Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-12-17
THE PECULIAR THIEF.

TrdnSlateu from the German Tor tile Cincinnati
Gazette by Ir. Gerstacker.
The wealthy merchant, Van Beeren,
of Amsterdam, went to his banker's
one morning, to get so newly coined
FORMS He had with him a magnif-
cent Newfoundland dog, with curly
hair, an expressive face, and beautiful
true brown eyes.
Oppas was the fayorite of the whole
family and the steady companion of
his master, whom he never left, except
when he had strict orders given him to
watch the children, or to keep guard
over some article of value Van Bee
ren could safely put his gold-headed
cane in the middle of the street and
say to Oppas: You stay here, until |
come back and there was no doubt
of finding cane and dog at the same
spot, after hours had gone by. |
would not have advised any body to
touch him then. IL his master wanted
to 90 to church or to the theater, or in
fact anywhere, where he didn't want
the dog to accompany him, all he had
to do was to look at him and say
"Oppas, go homel" and Oppas turned
round, although mortified, and went
straight home, without looking to the
right or left.
Mynheer Van Beeren had taken his
dog along to-day as usual, and had
rather lengthy conversation with his
friend, the banker, whom he also told
for what purpose he wanted the new
florins.
To-day was the silver wedding day
of one of his old servants named
Claus, who had been in the service of
his father, and been true to them both
for many years. As the man was not
very well off, for he had great many
children to provide for, he wanted to
give HIM pleasant surprise with these
so forins. He received them tightly
done up in a roll; but the silver was
rather heavy, and Mynheer Van Beeren
rather lazy. He could not put it in his
pocket; he did not like to carry it in
his hand; and therefore, as soon as he
had regained the streets, he gave it to
his dog, who proudly put it in his
mouth, and marched solemnly along
with his master, until he reached the
house of his former servant. Mynheer
Van Beeren did not even now take the
money from the dog, but wanted to
have the fun of seeing the dog himself
deliver it.
He did this elegantly, for when his
master said to him: "0ppas, now give
up your present." and pointed to the
surprised servant, he went up to him,
wagged his tail, and allowed him quiet
ly to take the money out of his mouth.
The old servant was greatly moved;
he thanked his master with tears in his
eyes, at the same time caressing the
dog, who seemed to be well pleased
Moreover, when Mynheer Van Beeren
left, Claus begged leave to retain the
dog, around whom the children had
gathered, for while longer, that he
might reward him for bringing so rich
a present. The children Joined in his
ertreaties until the merchant said pleas
antly: "Well, for my part, you may
have him as guest, but don't over
feed him, and afterward, just open the
door for him and say; Now go home,
Oppas, then you need not bother about
him any more; he knows his way"
"But will he stay here when you go
Certainly; he does anything l tell
him: "Oppas, you stay here" he said
to the Newfoundland dog, who looked
at him with his sagacious eyes, and
then sat quietly down, as if to await
what would happen. When his mas
ter went off Immediately after, he new
er stirred; and now the children began
to coax and caress him while the wo-
man prepared good repast for him,
which he enjoyed hugely until the time
came when they had to send him off
again. When Claus then opened the
door for him and said, as he had been
told: ''Now Oppas, you go home!" he
wagged his tail once more, and re-
turned straight home.
A few months had gone by and Myn-
heer Van Beeren had to do business
again one afternoon with the same
banker. The dog went along as usual,
and also lifted himself when he arrived
at the counting table and offered his
paw to the cashier. He however would
not notice him to-day, and all seemed
to be somewhat excited; the cause of
which was Immediately explained by
the banker himself, who just then came
out of his private Office.
The thing was this: There had
been committed theft that morning,
with such agility and dexterity, that
the matter was wholly inexplicable.-
One of the clerks had made rolls of
florins and had placed ten Of these,
which were intended for the private
expenses of the family on his employ
er's desk. The latter had counted them
himself twice over, so there could have
been no mistake; and yet one of the
rolls disappeared in moment, while
he had been handing few letters to
be copied into the main office. A theft
seemed hardly possible, unless it was
executed with great boldness, through
the window, which happened to be open,
in which case it must have been done
in an incredibly short space of time