Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-02-03
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CANINE SAGACITY.
From the Home Journal.


mafkable size and beauty. Carlo, for that
was his cognomen, possessing an uncommon
share of the docility, sagacity and adhesive
attachment for persons characteristic of his
race, was, of course, prime favorite with
his master and the family. His usual places
of resort were the yard and lots Immediately
around the family residence. Beyond these
he seldom strayed, either in che pursuit of
game or to follow person he liked.
His master went, one day, into the woods,
near the house to shoot squirrels. Carlo,
impelled by an uncommon freak Of playful
ness or affection, followed him, but kept
some distance in the rear, as if conscious
thai, being uninvited, he came unwelcone
to the sport. A few caressing words and
pats upon the head suficed to restore his
confidence, and he trotted along close upon
the heels of his master, stopping when he
did, but never ventuling to circle through
the woods in quest of game.
A large fox squirrel ran up tree close by
the sportsman, who levelled his gun and
shot it dead. The noise which it made in
falling upon the dry leaves attracted the
notice of Carlo, who rushed forward, seized
the carcass, and began to shake and rend it
with great violence. The voice of his mas
ter commanding him to put it down was un-
needed. The destructive instincts of the
dog triumphed over his habit Of prompt obe-
dience, and he tore the squirrel into frag-
ments, and scattered them upon the ground
al the base of the tree.
Irritated at the disobedience of his favor
ite, the sportsman whipped him severely
with branch he tore from bush, holding
hin by the leather collar which was fasten-
ed :ound his neck. The dog howled most
pite ously during the infiction of the punish
ment, and ran back home the moment he
was released.
1t was quickly noticed by, the family that
some great change had come over the gay
and frolicsome Carlo. He discontinued his
almost constant visit to the house to receive
the caresses of the family. With dropping
head and tail, and most reuful expression Of
face, he glidcd mournfully about the premi-
ses, aud, when called, especially by his mas
ter, would hasten to hide himself from sight
in some covert place about the yard. He
showed, by his actions as plainly as words
could have spoken it, that he felt himself to
be iu deep disgrace. As he persistently re-
iecied all overtures of reconciliation made
by his master, the affair seemed to be as in
capable of adjustment, as it was of explana-
ton, between the offending and offended
party.
After several days spent in this way, Car
10 disappeared, and was not to be found
anywhere upon the premises. Could it be
possible that be had gone into voluntary ex-
lie to atone for his fault? Or had he, imi-
tating the folly of lordly man, made way
with his own life to cancel his disgrace and
escape the taunts of his fellow dogs? ? There
was no conjecture in the family as to the
cause of his disappearance, and no end to
the search for his retreat. But he came not
at the accustomed call, and there was neith-
er footprint nor sign to tell whittier he mad
gone.
In the evening of the second day of his
absence, his master was seated in the front
piazza of the family mansion, engaged in
reading, when Carlo suddenly walked in
with large fox squirrel in his mouth
Going straight up to his master, he deposited
the carcass at his feet, looked up into his
face, and gave few short, cheerful yelps,
wagging his tail all the time, and looking
the very picture of canine content and de-
light The squirrel had evidently just been
killed, as the body was still warm, and show
ed unmistakeable signs that life had been
extinguished by the pressure of teeth and
claws.
Carlo at once recovered his cheerfulness,
and resumed his former habits He had
erred, repented and atoned for his offence,
and remained ever after to the end of his
days privileged favorite in the family of
his owner.
Strange as this instance of canine sagaci-
ty may seem to those who deny to dogs even
the faintest gimmcr of the rational faculty,
it IL nevertheless not more strange than true,
since the facts herein detailed are related
by one of the most respectable families in
the South. How Carlo came in possession
of the squirrel has never been satisfactorily
ascertained. All the probabilities are in
favor of the supposition that he caught. il in
the woods by stratagem or by the feetness
of his foot.
by what process did the sagacious animal
reach the conclusion that his offence was to
be atoned for by the return of whole squir-
rel for the one he had torn? Yea, more.
How came he to know or believe that the
offence either required or admitted of at
tenement at all, and especially of attonemeut
by the restoration of like for like? There's
the rub. For ourselves, we neither concede
nor deny qualified nationality to the lower
orders of creation, but define our position in
relation to the question by saying, in the
language of good old Sir Roger de Coverly,
that 'smuch may be said on both sides of il"
J.w.T.
A PRETTY CoNcE1T.-We saw yesterday,