed him little, sometimes, to see my
customers drag the goods from my pack.
aud handle them with such freedom, which
he expressed bs low growl, while he f !
iowed every piece With his eyes, tosee that
,hcy were not appropriated without proper
conpe nsation. and with my full consent
lie really took n strong dislike TO those
who were disposed 10 fnd fault with every
thing and nv price in particular. ! believe
he knew the value laltached to them. Be-
this as il may, he seemed satisfied when J
vas aud wueged his Tail when made .
1ood trade 1le was very useful and com
paniouabte in my travels.
CouveY0nces were so scarce and uncer
taiu that was oilen obliged TO 80 on foot
rom one settlement to another. These
1urueys were anything bit pleasant, and
IS The country was new and the state OF
,ocieiy anything bat good, robberies were
frequently perpolIated upon those lonely
roads, and there were those no doubt, t.
whom tho rich stntIs carried would be u
sdiIicien, temptation To commit murder.
The idea frequently occurred 10 me in tray
cling through the woods Of the West. Bal
I'D Lion was always by my side, ready lo
lie ID defence, and proud to share ia my
wanaerings. always went armed. An
excellent brace of pistols, steel barrclied,
loaded with ball, were never from my pock
et, save long enough 10 see that they were
10 order, and al night they lay beneath my
pillow felt quite sale with these and
| Lion, who was the c,mplnoa ot my nights
as well as DAYS. He always laid down be.
taeeu ms bed and The door, with his lace
tow ards the latter. No one could enter
without attracting the attention of Lon.
One DAY ia the summer ol 1880, Found
| nY self in small settlement on the bnr,
drr Of snall lake. anxious to get forward
to tho next, which was abu, eighteen
lmes distant. No conveyance consd be
| attained without waiting ill the mex, day
which was not inclined to do, 50 sat ouI
on foot. 1t was a clear night aud | walked
forward briskly was not long in discov
oriag that my expedition would be by NJ
means an agreeable one.
| The road---if road it could be called
Sas very bad. and through the thickest for
es, in that part oi,he country. The night
too. crept on apace and promised to be dark
Ter than common. But Lion trotted along
by my side; was a smart walker, and wa.
coufijen, ] was getting over the grount
fast; SO didn't mind il much.
The darkness was on before was aware
Ior il. II seemed to me that had airead,
walked eighteen miles. but could see ~
settlement. This surprised me little, To-
| was used TO travelling and knew well my
th;lity to calculate distances. But KEEP
np good heart and went on, nntl WA
quite certain bad mistaken my way, o
heen misinlormed III regard to the distance
| concluded it wonld be best 10 keep th
road was ia unlil reached some habila
tion.
In sbor, time was glad | had mRd'
the resolution: for saw light g'mmefin