St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-06-21
Strange Story Of "a Dog.

4 very singular and interesting occur
renee was on Friday brought TO light in
the burgh court, Edingburgh, by the
hearing OF a summons in regard TO a dog
tax Eight aud 4 half years ago, il
seems. a man named GRAY. of whom
nothing now i known. except that he
MAS poor and lived in quiet WAY iu
some obscure part Of the town. WAS bu-
ricd IN uld Greyfriars' cllurchyard HI
crave, levelled by the hand of time, aud
unmarked by any stone. Is scarcely de-
oernable; but though no human Interest
would seem 10 attach 10 ii, The sacred
spot ha> not been wholly di,regarded and
forgotten. During all these ycar>, the
dead mans faithful dog has hepi con-
siant watch and guard over the grave,
and ii was this animal for which The col
lector~ sought 10 recover the tax james
Brown, the old curator of the burial
ground, remembers Gray's funeral and
the dog, a Scotch terrier. WAS. lac saws,
one "t the most conspicuous of the
mourners- The grave WAS closed in Is
usual. and the next morning Bobby" as
the dog is called, WAS found lying un the
n,wly-made mound This WAS an inno-
vation which old ,IsInes could not per
init. for there MAS an order III the gate
stating in the most imteligihle characters.
that dogs wcre not admitted bobby
WIS accordingly driven out, but next
morning he wsis there agaun. and for the
second time was discharged
The third morning MAS cold and Wet.
and when the old man saw the faithful
animal, in spite of all clla>ti>emen1. still
lying shivering on the grave, he took
pity ON him and gave him some food
This recognition of hiS devotion eaye
Bobby the right 10 make the church.
vard hiS home, and from that time 10
the present he has never spent - night
away from Li> masters grave. Often ia
had weather attempts have been made 10
keep him within doors, but thr dismal
howls he lIss succeeded IN making known
that this interference l. not agreeable 10
hmm. and laiterlv he has ALWAYS been al
lowed 10 have his WAY. Al almost any
time during the day lac NAV be seen in or
about the churchyard; and no matter
h"w Rough The NIGHT may be, nothing
can induce him 10 forsake the lallowed
spot, whose identity, despite the irresis-
tible oblileration il has undergone. he has
- faithfully preserved Bobby" has
many friends. and the taN--yatherers have
by no means proved hi- enemies, \
weekly treat OF steaks was long allowed
him hy Nargeani Scott, OF the Engineers;
but for more than >iN vear> he has been
regularly iel by Mr.. John Trail, OF The
Restaurant, e GreytIiars' place. lie /
constant and punciual in hi> calls. beng
guided in hi midday visits by the sound
ot the time-gun.
on !Le ground ot '-istrboring' the dog
III lhi- w.ly, proceedings were taken
against Mr.. TRAIL for payment OF the TAX.
The defendant expressed his willingness.
could he claim the doc, 10 be responsible
Tor The tax but - long IL The animal
refused 10 attach himself 10 any one, II
was impossible, lac argued. 10 fix the
ownership-and the court, seeing the pc
culiar circumstances Of the case, dismiS-
sed the summons. Bobby has long
been an object of curiosity 10 all who
have become acquainted with his inter
e>ting history His constant appearance
in the graveyard has caused many inqui-
rie> To- bc made REGARDING him, and ei-
iorls out OF number haze been made from
time 10 time II get possession OF HIM.
The old curator, Of course, siand~ up Il
the next claimant 10 Mr.. Trial, and on
Friday offered 10 pay the tax himself
rather than have '-Bobby- ''Greyfriars
Bobby, 10 allcw him hi> full name
put out of The way.->cst>lral