Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-01-03
STORY OF A FAITHFUL. DoG.

STORY OF "A FAITHFUL 9aG
The following story is said. by the
Portsmouth Chronicle, to be derived, as
to 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 a
lonely widow named Mozher. Hershus-
band had been dead many years, and her
only daughter was grown up and5married,
fliving at~the distance of q mile or two
from the family mansion.
And thus the OLD lady lived alone in her
house day and night. Yet in her consci-
Gus innocence and trust in Providence she
felt safe and cheerful did her workEqui-
city during the day time, and at evenlide
4 slept sweetly.
One morning, however, she awoke with
an extraordinary and uuwonted gloom up.
on her mind, which was impressed with
the apprehension that something strange
was about to happen TO 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 of it, by unbosoming
. herself to her friends. especially to her
daughter. With her she spent the greater
portion of the day, and to her she several
times repeated the recital of her aPpre-
tensions. The daughter as often repea-
ted 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"
q AS the day was, declining, Mrs. Mozher
sought her home, but expressed the same
feeling as she left her daughters abode.
Onher way home she called on neigh
Dor, who lived in thelast house before She
reached her own. Here she again made
know her continued apprebensions, which
: had nearly ripened into fear, and fromath
lady of the mansion, she received answers
similar to those OF her daughter. You
have harmed no one in your whole life
: time, surely no one will modest you. Go
home in quiet, and Rover shall go home
( with you. Here Reverb said she to u
: stout watch dog that lay on tie floor, 'here
: Rover, so home with Mrs. Mozher, 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 the bed. and as the widow
relied on his fidelity, aud perhaps child
:. herself fo' needless fear, she fell asleep.
Sometime in the night she awoke, being
startled, probably, by slight noise out
side the house. 1t was SO light, howev-
er, that she was not aware of being start
, led at all, but heard as soon as she awoke.
a sound like the raising of The window
near her bed, which was in room on
the ground floor.
The dog neither barked nor moved
; Next there was another sound, as if some
J one was in the room and stepped eau
e tously on The floor. The woman saw
the dog move as he made violent spring
from The bed, and at the same moment
something fell on The floor, sounding like
+ a heavy log. Then followed other noises
! like the paving of a dogs feet; but soon al
= was still again. and the dog resumed his
: place under the bed without having bark
ed or gr0wled at all.
y This time the widow did not go &c
y sleep Immediately but lay awake won.
a dering, yet not deemiug it best TO get up
h But az last she dropped asleep, and when
$ she awoke the SUI was shining. She has
I lilly stepped out Of bed, and there lay The
: body of a man extended ON the floor, dead
with large knife in his hand, which was
ii even now extended. The dog had seized
: him by the throat with grasp of death
a aud neither man nor dog could utter &
S sound i'll all was over. This man was The
widow s son in law the husband other on
} ~ daus hter. He coveted her little store o
t wealth, her house. her cattle, and her lanl
; aud insIigaled by this sordid impotence he
j could not wait Tor the decay Of nature Il
+ give her property up TO him and his wife
t as the only heirs apparent, but made thi.
p" stealthy visit to do deed Of darkness il
e che gloom OF night. A fearful retrioutior
/ waited for him. The widows's apprehen.
e sions, communicated TO her mind and i'm
e pressed upon her nerves, by what unseen
b power we know not. the sympathy OF the
e woman who loaned her dog, and The 81
) lent but certain watch of The dog himself
d for med chain Of events which brought
e the murderer's blood upon his own head
and are difficult to be explained. withou
reference to that overruling Providence
which numbers the hairs OF our heads
o watches the sparrow's fall and shapes OuI
a deeds,
S " Rough bew them as we will
III