Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-02-25
A RARE poe STORY.

seat $1,000 WltnlU SlS NILES y! NY C't'
tage Oh the moor" kept a fine mastiff
dog. By day, he was chaitrd up near
the house; by night, he was loose. to
range through the garden and enclo.
sures. a terror to evil.doers, bnt kindly
affected 10 all who do well. Now,
whether it was natural instinct, (for
wolves are only wild dogs,) or whether
he had received some real or supposed
atiront from the sheep fruternity, | never
could learn; for though the dog had a
language of his own. and in which he
conversed very huently at times, yet !
must confess, | could better understand
tile language of bis eyes, (d"gs have
very expressive eyes, than the language
Of his lips. Be this as it may, one
morning he was accused Of having mur-
dered two of a neighbor's sheep. His
master, unwilling to take up an evil re
port against his faithful Watchdog, had
the trial postponed to Monday next, as
they say i'll court.
On the following night, however, q.
neither murder was committed. This
time the fact was too clear to admit a
doubt. Hero was brought in guilty,
not by verdict Of his peers, but by a
convention of ,wo.legged animals, who
were too dull to appreciate his motives
and too blind to sympathze with him
under the circumstances; neither had
they courtesy to ask, as had been the
custom in all civilized communities, ev.
er since the days Of Haman, who, him
sell, was strung up fifty cnbits, it he had
airy objection t" make against being
hung, but straightwny they proceeded
to execution. His master, while tear
crossed his eye.balls, said. "J"hn, get
a stout piece Of rope. Hang Hero be-
hiud 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 philosophic Indifference
that | have heard some two.leyeed AMI
mails receive theirs in the Hall of JUS
tee, id the Park. He ueyer opened
his mouth; bit, thinks he, there will he
along respite between the sentence and
the hanging day. So, without word,
he cleared a sloile fence five fee, high.
O'er hills and dales, Der fields anl
woods, he flew as with wings of the
wind. He never drew up ill he enter.
ed the city OF refuge; here the uven'
ger Of blood dared not enter.
You have read in thai Book, for which
oil other books were made,a man drew
a b"w'at a veatare; the unerring eyes
Of Omnipotence became pilot tn that
shaft; i! entered between the joints Of
his armor, and the proud monarch sunk
dead in his chariot. The same unerring
eye directed the flight Of this dog to
the spot. where, after an absence Of
nearly seven years, he was the means
of saving the life of his master, Us you
will see in the sequel.
It came to pass, when nearly seven
years had expired since the fright and
flight of Herr, (no doubt the poor dog
,Sns scared enough. when he heard the
order for his immediate execution, ,hn
his late master was sojourning on the
border of Scotland and England. Ii
was Wit!ter. and dark in that climate a,
5 p. m. He put up at tavern by the
way side. As snnn as he dismounted
and went in the stable to see that his
horse was cared for. he was followed by
i large mastift' dog who BY every means
that dog could invent, endeavored tn
draw his attention. The gentleman sat
down in the hall, tho dog by his side,
when he began to think there was some.
hing strange in the dogs attention aud
manner. He put his hand on the dogs
lead and spoke kindly. The dug en-.
;oufaged. laid his paw on his masters
snee, and looked earnestly into his iace.
arose in the memory OF
he master, and he exclaimed in SUR
,rise, "Why, Hero, are you hereH He.
% was so pleased with the recognition,
hat he almost leaped on his masters
,uck. Whether the landlord Was in.
nrmed of the merits Of the case, or not.
ny informant did not say. AT any rate,
Hero aud his master we're never to sep:
rate from that hour. Hero followed
lis master in the bedroom, when see.
ng him about To undress, he seized the
kirt OF his coot with his teeth, and drew
lis master towards closet. On opgn.
ng the door lie discovered the corpsu
# a man suspended against the wall =
10 saw his dahger and made prepara.
ions accordingly.
This matter otcurred shortly after tie
e.urn Of the army from America, after
he war of Independence. Many Of the
|i,banded soldiers took to robbing On ,
he highways, aud gentlemen always
ravelled we'll armed. He saw that his
our pistols were III right trim, piled ov.
,ything itiuveabe in the room against
he door, and sat down to walt the re.
ult. About midnight there was a knock
t the door, a vial Of medicine; which
vas standing on the mantle-piece, was
yantel for ono of the family. who was