Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-12
9ailp Sirgiaiau.
The Old Sailor and His Dog
4 SKETCH OF THE CRIMEAN WAR.

story from the London Art journal, in whose col.
nmns It appears in tho very interesting illustrated
history OF tho Thames. by Mrs. \. c. Hall, the
we'll known authoress whose pen and pencil ably
nssst her husband in tho edtorialsh;p Of tho
Journal. Describing Groenwich Hospital Mrs.
Hall says.
friend Of ours. who lives near Greenwich and
is az proud Of the palace Hospital ns nm English
man ought to be, told a little incident which II
gratihes to repeat. 1t 10 quito impossible not 70
observe that old Jacktars have their favorits
runs" about Greenwich; you meet the Same
wooden leg at aparticular corner. and at tho ssme
hour, almost (fair weather or foul every day ia
tho year. the same old trio. 'chafing" and YARN
ing ON tho same bench the samc lot" with their
pipes, Of an afternoon IA tho park, their weather
heaten. broken up faces, and thcir broken up
limbs, become your "iamliars." They are not
cordial at first with strangers, but our friend oon-
sidcrs them worth knowing. and whenever ho APP
proachcs n bench where tros or duos Of tho old
fellows meet, there is immediately courteous re-
cognition Of the "gcntlemnn" who carries u snuff
canister always. and roll Of pig tail sometimes.
for their especial comfort You may coax SOL
dior with u cigar. but n sailor scorns it, and ro-
mains true Rs the needle to the polo to his "quid."
When tho Crlmcan war was at the hottest, and
hands trcmbled to unclosc tho lst of killed and
wounded, our friend, ON his morning walk down
to "the boat" which he prefers n mode Of tran
sit To the great Bnly ylnn. observed u somewhat
stately old sailor walking by tho mid of wooden
leg and n stick, sometimes beside tho park wall
when II was shuly. NJ other times sitting ON the
grass in the sun. Ills habits differed from those
Of his mcssmatcs; he had no particular run, but
seemed TO study the pleasure and caprice Of n
small Skye terrier, who wns his constant compan-
ION. The dog sharclcss and ragged as even
n Skye can he, his larsc bright. intense eyes
gared from beneath hls shaggy brows, md his
short, stumpy legs were terminated by masses Of
l. l,tc tI. hat kb,
blue" and his broad black nose and sweeping
tail constituted him rorfeot "bcnuty." Some
times he chose to walk by tho park wall aud
then his master followed; then skye" would take
to the common. and, without n word, the ol,edient
master would steer after him; then he would con-
worse with Other little dogs. and the old sailor
would wait until the conversation was over. lilo
ncyor intcrIcred except when "Skyc" desired 10
attack donkcvs or donkey hoys then his protector
would hook him up (hc could not weigh moro than
four pnunds) with his stick, tnck him under his
nrm and disappear with him altogether. There
was something So odl N tho odd sailor reversing
tho order OF things, a. Il !ullwing the dog, instead
Of the dog following hln. 'hnt cur friend desired
TO make his acquaintance; but the old man evil
dcntly chose to keep out OF every onos wnv. One
evening however, our friend suddenly cnmc upon
him at u turn in the park; the dog Ind taken a
fancy to tuft of form ..rnss, which dogs have tho
eagncity to know is good for them and while he
was picking off its long narrow leaves. the old
man rested against II tree, patiently waiting the
little beasts pleasure. Our friend opened the ac
quaintancc by praisng "Skyc's" beauty; but in
stead Of the courteous reply he expected the old
tar caught up the dog, aud then turning sharply
round, surveyed the gentleman from hend - foot.
"You cannot suppose said our kindly friend,
";hat would deprive yon of your dog?'
In reply to this he laid him gently down.
ono, sir-now see you ccar--T don't think
Il. Int wall na nth off ~
m eye At him, aud some come and offer me money
for him. thinking that such as | would sell lore
for m0neyi WHY, bless your hcnrt, selling that
dog would be like selling my own flesh aud blood!"
1T certainly isa beautiful little creature"
"Well. 80 every body says wish il weren't
for the dog stcnlers nrc nitcr it, and II lost 1t, It
would kill me too. don't think therc'ssix square
inches Of my body without scar, and wish
had DOZEN bodies to give TO tho same servicebut
though thcv didn't send me to the lock, If | lost
that Dig should never leave my bed again"
He wns about To follow tho dog who had finish
ed his frugal rcpast but our friend tempted him
with n "ouid" For once low whistle intimated
that he requested the dogs return and Skye came
and laid him down meckly at his foot. pinch
of snuff cemcntcd the acquaintance; and though
they parted Immediately after, mt their next meet
ing he told our friend why he 81 loved the dog.
His grandson was II soldier in the 5Oth Regi
mcnt; he would rather, hc confessed, he had been
sailor, but hia i"ncy was tor the scarlet instead
of the blue. No matter his heart and his me
were his Queens and finer or h"ndsomcr lad
was not IN tho regiment ne went ont as lance
corporal. Before he went he brought HIM his lit
tie dog; and though contrary to regulations, they
let the old man keep his Srnndsons dog until his
return--only, ofeonrse, until h's retnrn. NO won
der he wass' careful 81 jamie alt'ic dog Here
hc paused; and then asked our friend 1t he saw
the papers daily.
"Ccrtaihy
The hard cordago of the veteran s face twltched
and moy ed cOuyulsiVcly, and his hand appeared