Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-04-09

iy"S oncep anu etIIlig LIZ cNtry yDOuN up dt
Sir George Montgomely's at Macbie Hill, and
that Sir George had ordered him to be hang
ed, which, however, was sooner said than
done, as 80 the thief - showed his intentions
of dying hard. James came up just as Sir
George had sent for his gun and as the dog
had more than once shown liking for him,
he said he 80 wad gle him chance - and so
he tied him to his cart. Young Rab, fearing
some mischief, had been entering series of
protests all the way, and nearly strangled
himself to spite James and jess, besides Civ
ing jess more than usual to do. 80 wish |
had let Sir George pit that charge into him,
the thrawn brute, ;" said James. But Allie
had seen that in his foreleg there was asplin-
ter of wood, which he had likely got when
obiecting to be hanged. and that he was mis-
erably lame. So she got James to leave HIM
with her. and go straight into Edinburgh.
She gave him water, and by her woman
wit got his lame paw under door, SO that
he couldn't suddenly get at her, then with
| quick firm hand she plucked out the splin-
ter. and put in an ample meal. She went in
/ some time after, taking no notice of him, and
he came limping up, and laid his great jaws
| in her lap from that moment they Were
s.chief.' as she said James, finding him man
suete and civil when he returned.
She said it was Rabs habit to make his
appearance exactly half an hour before his
master, trotting in full of importance, as if
to say, - He's all right, he'll be here" One
morning James came without him. He had
left Edinburgh very early, and in coming
near Auchindinny, at a lonely part of the
road, man sprang out on him, and demand
ed his money. James who was a cool hand,
said, % Weel a weel, let me get it, and
stepping back, he said to Rab, . Speak till
him, my man. In an instant Rab was stand
ing over him, threatening strangulation if
he stirred. James pushed on leaving Rab in
charge he looked back and saw every
attempt to rise was summarily put down.
As he was telling Allie the story, up came
Rab with that great swing of his. 1t turned
out that the robber was Howgate lad, the
worthless son of a neighbor, and Rab know
ing him had let him cheaply off.
Wasp was dark brindled bull-terrier, as
pure in blood as Cruiser or Wild Dayrell
She was brought by my brother from Otlcy,
in the West Riding. She was very hand
some, fierce, and gentle, with small, com
pact, finely shaped head, and a pair of won
derful eyes,-as full Of fire and Of softness as
Girls; indeed she had to my eye a curious
look of that wonderful genius-at once wild
and fond. 1t was fine sight to see her on
the prowl across Bowden Moor, now canter-
ing with her nose down, now gathered up
on the top of dyke. and with erect ears, look
inc across the wild like m0ss-trooper out on
business. keen, and fell. She could do ey-
erything it became dog to do, from killing
an otter or polecat, to watching and playing
with a baby, and was as dOcile to her master
as she was surly to all else.
But it was as a mother she shown and TO
see the gypsy, Hagar-like creature nursing
her occasional Ishmael-playing with him,
and fOndling him all over, teaching his teeth
to war. and with her eve and the curl OF her
lip daring any one but her master to touch
him, was like seeing Grisi watching her dar-
ling - 'Gcanaro, = who so little knew why and
how much she loved him.
Once when she had three pups, one Of
them died. For two days and nights she
gave herself up to trying to bring it to life
licking it and turning it over and over,
growing over it, and all but worrying it TO
awake it. She paid 70 attention to the liy-
ing two. gave them no milk, flung them
away Will ltA ALtAAl. anu MhtAAA -4tAfN AAAANAA
them had they been allowed to remain with
her.
Early on the third day she was seen 70
take the pup in her mouth, and start across
the fields towards the Tweed, striding like a
-horse-she plunged in holding up her
burden, and at the middle Of the stream drop
ped it and swan swiftly ashore then she
stood and watched the little dark lump float
ing away, bobbing up and down with the
current, and losing it at last far down, she
made her way home sought out the living
two. devoured them with her love, carried
them one by one to her lair, and gave herself
up wholly TO nurse them you can fancy her
mental and bodily happiness and relief when
they were pulling away-and theirs
On one Occas on my brother had lent her
to a woman who lived in lonely house ,
and whose husband was away for q time She
was a capital watch. One day an Italian
with bis organ eame-frst begging, then de
manding mOney-showing that be knew she
was alone. and that he meant 70 help him
self, If she didn't. She threatened to '' lowse
the dowg - but as this was Greek to him
be pushed on. She had just time to set Wasp
at him. 1t was very short work. She had
him by the throat, pulled him and his organ
down with a heavy crash. the organ giving a
ludicrous sort of cry Of musical pain. Wasp
thinking this was from some creature within,
possibly ,rhiftret, left the rufian, and set to
work tooth and nail on the box. Its master
slunk off, and with mingled fury and thank
fulness watched her disembOweling his only
means Of living. The woman good-naturedly
took her of, and signed to the miscreant 70
make himself and bis remains scarce. This
be did with a scowl and was found in the
evening in the village, telling series of lies
to the matchmaker, and bribing him with a
shilling to mend his pipes.