Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-12-02
Stories About Dogs.

Another hero of the canine race has for
some time, SO the LIndependdnce Beige re-
lates, ceased to fulfill any of the functions
usually assigned to dogs by their masters.
Brilliant has risen in rank; he has cleared.
at one bound, the distance between the
kennel and the office; from being simply
the guardian of the night, he has become
messenger, factotum. confidential servant.
With little arithmetic and literature. he
might become an accountant, perhaps Sec
retary. Every morning Master Brilliant,
with head raised, and his basket suspended
iauntily between his teeth, makes his first
visit to the baker, who, ON account of his
good conduct and discretion, does not hes
itate to give him his masters bread.
Various other errands wait his return,
and the Jealous ''commissionaire." always
provided with his basket, goes successive
iy, and simply by verbal indication, to
the grocer, the fruiterer, and the public
hspse, whence he brings bottle filled
which he had taken empty. A little later
in the day he is the courier of his master,
and it is most interesting and amusing to
see him, with one or two letters in his
month, standing on his hind-legs, Just be-
low the letter-box of the General Postoffice,
one of his paws supporting him against the
wall, the other pulling the dress ofa passer-
by, or the postmaster, to attract their at
tention. and then by gestures, begging
them to put the letters into the box, the
opening of which he is not able to reach.
And all these feats Of memory, discern
ment. and reasoning, so to speak, are ac-
complished by this intelligent animal with
perfect order and punctuality, without be-
ing led or directed, except by signs, and
without making any mistake in the differ
ent commissions with which he is en-
trusted.
Everybody at Milan knows the history,
for it is not simply story, of the spaniel
Moffino. The dog followed his master,
who belonged to the corps of Prince Eu-
gene Beauharnais, on the occasion of the
disastrous expedition into Russia in 1912.
At the passage of the Boresina, these two
faithful companions were separated by the
masses Of ice which floated down the river,
and the Milanese corporal returned to his
native city full of sorrow and regret, not
on account of his wounds, but for the loss
of his poor dog which had shared with
him so much misery and suffering A
year passed by, and the soldier, in
the midst of his family, had almost for
gotten the object of his regret One
day, however, the people of the house were
surprised by the arrival of the spectre of
an animal that might formerly have been
dog, but which new scarcely deserved
the name. 1t was snmething truly hideous
that they tried to drive away without pity,
notwithstanding the mournful cries of the
poor beast. At this moment the ex-corpo-
raj returned from a walk, and saw advan-
cling towards him, with joyful bounds, this
wretched quadruped. which licked his feet;
uttering at the same time low winnings.
He repulsed it roughly, and was about to
deprive this singular visitor of the little life
that appeared to be remaining, when a sud-
den thought occurring to him, he examined
certain marks on il with attention, indica-
tions of which caused him much JOY. He
pronounced the name "Moffino." and the
animal jumped mp Immediately, barked
joyfully. and then fell down. exhausl
with fatigue, hlnger-perhaps, one might
say, with emotion.
His master, who now recognized his lost
dog, hastened to his assistance, succoured
him tenderly, and saved him from death.
This journey over more than the helf o
Europe, Undertaken by an animal without
any guide but his wonderful instincts; the
mountains and rivers crossed by this feeble
creature, in search of his master, at the
price of terrible sufferings. is great lessor
for the generality of mankind. Illustrated
Library of Wonders.