Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-04-12
RARE DOG STORY.

A RARE DOG STORY.
In 1891 was then in my nineteenth
year, and we'll remember the circumStan-
ces-a gentlemen, 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 loose, to range through
the garden and enclosures, a terror to
evil doers, but kindly affected to ali who
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,
l never could learn ; for though the dog
had a language of his own. and in which
he conversed very Huently at times, yet
l must confess. | could better understand
the language Of his eyes, (dogs have very
expressive cyes.) than the language of
his lips. Be this as it may. one morning
he was accused of having murdered two
of his neighbor's sheep. His master un-
willing to take up an evil report against
his faithful watchdog. had the trial post
poned to Monday next, as they say in
court.
On the following night, however, auoth-
er murder was committed. This time
e. the fact was too clear to admit doubt.
Hero was brought in guilty. not by ver-
dict of his peers. but by a convention of
two legged animals, who were too dull to
appreciate his motives and too blind to
sympathize with him under the circum-
stances neither had they courtesy to ask,
as had been the custom in all civilized
communities, ever since the days of Ha-
man, who, himself, was strung up fifty
cubits, il he had any objection to make
against being hung, but straight way
the proceeded to execution. His MASTER
while a tear crossed his eye, balls, said
John, get a stout piece Of rope. Hang
Hero behing the barn, SO as not TO be seen
from the house"
Having spoke thus he entered his
dwelling. Hero heard this sentence with
the same phiIosophic Indifference that
have seen some tw, 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 a word, he cleared Il stone fence
five feet high. Ger hills and daIeS, DER
fields and woods, he flew as with wings
of the wind. He never drew up ill
he entered the city Of refuge here the
dNCLSCI Vi DIOOu udIe llOI Gu-eT.
You have read in that Book, for which
all other books were made, a man drew a
bow at a venture the unerring eyes Of
Omnipotence became pilot to that shaft ;
it entered between the joints of his ar
mour, and the proud monarch sunk dead
in his chariot. The same unerIing eye
directed the flight Of this dog to the spot.
where, after an absence Of nearly seven
l,, . Vlo,S -
of his master. as you will see in the Sc
quel.
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 or
der for his immediate execution, } that his
late master was sojourning on the border
of Scotland and England. 1t was winter,
and dark in that climate at p. m. He
put up at the tavern by the way side
AS soon as he dismounted and went into
the stable to see that his horse was cared
for, he was followed by large mastiff
dog. who by every means that dog could
invent, endcavored to draw his attention.
Inc gentleman sat down in the hall, the
dog by his side, when he began to think
there was something strange in the dogs
attention and manner. He put his hand
on lhe dog S head and spoke kindly. The
dog encouraged, laid his paw on his mas
terS bnee' and looked earnestly into his
face. RecOIlcctions arose in the memory
of the master, and he exclaimed in s,,r-
prise, "Why, Hero, are you here 81
Hero was so pleased with the r,cognition
that he almost leaped on his masters
back. Whether the landlord WAS ipfor.
med OF the merits Of the case, or not. NV
informant did not say. At any rate. He.
70 and his master were never to seperate
from that hour. Hero followed his mas.
ter in the bedroom. when seeing him about
to undress, he seized the skirt Of his coat
with his teeth. and drew his master TO-
wards closet On opening the door he
discovered the corpse of man suspended
against the wall. He saw his danger
an made preparations accordingly.
This matter occurred shortly after the
te:urn .e Of the army from America, after
Jie, tHe war OF Independence. Many of the
ueu S,;s'L soldiers took to robbing on the
sIi - "NG gentlemen always travelled
well armed lie saw that his four n;stoIs
were IN trim, piled everything n,ProLIo
IN the room against the door aSd sat .''i t"Oie
to wait the result. About midniI%t uo"n .t''
was knock at door, a vial Of 5ooI! ~ mere
which was standing on the mantle, tIuclne
was wanted Tor one of the family, wiz
was taken suddenly ill. Hero GrowIa5
as If to say, :" there are two ofus,', NJ
Morton, the gentleman's name, inforn,ni