Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-06-10
The Gray Friars, Dog,

In the city of Edinburgh the old
chapel of the Gray Friar Monks stands
in the churchyard where some Of Scot.
lands noblest sons and daughters are
buried. Nearly seven years ago man
was buried in the old churcbysrd.
Among the mourners was small ter
rier dog. He laid himself down on the
grave of his master, and did not retire
when the funeral procession moved out
of the yard. The sexton saw the dog,
and left him to sleep on the newly-made
grave till morning. Morning came,
and the dog was in his place. When
people walked around his masters rest
lng-place he paid no attention to them.
But If one visitor attempted to tread on
the soil, to him so sacred, the prowl of
the dog indicated his displeasure. He
would at once fly at the throat of a per
SON who did not heed his growl. More
than six years, in cold and rain, in
snow and storm, this affectionate ami
NAL has slept in Gray Friars' church
yard on the grave of his master. All
attempts to seduce him from his chosen
bed have failed. On dark and stormy
nights the kind sexton has tried to coax
the dog from his cold couch, at lesst
until the force of the storm had passed:
but in vain. Once or twice the dog
has been fastened up in the vestry when
the rain beat violently: but, on each oc-
casion, the little fellow had broken
through the windows and made his es-
cape. At one time he was tied up; but
he moaned so piteously. and howled SO
terribly, that be was allowed to 90 out
into the tempest and lie down over the
spot where the friend he loved rested in
his narrow bed.
No one knew where the dog came
from, nor who his master was. The
name given to him is "Gray Friars'
Bobby"
Many things about this wonderful
dog are quite as marvellous as his re-
markable affection, The manner in
which he lives, how he counts time
and numbers days, is really quite mar
velous. He goes out for his breakfast
at given hour each morning. He has
his morning meal at the same place.
A kind baker has fed him each morn
ing for many years. At noon his din
ner comes from another place. Bobby
remains on the grave till the great gun
Of the Castle booms out the hour of
noon. He then gets up and walks out
of the churchyard. He goes some
blocks away. At the restaurant of
Mr.. John Trael the dog finds his din
ner. Mr.. Trael has given Bobby a
good meal at midday for six years, and
will as long as he has crumb to spare,
or the dog needs one. The dog knows
the hour of twelve as we'll as any man
in Scotland.
Bobby has pantry near the grave,
in which he places what he does not
saves part of his dinner and hides it
away in the pantry. On Saturday he
also saves part of his dinner. Bobby
can count. He knows when Friday
and Saturday arrive. He never mis-
counts. Only on those two days does
he put away a part of his food. He
knows that Sunday is coming. He
knows that Mr.. Trael, his good friend,
is also friend of the Sabbath, and
will not keep his shop open on that day,
even to give him dinner. If he does
not save something to eat, he will have
to go hungry. On Sunday Bobby
does not leave the grave of his master.
The Castle gun sounds out the mid
day hour on the Sabbath as it does on
other days of the week, but Bobby
does not stir. He hears it, as he always
does, but he knows that it is the Lords
day. He does not go forth to seek
food. He eats his frugal meal that he
laid up on Friday and Saturday, and
keeps quiet all day on the lonely grave
of his master.