The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-21
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
TUESDAY MORNING. NovEMBER u. Iss4.
4 STORY OF A FAITHFUL DOG.

A STORY OF A FAITHFUL DOG.
PREaosrToRY WARSISG.-The following
story is said, by the Portsmouth Chronicle,
10 be derived, asto all its facts, from most
respectable Quaker family. whose veracity
cannot be doubted:
About fifty years ago, in the western part
Of the State Of New York, lived lonely
widow, named Mozher Her husband had
been dead many years, and her only daugh.
ter was grown up and married, Irving at
the distance of mile or two from the family
mansion.
And thus the old lady lived alone in her
house day and night Yet in her conscious
innocence and trust in Providence, she felt
safe and cheerful-did her work quietly du
ring the day light, and at eventide slept
sweetly.
"One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and unwonted gloom upon
her mind, which was impressed with the ap-
prehension that something strange was about
to happen to her or hers. So full was she of
this thought that she could net stay at home
that day, but must go abroad to give vent to
it, by unbosoming herself to her friends, es
pecially to her daughter. With her she
spent the greater portion of the day, and to
her she several times repeated the recital of
her apprehensions. The daughter as often
repeated the assurances that the good mother
had never done injury to any person, and
added, Il cannot think any one would hurt
you, for you have not an enemy in the
world.
"As the day was declining, Mrs Mother
sought her home but expressed the same
feelings as she left her daughters house.
"On her way home, she called on a neigh
Dor, who lived in the last house before
she reached her own. Here she again made
known her continued apprehensions, which
had nearly ripened into fear, and from the
LADY, of the mansion she received answers
similar to those of her daughter You have
harmed no one in your whole lifetime, surely
no one will molest you. Go home in quiet,
and Rover shall go with YOU Here, Rover,
said she to stout watch dog, that lay on the
floor, here, Rover go home with Mrs. MOI
her, and take care Of her. Rover did as he
was told. The widow went home, MIXED
her cows, took care of every thing out of
doors, and went to bed as usual. Rover had
not left her for an instant. When she was
fairly in bed, he laid himself down upon the
outside of thu bed, and as the widow relied
on his fidelity, and perhaps child herself for
the night she awoke, being startled, proba-
bly,, by slight noise outside the house. 1t
was so slight however, that she was not
aware of being startled at all, but heard as
soon as she awoke, sound like the raising
of a window near her bed, which was in a
room on the ground moor.
The dog neither barked nor moved Next
there was another sound, as if some one was
in the room and stepped cautiously on the
floor The woman saw no hing, but now for
the first time felt the dog move, as he made
violent spring from the bed, and at the
same moment something fell on the floor,
sounding like heavy log. Then follow
ed other notes like the paving of dogs
feet; but soon all was still again, and
l. IL Al, Al.
having barked or growled at all.
This time the widow did not 90 to sleep i'm
mediately, but lay awake wondering, yet not
deeming it best to get up. But at last she
dropped asleep, and when she awoke the sun
was shining. She hastily stepped out of bed,
and there lay the body of man extended on
the floor dead, with large knife in his hand,
which was even now extended The dog had
seized him by the throat with a grasp of
death, and neither man nor dog could utter
sound till all was over. This man was the
widows sonin- law, the husband of her only
daughter. He coveted her little store of
wealth, her house, her cattle, and her land :;
and instigated by this sordid Impotence he
could not wait for the decay of nature to give
her property up to him and his, as the only
heirs apparent, but made this stealthy visit to
do deed of darkness in the gloom of night
A fearful retrbutiOn waited for him. The
widows apprehensions, communicated to her
mind and impressed upon her nerves by what
unseen power we know not, the sympathy of
the woman who loaned her dog, and the ST.
lent but certain watch of the dog himself
formed chain of events which brought the
murderer's blood upon his own head, and
which are difficult to be explained, without
reference to that Providence or overriding
which numbers the hairs of our heads, watch.
es the sparrow's fall, and shapes our deeds,
rough hew them as we will
LITERARY MOVEMENT -Barnum has made an
application to the Supreme Court of New York for