The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-11-24
A STORY OF A FAITHFUL DOG.
PREMoNIr0RY WARNING.


mouth Chronicle, to be derived, as 10 all its
facts, from a most respectable Quaker fam.
lily, 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 daughter
was grown up and married, living at the dis.
tance Of mile or two from the family man.
sion.
sand TINS the old lady lived alone in her
house by day and night. Yet in her conscious
innocence and trust in Providence, she felt
safe and eheeriul-did her work quietly du-
ring the daylight, and at eventide lay and slept
sweetly.
"One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and unwonied gloom upon
her mind, which MAS impressed with the np
prehension that something strange was abont
TO happen t. her or hers. so full was she Of
this thought that she could not stay at home
that day, but must go abroad to give vent tn
il, by unbosoming herself Ia her friends, es-
pecially to her daughter. With her she spent
the greater part of the dav, and IT, her she
several times repeated the recital of her ap.
prehensons. The daughter as often repeat
ed the assurances that the good mother had
never done injury toany person, and added,
Il cannot think any one would hurt YOU, for
you have not IN enemy III the world
AS the day was declining, Mrs. Mozher
sought her home, butexpressed the same feel
ings as she left her daughters house.
"On the way home, she called on neigh
bOr, who lived in the last house before she
r,.a.hud har Hara sLo anoin mn do I'm
her continued apprehensions. which had near
ly 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 yeur whole lifetime, surely no one will mo-
lest YOU Go home in quiet, and Rover shall
60 with yon. Here, Rover,' said she to
stout Watchdog that lay on the floor, here,
Rover, 90 home with Mrs. Mozher, and Ike
care of her Rover did As he WAS told
The widow went home, MIXED her cows,
took care of everything out OF doors, and
went to bed ms usual Rover had not left
her for an instant. When she was fairly in
bed, he laid himself down upon the outside
Of the bed, and as the widow relied on his f.
deity, and perhaps child herself for needless
fear, she fell asleep. Sometime in the night
she awoke, being startled, probably, by a
slight noise outside the house. ID was so
Slight however, that she was not aware of
being startled at all, but heard, as soon rs she
awoke, sound like the raising of Il window
near her bed, which was in II room on the
ground-hoor The dog neither barked nor
moved. Next there was another sound, MS if
some one was in the room and stepped eau
tiouslv on the floor The woman saw moth
ing, but now for the first time felt the dog
move, MS he made violent spring from the
bed and at the same instant something tell
on floor. sounding like heavy log. Then
followed other noises like the paving of Il
dogs feet; bat SOON all WIS stiIl again, and the
dog resumed his place on the bed without
having barked or growled at all.
sThis time the widow did not 90 to sleep
but Law awake wondering, yet |
not deeming it best to get mp. But at las.
she dropped asleep, and when she awoke the
sun was shining. She hastily stepped out of
bed, and there lay the body of man extend.
ed on the floor, dead, with Il large knife in his
hand, which was even now extended. The
dog had seized him by the throat with tn
grasp of death, and neither man nor dog cculd
utter a sound till all was over. This man
was the widows son-in-aw, the husband ol
her only daughter. He coveted her little
store of wealth, her house, her cattlc, and her
and; and instigated by this sorjid impatience,
ne could not whit for the decay of nature to
give her property up to him and his, as the
'ny heirs apparent, but made this stea'thy
'isit to do deed of darkness in the gloom of
he night. A fearful retribution waited for
him. The Widows apprehensions, commu-
,lcated to her mind and impressed upon her
nerves by what unseen power we know not,
he sympathy of the woman who loaned her
log, and the silent certain watch of the dog
himself, formed chain of events which
brought the lnurderer's blood upon bis own
,ead, and which are difficult to be explained,
Without reference to that Providence or over
'uling power which numbers the hairs OF our
reads, watches the sparrow's fall; and shapes
)ur ends, rough hcw them us we Will.