The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-05
sagacioI,s Dogs.

SaSncAOus Dogs.
Mr.. Snapp, blacksmith, owns two
dogs-one q terrier, four or Eve years
old; the other half shepherd and half
cur, about twelve or fifteen years old.
and consequently very feeble.
In the winter, between the. houra for
breakfast and dinner, and dinner and
supper, these two dogs may always be
seen, perched up inst far enough from
Mr.. Snaps forge to escape the sparks,
hut still near enough to keep warm. AS
soon rs the hour for dinner comes
which they know even better than the
apprentices in the shop-theY are both
off at full run, each aiming to secure
pluce behind the warm kitchen stove.
which is only large enough for ono dog
at time. Now, the terrier, being the
most active, almost always gains the
coveted place, leaving the poor old dog
out in the cold Now comes the curious
part Of my story.
The old dog being thus left ont in the
cold one bitter day, pnt himself in a
thinking attitude, and set his wits to
work to devise some means by which he
could get tho terrier ont of the coveted
place. All at once an idea seemed to
strike him. Taking advantage of the
good watch dog" qualities of tho
terrier, he made feint towards the
garden. barking furiously, us if some
one was intruding at that point. when,
true to his nature, out popped tho ter
rier, not to make q feint, but to make u
peN mel rush to the extreme end of the
garden, pushing tho old schemer just
! outside the kitchen door, who no sooner
saw the terrier enter the garden than he
popped too. not into the garden. but be-
hind the warm kitchen stove, curled
himself up, and waited, with n cunning
twinkle in his eye, for his young friend.
who no sooner made his appearance. md
seeing the situation, than he tried the
Same strategem with the old dog, with as
little success as if he had tried to fly.
Finding that TO fail 30 signally, he in
turn put his wits to work.
After disappearing in tue garden for n
few moments, he made his appearance
right in front of the kitchen door, with
largo bono in his mouth, and set to
work on it as if he was enjoying it
hugely.
Now, what dog can resist such q
tempting sight? at least, the old fell
low behind the stove could not, it is
plain; for, sneaking cautiously ont Of
his snug RETREAT, he made sudden dash
| AoA tdO CofCCCo oOAo3 WHICH u0 6CCuTGQ
very easily, to the surprise of nll, for q
few minutes only, US the mystery was
soon cleared up, for no sooner had he
possessed himself OF what lie soon found
to be nothing but an old, dry bone they
had both gnawed hundred times, than
the young rascal had secured the good,
warm retreat behind the stove-which
he certainly deserved, after displaying
so much cunning-leaving the poor old
fellow out again in tho cold, there to
contemplate the old proverb, ut takes
u thief to catch thief
The Quincy IVhig ian Illinois papcr)
has discovered another intelligent dog,
nnd tells this story:
a gentleman OF our acquaintance, liy-
ing on Main strec:, is the owner Of n
valuable, well-trnined setter dog, which
sleeps ut night IN kennel near the
back part OF the house.. On Thursday
night Inst. about 10 o'clock, as the gen
tleman went to his room in the second
story on the front side of tho building
tthe lights below being extinSuisled,) J
he heard his dog come beneath his VIII
dow, and set up most earnest, con
slant barking, and it seemed to him that
there wns an unusual tone in tho ami.
mails voice. Supposing that there were
intruders on the premises, he opened
tho window and called out to mig" to
''catch EN-" The dog. instead of start
ing off under the order, continued to
bark, jumping up against The wall Of the
house beneath the window, evidently
desiring that his master should come
I down.
The gentleman went down, and as
soon as he reached the outer door, was
met by the dog, WHO. still barking, ran
toward the rear of the dwelling. His
master following, found his hired man
lying on the ground, helpless and un-
conscious. He had, as he afterwards
stnted, and as the marks upon the ice
indicated, il stepping out from the
kitchen, slipped and fallen upon the ice,
his head striking stone step and cut
ting fearful cash in his scalp. He had
to DO carried into the house, and it was
some hours before be recovered his
senses in fact, he is still suffering from
the effects of the wounds. The man re-
members nothing from the moment he
fell but the dog, who either saw him
fall or found him lying there afterward,
knew of his condition, and but for this
display of what can hardly be called less
than human intelligence, tho man IN.
questiopably would have been stunned
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