The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-01-08

| often SHOWN Dy dogs we insert Jne story Iounu
below 1t is copied in the Miscellany of the
Ne,c Eclectic, from All the Year Round. The
story is graphically and simply told by the owner
of the dog, "a Bavaran gentleman resident il
England. l-CEN. Pres.
On Wednesday, the 27thof June, 1866,
Mr.. Otto Striedinger, gentleman con-
nected with the Royal Victoria Hospital
at Netley, went with two friends to a
croquet party at Westend, about FIVE miles
from Netley. He was accompanied as
usual by his favourite dog Worry-a
magnificent black retriever. The wealth
er being extremely hot, the croquet did
not begin before four o'clock, and was
followed by supper; so that it was ten
o'clock before the party broke up. The
three gentlemen then walked back to
Netley in the dusk The footpath by
which they eturfed led through private
park, aud acrnst a common nxsrs,rowl
with heather. When about mile from
Netley, the walkers passed reservoir,
which supplies the hospital with water.
The night being hot and close, Mr.. STRIFE
dinger wished to give his dog swim
He whistled again and again, but no Wor-
ny came; so he made up his mind that
the dog had been hunting for his own
private amusement, and had lost the track,
as there was very little scent on the
ground. Worry's master did not trouble
himself about his whereabouts, as he had
been for years very Independent dog,
quite up to taking care of himself, and
would doubtless find his way home later.
Mr.. Striedinger arrived at the hospital,
and was preparing to go to bed, when ne
remembered that he had to answer two
letters, which he had received by that af-
ternoon's post, just as he was starting
with his friends for Westend. These let
tiers were of great Importance, and when
Mr.. Striedinger had looked for them
without success he felt extremely uncom-
Portable. He instituted search all over
his rooms, turned his writing-case topsy,
turvey, looked through his desk; but all in
vain. He then took "a light, and had a hunt
in every nook and corner of his Office ;
but came back empty handed. Thorough
ly tired and discomposed, he went to bed.
Unable to sleep, he got up in the middle
of the night to make another and an
equally fruitless search. At last the
morning sun began to light up the rooms,
which was a signal for fresh investiga-
ton, with the same result. Then, and
not before, the idea struck him that, the
letters, having been deliverered just as
he was starting for the croquet party, he
must have read them on the way thither,
and must have then put them in his coat
pocket; but when he thrust his hand in
to the pocket, and drew it back empty,
he felt convincf that his letters were
lost beyond all < ance of recovery. Hop
ing 5ainst hope, however, he'reSolved to
make one more effort.
He rushed of, unshaven and unkempt,
tie retrace his steps of the previous day,
looking right and left, turning over every
scrap of paper he saw lying on the road,
stopping wherever he recollected that he
and his companions had stopped the day
before, installing every object that was
conspicuously light in the distance for
the papers, and growing more despairing
every minute. After walking on for
about three miles he espied black object
lying close to the footpath 1t was Wor-
rvs black head. Reproaching himself
for having in his great uneasiness forgot
ten his favorite, he whistled to Worry,
who however, instead of showing his usu
al alacrity, remained lying motionless on
the ground. His owner supposed him to
be caught in one of the snares with which
he knew the common to be thickly stud
ded; but, on his approaching Worry, up
jumped the dog, leaving exposed to Mr..
Striedinger's delighted view, the missing
letters, together with number of other
loose papers. There had been very
heavy dew that night, and Worry's curly
coat was as wet as if he had had an hours
swim in the neighbouring reservoir; but
the papers were as dry, hot, and crisp,
as breakfast roll out of bakers oven.
There were marks of teeth on one or two
of them, showing, either that before hav-
ing had recourse to his subsequent and