Maryland free press., 1867-04-18
Anecdotes Of Dogs.


sag acityssof u dog, Or his affection towards
his master. Many stories have been told
of dogs who have remembered their mas
tcrs after years of absence and of some
who would not forsake them in their
graves even preferring starvation to being
separated from them.
l am going to relate two anecdotes of
dogs that have come under my own know
ledge. One is of a black retriever, a
very handsome dog, belonging to Captain
knollys, who was, at that time, living in
a cottage which he had taken for the pur-
pose of fishing. An old woman cooked
for him and his dog Nora, were the only
inmates of the house One morning he
received letter which obliged him to set
off Immediately to meet a friend upon
business. He did not particularly wish to
take Nora with him, but the old woman
was so alarmed at the responsibility OF
having charge of the dog even for day ;
that, as he thought it more than probable
Nora would attempt to follow him and be
lost in consequence, he agreed to take
her. 1t was before railroads had penetrat-
ed into the heart of the country, and Cap
tain Knolys had ten miles to drive before
he could meet the stage which was to take
him to the city he desired to visit. Nora,
who had been walking around her master
in very unsettled state of mind as soon
as she saw the carpet bag, that always ac-
companed him when he travelled, knew
perfectly well that journey was impcnd-
ing, and jumped upon him, licking his
hand, as if imploring not to be left be-
hind
"You will have long way to run,
Nora, if take you, for no one will give
lift to such a great dog as you," he said i,
pattins her. "Will you come, or stay
homc?" Nora answered by wagging, her
tail and lying down by the bag, which was
packed and put in the hall with the sticks,
lishing-rod, and umbrella, evidently wait
ing for the gig to come to the door. AS
soon as she heard the wheels she jumpe
in, as if there should be no further quos-
ton of leaving her. She curled hersel {
up under the scat, remaining perfectly
quiet till they reached the village through
which the coach was to pass. 1t was a
lumbcring two-horsc vehicle, and went
slowly enough through wild and hilly
country. Captain Knolys merely told
Nora to follow, and concerned himself no
more about her, meaning to petition the
driver to take her up at the end of the
first stage if she was tired
Nora trottcd on in the middle of the
road, looking neither to the right nor the
left, without deigning to notice the yelp-
ing little ours that snarled and barked at
her as the coach passed through the many
small villages that lay in their road. The
stage was rather crowded on the outside,
and Captain Knollys finding his carpet
bag in the way tied it to the bar of the
seat with piece Of strong cord that h.
happened to have in his pocket. Strong
as it was, however, it soon became worn
by the continual friction, and after few
miles was quite cut through. when. OF
course, the bag fell to the ground. Poor
Nora must have been terribly pcrpexed
when she saw it fall, for she knew that she
ought to follow her master, and also that
it was her duty to take Care of his bag
Perhaps she fancied that it been thrown
down expressly to be left in her charge.
When the coach arrived at its destina-
tion, Ca; tain Kn ,llys whistlcd for Nora,
but she was nowhere to be seen, and to
his still greater CONSERVATION his bag was
gone also, though the bit of rope which
remained dangling to the iron bar told its
own story. He could not continue his
journey without his carpet bag. aud to
lose Nora would have been a real sorrow
I Il Il 70 lnI
without him, while he walked some way
back, but seeing nothing he went bacl,
to the inn. There he hired a carriage,
meaning to return by the road which he
had come till he could find his bag, or
hear something of Nora. He drove sove-
raj miles without seeing anything of his
dog or.bag, and was beginning to feel very
uneasy as to what might have befallen
both, when, at the top of a steep hill, he
saw something that looked like a huge
black bundle slowly approaching. As he
came nearer he saw that it was his own
good dog, who, bclieveing that two con-
flicting duties had fallen to her share,
that of following her master and of taking
care of his property, had contrivcd to COM
bine them, and had walked several miles
dragging the carpet bag along the road
with her teeth.
As soon as she saw her master she lay
down, painting and exhausted, as if to
say, "Now have done all can for you,
I hope, at least, that you will relieve me
of my burden, and give me lift" Cap
tain Knollys put her into the carriage at
once, and rewarded her sagacity by Civ
ing Nora a place by his side.
The other dog am going to tell you
about was one of different kind, and who
had not near such a gentle, amiablc dis
position as our friend Nora. Rapp was a
mastiff, not au especially good-tempcrod
dog, and very capricious in his likes and
dislikes He belonged to Mr.. =,
who had sent him to be trained. There
he attached hims If especially to the
trainers daughter, and was her constant
companion. 1t happened that when Rapp
was considered fit to be promoted to live
in the house, this girl was at the same time