The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-05
fur tit Eups anh Girls.
NV pETHECrcR. THE GREYHOUND.

NY PET HECTOR. THE YHOCND.
Hector -vas TIE ravori:e hound Of my broth
or Rufus. who was extremely fond Of him, for
he was one Of the most beautiful creatures ev
err seen. had an amiable disposition. and was
very intelligent. You would scarcely be-
licve me. should tell YOU all his accomplish
,ncnt> and cunning tricks. If gave him
piece of monev.he would take it in his mouth
and run at once to the baker or butcher for
his dinner lie was evidently fond Of music.
and seemed to have an car for it: and he
would dance away merrilv whenever lie saw
dancing. lie was large and strong, and in
the winter. remember, we used to harness
him to little Sleigh on which he drew my
Youngest brother to school. As Hector was
as fleet as the wind this sort OF riding was
rare sport. At nj ght We had but to start him
of, and he would 60 directly to the school
house for his little master. All, Hector was
wonderful dog.
\ few miles from our house, there was a
pond or small lake, very deep and dark, and
surrounded by swampv wool. Here my
brothers used to 90 duck-shooting though it
was rather dangerous sport, as most OF the
shore of the pond was soft bog. but
thihly grown over with grass and weeds.
1t was said that cattle had been known TO
sink in it and disappear in shor! time.
One night durn. the hunting season, one
Of nv elder brothers brought friend home
with him,-a handsome young fellow, named
Charles Ashley 1t was arranged that they
should shoot ducks about the pond the next
day. 50 in the morning they all set out in
high spirits. In the forenoon they had not
much luck, as they kept too much together :
but in the afternoon they scparated.mv broth
cr> giving their friend warning TO beware Of
getting into the bocs. But Ashley was wild
impr,l'lent Young man. and once. having shot
4 fine LARGE duck which fell into the pond
near the shore. and Hector, who was with
him. refusing to 90 into the water for il, he
ran down himself Before he reached the
edre of the water. he was over his ankles in
mirc: ;hcn, turning to 90 back, he sank to
his knees. and in another moment he was
waist-hi.h in the boz, and unable TO help
himself lie laid his gun down, and fortu
natelv could rest one end of it on little
knoll Of iirmcr earth but he sank slowly.
till he was III up to his pits. OF course
he called and shouted for help as loud as pos
eiilc, but NY brothers were at such a distance
that they did not hear him 50 as to know hi
voice. But Hector. after looking at him in
hi; sal fix moment started oil on a swift
run. which soon brought him to his master
Nv brother said that the do. then began t.
whine. and run back and forth in most OK
traor,lnary manner. until he set out to follow
him to the scene Of the accident Hector
daShr Il on throur, the bushes. as though he
were half distracted. every few minutes turn
inc back with wild cries to hurry on his mas
ter. When my brother came up to where his
friend was fixed in the mirc. he coull sec
nothing OF him at first. Then he heard q
faint voice calling him, and, looking dow,
near the water. he saw a pale face looking NJ
ut him from the black .or. lie has Otter
said that it was the stranccst sight that he CIV
or saw. l'oor Ashcy'S armS.and the fowlin
piece he held. were now beginning to disar
pear. ard in very Shor; tine he would hav
sunk out Of sight Tor ever Only to think o
such an awful death. My brother, who ha
ai~a:S grca. presence o. mind lost no tim
~ beading dow1 Young tree from the ban
where lie stood. so that Ashley could eras
it, and in that wa, be drawn mp: for. as 70
see. it would not have been safe for him to .
,!own to whore his friend sunk. When ~!
lev had taken firm hold Of the saplin-, IL,
brother let 90 of it, and it sprung back, pu
lin. up the Young man without much exc
ton on his part. Ashley wa, howevcr.crca
" exhausted with fright and struggling. an
Law Tor some moments on the banks fcelir
quite unable to walk. As soon as he w,
strong enough. he set out for home with N
brother stopping very often to rest and shah
of the thick mud, which actually wei-hc
heavily upon him.
When no: hunting with his master. IIcct'
went with Albert and me in all our ramhlc
Deriving and nut,ing. We could hardly
seen without him. and we loved him almo
as we loved one another.
One afternoon in early spring we had BE,
into the woods for wild flowers rcmcnb
that had my apron filed with the swc
claytonias. and the gay trllinms and II
pretty white flowers Of the sancuinar;a.
"bloo1- root" and hosts and handlnIs of II
Wild vio!ct>. yellow and blue My hroth
had taken oil his cap AID flied it with bean,
full green moses. and lit Up with The BRIG
red s'Iuawhcrrv. We had Just entered Il
long shady lane which ran down 70 the ho>
and Were talking AMI angling very mrrr,
when we saw crowd Of men and boys III
ntr. towards us and shouting As they ran
Before them was large. brown bul-,lo
that as he cane near. we saw was toaming
the mouth. !'..en we heard what the IL,
were saying. 1t was. ".lk'd dog."
My brother and stopped an! olung
each other in great trouble. Hector sto(
before Us and growlcl. The dog was alrca(
SO near that we could not escape he can
right at Us. with his lrcatiiilv frothv mou,