Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-10-21
The Doctors Peril,

| The noble beast that forms the subject
of my story had been a bay of the rich
est and most glossy color. with lone
spot OF white hair In his forehead. His
tail had been allowed to flow. uncurtail.
ed by the mutllat,ng knife, naturally and
gracefully as those of the wild mustang
OF the prairie, The ample chest, small!
ankles, and proud neck, and the wide
apart. prominent eyes and open nostrils,
denoted gentle blood bat at the time |
saw him, old age had whitened his beau
tilui bay coat. long tufts of hair were
growing behind each foot, his eyes were
rheumy. and the few long teeth he os.
sessed were loose.
! had noticed the care and attention
bestowed on him bv every INN ,te of the
family. Not day passed that his neck
and face were no, c"ressed by soft and
feminine hands and had | been surpris.
ed at that, how much more SO was /,
when MIS-. Morrison. who, like myself.
was staying there through the summer, =,
would frequently throw her arms around
his neck, and while his soft nose rested
against her shoulder. would call him pet
names, AMI not unfrequently her beauti.
full eyes would fill with tears while thus
employed. Don Jonn' received a II these
caresses as if lie had been accustomed to
them. frequently following one and
another OF the iomates like huge house
dog. My curiosity at length became so
great that resolved to become acquain,.
ed with the reason why he was honored
with the respec, and attachment of the
household. Not many days elapsed be-
lore l became acquainted with the rea-
sons an, assure you, gentle reader,
considered them sufficient to excuse any
amount Of affection which it might please
The superior bru to bcstow upon his
fellow the dumb one
He had belonged to Dr.. Mossly, of
Whitesboro' for many years prac,icng
physician OF that place. and Don John
had carried his Mas,er to aud from many
ted ot death. and God help him, fire
flown IRON his hcois as many times a.
his short, fleet steps had dashed across
the Mohawk on the old bridge not heed.
ing the newborn infants wall That greet.
ed his ear in the quiet corner. awaiting
his masters pleasure not that il was
the wall for the advent of 4 human soul.
doomed TO suffer its aumber .f years.
then die. II his master had acquired
lame-as all knew he had-'Don John
mad also his laurels to be proud of.
The Doctor had been called to Utica,
on business connected with his profess.
ion. and had been absent three days
During his absence one Of those drencn.
lag, warm. breaking-up rains had set in.
Mountains OF ice were rushing down the
Mohawk, sweeping everything before
them, overhowing the banks, carrying
away bridges ana dwellings,. and alarm.
ing many OF the inhabitants, Is we'll it
might, for one must see freshet to un.
derstand its terrible importance. One
must hear the crash AMI roar, behold the
mao waters rushin, headlong and wild,
eager tor destruction. behold the floating
wrecks of many dwelling often bearing
"a thing OF liie, and sometimes hum n
lite. as was witnessed few years since
on the Schuylkill.
The nil ght was inky black. and Don
John picked out the way faithfully and
steadily, never stumbling, but with
bride hanging slack on his neck, and his
nose close to the earth, his master had
little fear of the consequences. They
were approaching Oriskany, where
bridge spanned the Mohawk. and 'Don
John whinnered pitifuily once or twice,
till sharp word from his master warned
him not to show the white feather. On
the other side he could just distinguish
through the dense darkness moving and
glimmering lights, and once he fancied
he heard shout; but he little needed
ought save getting housed as soon as
possible, and sleeping off the fatgues
consequent to his profession. "Now,
Don, step sure, old Oriskany bridge to