Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-10
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
A Short Chapter ON Dogs

We confess real and rational fondnsss for
Dogs; which dates back to our earliest recol-
lections. We respect both the mental and
moral qualities of the brute; his acumen, his
sagacity, his good sense and his good senses, his
far-sghfed-ness and his far-smehing- mess his
true-hcarted-ness to his friends, and his true
rk-and-bite-a-tivc-ness to his enemies. In a
brute we recognize consistency and sort Of
justice in loving ones friends, and in hating
ones enemies. Even the lower types Of our
own species have been known to fall back upon
this convenient brute platform.
The dog Is no sneak, no traitor; if he occa-
fsionally fawns and hatters, he does II openly,
with the ayowodpand eydent motiye Of getting
i II - and after oil Lis fasaing is Quite ID
pps5est as, that Of some animals Of d higher spe-
and much diors nilturai ana bsc5ining. m
short, one knows what to depend upon in 4 dog,
iand can prepare for peace or war, according as
he runsup his colors and this is often great
convenience.
| We find moreover, great variety of intellect
| in the canine race W. see in the Pointer, and
] Greyhound, lean, 1.-THE, and eager, the very
lotryrs Of their tribe They set their mark
high and usually attain it. Here, too, is Mon
isiaur Newfoundland, always ready to shake
hands with all peaceable people, and though his
manners are somewhat rough, he leaves you in
no doubt as to his friendly intentions. His
prim and dainty neighbor, the silky, white
Spaniel, may almost worry his life out with all
manner of impertnence; he will certainly fai
to pick quarrel with his worship. Not he
indeed Newfoundland has too much dignity
and sel(-respect to mind such little cur Hi
honor holds himself much above quarreling
with small dogs
The Mastiff knows his own rights, and de
tends them, but as he has settled habit o
minding his own business he expects othe
dogs to mind theirs also. When trained as
watch dog, no words can do justice to his fdel
ity. But of all the dog species with whom W
have been acquainted, none ever came quite s
near to our ideal of dog, as Old Spike on
family dog for fifteen years. Spike had man
good points. lie had at one time habit {
running away over to good uncle Ben's, wher
all live creatures were petted and spoiled, an
oyer-fed. Spike found his way to the larder an
was duly fed and pampered, but he was sure
come back in due time with a small billet tie
under his chin. The missive being first tic
and well secured with a ribbon around his necl
small suitch was applied to heels which EEL
him home in a tangent. Another billet VIZ
dispatched in reply in the same manner. SriE
was thus ! ind of carrier-pigeon for us, and
source of infinite amusement to all the cousin
But his chief characteristic was courage. n
living dog of his size (Spike was smalD coul
possibly show greater enthusiasm for fighting
50 long as the pigs, hens and geese in a pan
ran the other way. His barking was then col
, tinual and quite deafening. But let 50 much as
, single pig turn at bay, or an unreasonable o.
gander turn and hiss, and stretch out his abon
inably long neck and bill, Spike was put
: mortal fear, and thinking discrtion the bett
= part of valor. legged 1t for the house still
7 was not without nice sense of honor in Il
f matter, and showed as much honest shame,
other soldiers do, after running for their live
= 1t was only weakness of the nerves, wi
f which sympathizcd too heartily ever to blau
r him in the least. For