The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-15
A RARE DOG STORY.


J. gentleman, whose country seat stood
Tithin six miles of my cottage on the
moor" kept fine mastiff dog. BY day
he was chained up near the house; by
night, he was loose to range through the
garden and enclosures, a terror to evil
doers, but kindly affected to all such as
do well. Now whether it was natural in
stint for wolves are only wild dogs, or
wether he had received some real or sup
posed afront from the sheep Fraternity,
I never conld learn; for though the dog
had language of bis own, and in which
he conversed very fuently at tirnts, yet
I must confess, I could better understand
the language eff his eyes (dogs have very
expressive eyes), than the language of
his lips BE this as it may, one morn
ing he was accused of having murdered
two Of a neighbor's sheep. His master,
unwilling to take up an evil report against
his faithful watch dog, had the trial post
poned to Monday next, as they say in
court.
On the following night, however, an-
other murder was committed. This time
the fact wac too clear to admit doubt
Hero was brought in guilty, not by
VERDICT of his peers, but by convention
of two-legged animals, who were too dull
to appreciate his motives and too blind to
sympathize with him under tho circum-
stances; neither had they the courtesy To
ask, as had been the custom in all civil
ized communities, ever since the days of
Hamau, who, himself, was strung up 6f-
ty Gu bits, if he had any objection to make
against being hung, but straightway they
proceeded to execution. His master,
while a tear crossed his eye-ball, says
"John, get a stout piece of rope
Hang Hero behind the barn, so as not to
be seen from the house"
Having spoke thus he entered his
dwelling. Hero heard his sentence with
the same philosophic Indifference that l
have heard some two-legged animals re
ceive theirs in the Hall of Justice in tho
Park. lie never opened his mouth; but,
thinks he, there will be long respite be
tween the sentence and the hanging day.
So, without speaking word, he cleared
stone fence five feet high. O'er hills
and daIes. DER fields and foods he iew
as with wings of the wind. He never
drew up till he entered the city of re-
fuge; here the aRepger Of blood dared
not to enter.
You Lave read in that book, for
which all other books were made, e.
man drew bow at a venture; the uner-
ring eye of Omnipotcnce became pilot
to the shaft; it entered between the
Joints of his armor, aud the broad mon
arch sunk dead in his chariot. The
same unorriug eye directed the flight of
his dog to the spot, where, after an alb
sQnce of nearly seven years, he was the
mcaus of saving the life Of his master,
as YOU will see in the sequel.
It came to pass, whom nearly seven
years had expired siuce the fright flight
of Hero (no doubt the poor dog was
scared enough, when he heard the order
for immediate e4ecution.) that his late
master WIS sojourning on the borders
of Scotland and England. 1t was win.
ter, and dark in that climate at 6 p. n.
He put up at tavern By the way-side.
As soon as he dismounted, and went III
the stable to gee that his horse was cared
for he was followed by large mastitf dog,
who by every means that dog could
invent, eudeayored to draw his attention.
The gentleman sat down in the hall, the
dog by his side, when he began to think
there was something strange in the dog 5
attentions and manner. He Put his
hand Oh the head of the dog, and spoke
kindly. The dog, encouraged, laid bis
paw on his masters knee, and looked
earnestly in his face. Recollections
aroused in the memory, of the master,
and he exclaimed, in surdrise, "Why,
Hero, are you here?" Hero was so
pleased at the recognition that he almost
Ieaped on his masters back. Whether
the landlord wcs informed OF the merits
ofthe case, or not, my antdid not
say. At any rate Hero and his master
were never to separate from that hour
Hero followed his master in the bed
room, when seeing him about to undress,
he seizel the skirt of his coat with his
teeth, and drew his master toward a
closet On opening the door he dlscoV-
cred the corpse of a man suspended
against the wall. He saw his danger,
and made preparations accordingly.
This matter occurred shortly otter the
return of the army from America, after
the war for independence. Many of the
disbanded soldiers took to robbing on
the highways, and gentlemen always
travelled well armed. He saw that his
four pistols wero in right trim, piled
everything movable in the room against
the door, and sat down to wait the
result. At midnight there was knock
at the door; a vial of medicine which
was standing on the mantelrpieca was
wanted for ops of the family, who was
taken suddenly H. Hero sr0w'ed, as