Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-31
A Rare Dog story.

In 1872 was then in my nineteenth year
and we'll remember the circumstance:
A gentleman, whose country,seat stood
within six miles Of my cottage on the moor
kept fine mastiff dog. BY day, he was
chained up near the house by night he was
loosed to range through the garden and en-
closures, terror to evildoers, but kindly at
fected to all such as do well. Now, whether it
was natural instinct (for wolves are only wild
dogs) or whether he had received some real or
supposed affront from the sheep fraternity,
never could learn; for though the dog had
language Of his own, and in which he conversed
very flnently at times, yet | must confess, !
could better understand the language of his
language Of his lips. Be this as it may, one
morning he was accused Of having murdered
two of the neighbor's sheep. His master, un-
willing to take up an evil report against his
faithful watchdog, had the trial postponed to
Monday next, as they say in court.
On the following night, however, another
murder was committed. This time the fact
was too clear to admit of doubt. Hero was
brought in guilty, not by verdict of his peers,
but by convention Of twolegged animals
who were too dull to appreciate his motives,
and too blind to sympathize with him under the
circumstances; neither had they the courtesy to
ask. as has been the custom in all civilized
communities, ever since the days Of Haman,
who. himself, was strung up fifty cubits, if he
had any objection to make against being hung,
but straightway they proceeded to execution.
His master, while q tear crossed his eye-ball,
says
sJohn, get stout piece of rope. Hang
Hero behind the barn, so as not to be seen from
the house"
Having spoke thus, he entered his dwelling.
Hero heard his sentence with the same philo-
sophie indifference that have heard some two
legged animals receive theirs in the hall of
Justice in the Park. He never opened his
mouth; but, thinks he, there will be long
respite between the sentence and the hanging
day. So, without speaking a word, he cleared
n stone fence five feet high. Der hills and
dales, DER fields and floods he flew, rs with
wings of the wind lie never drew up till he
entered the city of refuge; here the avenger OF
blood dared not to enter.
You have read in that book, for which all
other books were made, man drew bow at
a venture; the unerring eye Of Omnipotence
became pilot to that shaft it entered between
the joints of his armor, and the proud monarch
sunk dead in his chariot. The same unerring
eye directed the fight Of his dog to the spot,
where, after an absence of nearly seven years,
he was the means of saving the life Of his
Master, as you will see in the sequel.
1t came to pass, when nearly seven years had
expired since the fright and flight of Hero (no
doubt the poor dog was scared enough, when
he heard the order for immediate execution. J
that his late master was sojourning on the
borders Of Scotland and England. 1t was win
ter, and dark in that climate at p. M. He
put up at tavern by the way-side. As soon
rs he dismounted, and went in the stable to
see that his horse was cared for, he was follow
ed by large mastif dog, who by every means
that a dog could invent, endeavored to draw
his attention. The gentleman sat down in the
hail. the dog by his side, when he began to
think there was something strange in the dogs
attentions and manner. He put his hand on