Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-03
BUFF-A True Story.
TT pr. WILLIAM EiDEk-

from his color-it was Buff-not fron
his character, for he was as remarka
bic for mag(dog)nanimity as fol
strength and courage. He was very
patient, too all the worry and worl
that a seven-year old urchin could in
flict upou him i'll long holiday. never
disturbed his equi(canDnimity. Ht
probably had once been puppy, but
no one who knew him would think o!
uncoiling such an inference, from
the principles Of natural history, to
his prejudice-he was every inch and
every ounce dog, and one Of the
biggest, nobleSt of the race, at that
How he hated the harness of my little
wagon in summer. and board-sled in
winter. He was faithful, and fond OF
his little master but, naturally
enough, while he performed the duties
and felt the sentiments Of a dog, he
resisted the degrad alton Of hack.
Nothing else ever made him exhibit
any doggedness Of temper. never
caught him in q sneak, except when
he was trying to escape the collar and
traces; or at a dodge, except when a
hole in the fence, or the low door Of
his dormitory, offered him an opportu-
nifty Of stripping me off his back.
My troubles and tumbles Of this sort,
often ruffled my temper with him
but more mature reflection has long
since reconciled me to his conduct in
this respect, and in the late remorsc
of love-" l admit that he was right.
Alas! poor Buff! Every dog, they
say, has his day; but But7s was
shamelully shortened. A beggar
poisoned him for it was principle
with him never to let a tattcrdemalion
cross our doorstep. He had an opin'
ion, and a post, to maintain-he had
some dignity Of his own, and, Of
course, decent Indignation against
deficient in both dress and
address. He suspected them of feas,
perhaps; perhaps Of felony! anyhow,
he could not abide them and if it
was only a capricious antipathy, l
don't think it very serious impeach-
mcnt Of his otherwise unquestionabie
philanthropy. He may have been a
reformer, and had a mission: and for
that reason, must be excused if he gar
risoned the premises with rather Sc
we're fidelity. doubt not that excel |
lent authorities can be found for (
growing and barking alarmingly for
sake, and | claim the ben |.
Eft for the justification of Buff; the /
more by token that the poor fellow /
ell a martyr to it at last. See, there /
S doctrine and parable even in
he life and death Of dog.
One day-how well l remember the
lay was trying to drive q family
If refractory pigs out Of the yard,
md, after a dozen failures, called up
IN Buff for assistance. He had been
ooking on contemplatively for half
IN hour, while the struggle lasted,
without offering any assistance, or ex-
any interest in the matter,
md now absolutely refused to inter-
ere. There was another witness of
ny perplexity-my father was stand
ng on the porch, very quietly waiting
or the result. \ regular fight had
'egan with Buff for his insolent indif-
erence and downright disobedience;
nut, detecting the presence, and ho-
ing for the interposition Of the para
Mount authority, L began my complaint
nth, Papa, what is the reason that
;uff won't hunt these pigs?'
why, William, don't you know
hat big dog will not worry little
igs? Ifyou want to have help at
lean little job,y must employ a pup
y in the service"
Buff was fairly vindicated, and |
ad lesson which has served me
lany time since. Just then l felt
My the rebuke, without at all relish
,g it, and, indeed, without fully un-
crstanding its philosophy.
That night, after saying my daily
rayer, and feeling as good as if l had
cen whipped, or praised, or pardon
some little iniquity, and had nv
ccount with the world and the world
come happily squared, and at liber-
to begin again, renewed the COM
laint and apology by saying, But,
lpa, what is the reason that Buff
Ightn't to worry little pigs when 6
ley are in the yard, where they have !
D business to be?"
why, see here, my son little pigs y
i've some rights, even when they are :
oing wrong. Haven't they?" +
NO; l don't see how they CAN be .
ght when they are wrong" y
Smiling in way that made me h
ink | was not quite up to the argu- q
ent, although l could not see the =
NIX in it, he answered, =
well, then, if the pigs are not 7
lite right when they are wrong, or, n
hat is a very different thing, if they h
I'VE no rights when they are in any g
ing wrong-as, for instance, in the
rong yard or wrong trough-little
,ys and little dogs may, nevertheless, il
!, wrong in their way Ofturning them s
they not?"
at