Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-06-23

AA1SHS1'c VI S"PPe,
legs in scanty, secondhand cloth
ing, for which he is still indebted
and, in short, as Nasby would say,
che is a worthless cuss"-tomer.
Two Friends.
From Our Young Folks.
They were only two dogs. Their
friendship for each other began
where too many human friendships
have found a disastrous and un-
timely ending-during the intimacy
made unavoidable by long journey.
They were among the pioneers who
settled California, and went over
the plains before the railroads were
thought OF, with a large company of
men, women, children, cattle, horses,
and doubtless, too, other dogs. But
no third dog, Of high or low dergee,
hunter or lady's pet, could win IA
vor 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 coun-
try. Game was plenty enough to
afford abundance of meat for man
and dog, and all went prosperously
for the canine friends till the com
pany 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 accidentally injured, either by
a wagon wheel passing over his
foot, or by the rolling down on it of
some heavy stone, in one of the
mountain passes.
With every mark of sympathy the
smaller dog brought to his comrade
each day supplies of food, even de,
nying his own hunger until he was
first served. This provident care
gained for him the nickname of
"Bummer;" and as he daily licked
the sores of his wounded friend, the
sufferer was drolly dubbed "Lazar-
u.s." BY these names they were
ever after known.
And now commenced the career
which made them really remarka-
bic pair. After few days people
began to notice them-two strange
dogs going up and down in the
streets, always orderly and always
together. They were not very large
dogs. hummer was considerably
the stoutcr of the two. His hair
was long and of a coally black, cx-
cept one white spot upon his breast.
Lazarus was slender, his short hair
was of a bright dark chestnut color,
glossy, and very thick. Their love
for each other, their habits of sobri-
ETY. and quiet manners, soon won
for them the good will of everybody,
and nearly every business man in
the city claimed proprietorship in
them, till they became almost uni
versal favorites. They had the
freedom of the town in good earnest,
being allowed to go wherever they
pleased and stay as long as they
pleased.
Left to themselves they were en-
tirely unobtrusive, never consorting
with other dogs, and never joining
any street crowd of their fellows.
But if any crusty cur ever attempted
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 times of danger.
They rarely gamboled or played
with each other, but walked slowly
and deliberately through the streets.
like two sedate elderly people whose
heyday of youth was over. But
they never outgrew the excitement
Of rat chase. Both were expert
rat catchers, and they made them
selves 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 for a morsel of food,
and receiving the bone or dainty
bit always kept for them, would
hasten out to his mate with it; nor
was ever heard between them a jcal-
Gus growl or snap.
Their usual haunts was in the
neighborhood of the markets, but
they were privileged in all the
stores, not only those where provi-
sions were kept, but in the dry
goods establishments as well. They
would walk in quietly, and, passing
around behind the counter, wait for
a friendly recognition from some
one of the clerks. If all were too
busy to give them the usual pat and
kind words, they would go on to the
window, and sitting on the sill
watch the passers-by till tired Of
that harmless pastime. If it hap
pened that their visit was near the
time of closing the store, bed was
fixed for them, and they stayed there
during the night, with an eye ever
watchful for such adventurous rats
as might appear.
AS they grew old they slept
good deal in the day time, and were
often seen sprawlcd out together on
the sidewalk, in every position pos
sible to a dog, or even in the mid
die of the street. Here they slept,
wholly devoid Of fear, and if a man
came along and spepped over them,
it did not in the least disturb their
repose, tor they would not so much
as move a paw. Vehicles would
pass the street while they lay thus,
the drivers invariably turning out
and passing around them, the dogs
in the meantime lying perfectly un-
concerned, not moving head or tail,
so sure had they become of the
good will of all.
There is tradition current in
San Francisco that one of these dogs
was kicked by man who found
him lying on the sidewalk in his
way. A citizen standing near saw
the kick, and instantly knocked the
man down for it. He was arrested
for this assault and tried, but was
acquitted, the judge and jury agree
ing that knocking man down for
kickinp Rummer was a iuSt;f;obIo