Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-08
TWO FRIENDS.

They were only two dogs. Their friend
ship for each other began where too many
human friendships have found disastrous
and untimely ending-during the intimacy
made unavoidable by long journey,
They were among the pioneers who set
tied California, and went over the Plains,
before railroads were thought of, with
large company of men, women, children,
cattle, horses, and doubtless, too, other
dogs. But no third dog, of high or low
degree, hunter or lady's pet could win
favor with either of these two, or win
either from his allegiance to his chosen
mate.
Day after day the weary caravan toiled
across the dry and arid country. Game
was plenty enough to afford abundance of
meat for man and dog, and all went pros
perously for the two canine friends till
the company had nearly passed the whole
of that long and, tedious route. But just
before they reached Sacramento City one of
the dogs. the larger, was accidently injured,
either by wagon-wheel passing over his
foot, or by the rolling down upon it of
some heavy stone, in one of the mountain
passes.
With every mark of sympathy the
smaller dog brought to his comrade each
own hunger till he was first served. This
provident care gained for him the nick
name of Drummer and as he daily
licked the sores of his wounded friend,
the sufferer was drolly dubbed Lazarus" I"
By these names they were ever after
known.
From Sacramento the party, after short
stay, journeyed on to San Francisco; but
Lazarus was too lame to accompany them,
and hummer would not leave his friend.
So the two remained in Sacramento till
the sick foot got well, then they followed
the trail to San Francisco. But their
owners and friends had by this time scat
tered, and they had only each other.
And now commenced the career which
made them really remarkable pair. After
. few days people began to notice them
two strange dogs going up and down in
the streets, always orderly and always to-
gether. They were not very large dogs.
Bummer was considerably the stouter of
the two. His hair was long and of coally
black, except one white spot upon the
breast. Lazarus was slender, his short
hair of a bright dark chestnut color,
glossy, and very thick. Their love for
each other, their habits of sobrlety and
quiet manners, soon won for them the
&Oou-WL1 VI SFeIy uouy, anu uCoily CsCly
man of business in the city claimed pro-
prietorship in them, till they became al
most universal favorites. They had the
freedom of the town in good earnest, be-
ing allowed to go wherever they pleased,
and stay as long as they pleased.
Left to themselves they were entirely
unobtrusive, never consorting with other
dogs. and never joining any street crowd
of their fellows But if any crusty cur
ever attempted d to impose upon one of
them he was sure to find that he had two
to deal with, for they always flew to each
others aid in time of danger. They rarely
gambolled or played with each other but
walked slowly or deliberately through
the streets like two sedate elderly
people whose heyday of youth was over.
But they never outgrew the excitement of
a rat-chase. Both were expert rat-catch-
ers, and they made themselves very useful
to their merchant friends by their skillful
exploits in that line.
Whatever was given to either one was
shared equally by the other. One would
go at time into house or restaurant fol
morsel of food, and, receiving the bone
or dainty bit always kept for them, would
hasten out to his mate with it; nor was
eyer heard between them a jealous grow
or snap.
Their usual haunt was in the neighbor
hood of the markets, but they were priv
legged in all the stores, not only those
where provisions were kept, but in the
dry goods establishments as we'll They
would walk in quietly, and, passing arount
behind the counter, wait for friendly
recognition from some one of the clerks
If all were too busy to give them the usua
pat and kind word, they would go on tt
the window, and sit upen the sill watch
ing the passers by till tired of that harm
less passtime. If it happened tina
their visit was near the time for clos
ing the store, bed was fixed fol
them, and they stayed there through tht
night, with an eye ever watchful for sucl
adventurous rats as might appear.
As they grew old they slept good dea
in the daytime, and were often seer
sprawled out together upon the sidewalk
in every position possible to dog, or evel
in the middle of the street. Here theN
slept, wholly devoid of fear, and if mai
came along and stepped over them it di,
not in the least disturb their repose, 70
they would not.so much as move paw
Vehicles would pass the street while the
lay thus, the drivers invariably turning ou
and passing around them, the dogs in tn
not moving head or tail, so sure had the
become Of the goodwill of ALL
There is a tradition current in Sa
Francisco, that one of these dogs wa
kicked by man who found him YIN
on the sidewalk in his way. A citizel
standing near saw the kick and instantl
rested for this assault and tried, but wa
acquitted, the Judge and jury agreeing tha
knocking down man for kicking Bumme
was a justifable act, aad so rendered vel
dict in his favor. A somewhat doubtfu
addition to this legend is to the effect tha
the man who administered the kick wa
fined for his assault on the dog.
At one time law was passed by tn
City Council that all dogs running at larg
without being muzzled should be killee
A petition was Immediately presented
signed by large number of citizens, tbs
Bummer and Lazarus might be exemt
from the force of this ordinance The On
tition was granted, and the two friene
went about in their usual free-and eas
style, unmuzZled. a.
1t is now about three years since Lazarr
died and was buried with honors. A car
cature was got up, representing Lazart
lying IN state and certain of his wei
known patrons, market men and other
standing near by and wiping their wee]
J ing eyes," af
hummer lived his dreary life alone onl
about six months. His stuffed skin
among the city treasures, and he will Ion
be pointed out to the traveller and visitc
as one of the most popular of the earl
settlers, though he had neither lande
property nor gold-dust to bequeath, NJ
heirs to quarrel over his POSSESSIONS
question relative to either or both of tt
dogs, addressed to any person who ev'
saw them, is sure to bring kindly smi
and pleasant word of remembrance.-Oa
Young Folks.
WhiteWashing.
Good whitewash, well applied to fence