The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-28
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH %, 1860


experience to read simple country girls
face as if it we're sign board. Alminy was
a good soul, with red cheeks and bright eyes,
kind hearted as she could be, and it was out
Of the question Tor her to hide her thoughts
or feelings like 6ne lady. Her bright eyes
were moist, and her red cheeks paer than
their wont, as she said, with her lips culver
ing. "Oh, Mr.. Langdon, them boys II be
the death of ye. If ye don't take care !"
"Wby, what's the matter, my dear 7" said
Mr.. Bernard. Don't think there was any.
thing very odd in that, "ny DEAR" at the
second interview with vii age belle; some
OF these women-tamers call a girl "my
dear" after FIVE minutes acquaintance, and
it sounds all right as they say it But you
had not better try it OF venture.
1t sounded all right to Almny, as Mr..
Bernard said it. "I'l tell ye. what's the
matter," she said, in frighteied voice.
"Abuer's go'n' to car his dog n he'll set
him on ye'z sure 'z'y'r' alive. IT'S the same
cretur that haaf eat up Eben squire's little
10, year come mex Faast day."
Now this last statement was undoubtedly
over colored; as little Joe Squres was run
ming about the viIIage-with an ugly scar
on his arm, il is true, where he beast had
caught him with his teeth, on the occasion
OF the Chld's taking liberties with him, as
he had been accustomed to do with good
tempered Newfoundland dog who seemed
to like being pulled and hstlet round by
children. A ter this the creature was com
monty muzz led, and as he was led on raw
meat chiefly, was always ready for fight,
which he was occasionally indllged in when
anything stout enough to m tch him could
be found 10 any Of the neie ehbbring villages.
Tiger, or more briefly, Tige, the property
Of Abnrr Briggs, Junior, belonged to spe
Gle. not distinctly named in scientific books,
but we'll koown to our country folks under
The name of "YalIah-dog." They do not
use this expression rs they would say black
dog or white dog, bu, almost with as definite
a mesning as when they speak OF terrier
or a spaniel. A"yaIah dog" is large ca
nine brute, of "A dingy old.a,nne! color, 0!
no particular breed except his own, "hJ
hangs rouDd a tavern or a butcher shop, OF
trots alongside team, looking as if he were
dIsgu-ted with the world, AID the world with
him. Our inland population, while they
tolerate him, speSk o. him with contempt
Old -, Of Meredith Bridge, used to twi
the sun for not shining on cloudy days
swearing that, il he hung up his "yaliaf
dog" he would make better show of day
light. A country fellow, abusing horse o
his neighbor's, vowed that if he had such
boss, he'd swap him for "yallah dog," ant
then shoot the dog.
Tige was an i'll conditioned brute by ma
ture. and art had no, improved him by crop
ping his ears and tail, and investing hin
with spiked collar. He bore on his per
son, also, various not ornamental scars
marks OF old battles; for Tiee had fight i
him, as was said before, and as might b
! guessed by certain bluntness about tn
muzze, with projection OF tie lower jaw
3 which looked as il there might be a bul
{ dog stripe among the numerous bar.snister
y OF his lineage.
n 1t was hardly fair, however, TO leave A
: miny Cutter waiting while this piece Of ma
f urs history was telling. As she spoke {
n little Joe, who had been "half eat up" b
}, Tige, she could not contain her sympathie
n and began to cry.
d "Why, my dear little SOUL" sold Mr.. Be
n nard, "wbat are you worried about! ust
1t to play with bear when was a boy; al
il the beOr used to hug me, and used to XII
1t him. so !"
+" 1t was too bad Of Mr.. Barnard, only Il
t second time he had seen Alminy; but h
y kind feelings had touched him, and tn
or seemed the most natural way OF expressil
Bs his gratitude. Alminy looked round to s
rs if anybody was near; she saw nobody, so
n, course it would do no good to "holler." S
OF saw nobody; but stout young fellow, lie,
- iog yellow dog, muzz'ed, saw her :hrou
~ y crack in a picket tence. not great W
d, IF the road. Many a year he had be
nd "haDgn raoun" Alminy, and never did
de see any encouraging look, or henr any "B
it have, naow !" or "Come, naow; ant
ashamed - or other forbidding phrase
of acquescence, such as village bellies unde
ed stand as we'll as ever did the nymph W
| f.d to the willows in the ecogue we
ct remember.
So No wonder he was furious, when he 8,
n. the school master, who had never seen t
ot girl until within a week, touching with
he lips those rosy cheeks which he Ind ne,
n. dared approach. But that was all; it was
er sudden impulse, and the master turned aw
g from the young girl, laughing snd telli
cd her not to fret herself about him-he wol
h. take care OF himself.
1t, So Master Langdon walked on toward
sc school house, not displeased, perhaps, W
)u his little adventure, nor immensely elal
n, BY it, for he was one Of the natural class
tr the sex-subduers, and had many a SIN
!" without asking. which had beep denied
I'd the feeble youth who try to win favor
a pleading their passion in rhyme, and ev
in to the more formidable approaches OF YOU