Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-03
From the Gentlemen's Journal
My Dog Jerry.


my feet on a mat in the little room call
my study, and looks affectionately up in
to my face IS 1 write
You will remember that I have already
had something to say about dogs. Well,
every word of praise bestow upon dogs
in general is due to my dog Jerry in par
ticular.
I don't exactly know what breed he
boasts, whether msstiff, Newfoundland, or
spaniel-perhaps little of each; but
this 1 know he is a thoroughly good fell
low, without spark of vice in him.
Look at his portrait. Isn't he noble
dog? Would you wish to have better
dog? If you did you couldn't, it would
be impossible.
He has been all over the world with me
at any rate, all over those parts in
which have travelled. and he is always
the same intelligent, faithful, loving COM
panion.
Did you ever read book called the
Adventures of a Griffin? No! Then
read it, for in it you will fad something
relating to my dog Jerry.
He was with his master in Australia,
at time when Norfolk Island was a con-
Wet settlement-I as not his master then.
Once-at spot called Eagle Hawks
Nest, narrow isthmus connecting For
ester's and Tasman's peninsula-it was
proposed to form g guide of savage mas
tiffs to protect the travellers from the con-
victs
The idea was very dogmatcally carried
out. For, chained TO post which sup
ported an oil-lamp, and close to which
was placed sort of Diogenesan tub was
"a what? A Cerberus such as was never
seen at any dog-show. A dog it was
but such brute IA rampant, savage
hideous monster There were about
twenty dogs, all fearfully ferocious and
fell specimens of the canine race; and
their yelpings, barkings, and howlings
were frightful. Those out-of-the-way
pretenders to dogship were actually
rationed and borne on the government
books, and rejoiced in such soubriquets
as Caesar, Pompey, Ajax. Archilles, Ugly
Mug, Jowler, Tear'em, Muzzle'em, with
many other graceful and classic cogno-
mems, to which the handy legged, strong
iawed monstrosities answered. There
were the black, the white, the brindle,
the gray, and the grizzly, the rough and
the smooth, the crop-eared and lop-eared,
the grim. Every four-footed black fanged
individual among them would have taken
a first prize in his own class for ugliness
ard ferocity at any show. The redOubt-
. able champion, old "Kiug Dick" is
gentleman compared to thoss thrice.con-
victed ruffianly-looking Eagle Hawk
Nesters. The line of dog-sentinels were
stretched from the inner bay to the outer
ocean, a distance of perhaps two or three
hundred yards, across the isthmuP, and
the guard was complete. The animals
could rub noses affectionately if they felt
so inclined, but could not get sufficient
hold of each other to have a fair mouth
full, SO unless a collar or chain perchance
gave way, fighting was out Of the ques-
ton.
A fugative would have to make smart
leap to clear danger-and even then the
frantic baying and bowling of the whole
mastif kennel would excite alarm, as
there was little hill in the rear of the
dogs upon which a sentry was stationed.
Is it possible that the brindle brute il
Ansdells picture of the Fugitive Slave"
was the descendant from one of them ?
NY dog did not approve OF his ferecious
companions, but he bore with them calm
" and philosophically. as became a dog of
|
air of gentle melancholy and self-pOssess-
ed superiority and it was only when he
got away from the neighhorhood of the
convicts that he resumed his native grace
fuluess and equanimity of temper. NY
dog Jerry is a famous dog. l wish
could give every lover of dogs among my
readers pup of the same breed.
Nv dog Jerry is wonderful fletcher
and carrier If he goes out with me in
country, I sometime for the mere fun of
the thing, lay my glove on the ground
and point it out to him Or, perhnp', put
it under a stone, or in hedge, or in some
place where it is not likely to be seen by
passers. Then we go on for, say a couple
of miles, Jerry running, barking, and
leapipg at nv side, making little excUr-
sions here and there and coming back and
looking up at my face, and wagging that
INTELLIGENT tail of his, as though he said,
81 enjoy my running immensely." There
il good deal-an immense deal-of
meaning in a dogs tail. Did you never
notice that? Aud my Jerry has a tail
such tail Pa regular plume of soft silk
hair.
pause an instant Jerry pluses too.
I catch his eye. He answers me by asI
|
nature is capable of accomplishing. I
raise my hand. He raises his tail. I say
Jerry He looks up inquisitively, all at
tention, guessing what is coming, prob
ably. Jerry go and fetch my glove at
the same time pointing backwards. An
other ag of his tail, aud then Jerry
sight. I walk 1eisurely along. and sure
| l., y, 4,
comes Jerry, painting, with my glove in
his moAth
Isn't that an evidence of something
more than canine sagaciiy?
remember once I was out fishing. It'll
was hot, sultry day, and the fish did not
rise very readily so I spiked my rod and
lay down lazily on the green bank of the
stream. with Jerry by my side. Jerry
dearly loves a snooze in the middle of the
day, for he is quite an aristoorat in his
way, seldom or ever taking notice of
strange dogs, and not often making friends
with strange people till he~ is "regularly
introduced"
When the evening set in, and my days
sport was over, rose, packed up my traps
and went home Jerry walked little
way by my side, and then started back
I stopped, whistled, called, and Jerry
came up. But presently back he went
again.
whats the m after with the dog ?" I
thought. "Here. Jerry ~ called. "Come
on. boy-cime home " But no Jerry an.
swered to my call ; and I, being rather
tired, went on. "The dog will come on
presently" thought. He is locking after
bird or a rat or something.
went on, and in course of time reach
ed home, almost expecting that Jerry had
arrived before me. But no; he hadn't
"Ah, we'll, he's all right" said, as 7 -.
down to rest before dressing for dir s8'
dressed, I ained, smoker - aiaou
and, taking a book, began roas
from reading fell asleep. awoke W. anu
1 awoke I looked arou-.. ID for Jerrv H.
wasn't there. I ca led and wbistlsa ne
a apsSSe; Je mrry >, said to the maid