Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-10
SOMETHING ABOUT MY PETS.

possession. but their loss, which followed
as'i1eviably ms fate, and as surely as day
follows night. As far as my recollection
goes back, my four footed friends have oc.
cupied prominent places in my affections,
ana have eventually become the cause of
greatssorrow. The first doubt ever felt
OF the justice and humanity of the world
In general, and my kinsfolk in particular,
was because of the cruel death of nv
tavorite dog, Arno, who had been given
away alter my older brothers death to a
family who had more use and room for
large hunting dog than my widowed
mother.
AT first, he refused utterly to stay with
hisnew master; but when he found that
he-doors of his old home were steadfastly
closed against him, he would lie in wait
for me as went TO school; and on my
way home in the afternoon, he would al
ways follow me, drawing back his nose
and fore-p paws only in time to prevent
their being pinched-in by the sharp.shut-
ting gate, and looking wistfully through
the paling with his big, honest eyes. Per.
hepsmy elders did not understand dog
Language as did; but knew that Arno
fully appreciated the feeling which led me
TO throw my arms around his neck and
weep bitter, childish tears on his brown
head; and he felt comforted by my sympa-
thy, am sure, for he would lick my hands,
and wag his long haired tail with q little
Joyous whine, before trotting back to the
broad stone steps in front of his masters
house. But night always found him under
my chamber window, which looked out on
narrow lane, used as a thoroughfare and
here lcould hear his deep-mouthed bark
all night long as he kept fancied maraud-
ers and real dogs from encroaching on our
premises and his selfchosen battle ground
For he met his death here at last
lie had become quite aged; and the
other dogs of the neighborhood had fire.
quently made common cause against him.
Tor blocking up Ito them) the passage in
the lane, but had never yet been able to
rout him. One night however, they at
tackled him with overpowering numbers,
and punished him so severely that it was
found to be necessary, or, at least, merciful
the next morning, to send a bullet through
4 his head and end his misery. To me this
all seemed terribly cruel, and l cried
wildly, and sobbed out my reproaches
against every body for having left him to
lie out in the street at night, instead of al
lowing him safe shelter in the house | re-
fused to be comforted, or adopt any other
dog in his place, but bestowed my affec-
tons and caresses impartially ON all the
stray dogs and horses that happened to
cross my path.
Some time afterI was married, a little
spotted dog, of no particular breed, sought
shelter from the rain on the basement
steps, one day, and refused to tramp"
when the shower was over. She was q
short-legged, smooth-haired little thing,
with the brightest eyes l ever saw in
dogs head. Tiny soon became my pet,
and amply repaid us for the food and shell
ter we had given her. She learned every
thing, and with such case that |
sometimes suspected l had taken
into my family one who had for
merly been public circus performer. She
could stand on her hind legs and beg for
an apple or piece of sugar; she could
fetch hidden handkerchief glove, or
cap; she could jump through hoop, and
could pick out from among lot of arti-
cles the shawls, comforters, or hats be-
longing to myself, or any member of the
family On the approach of buggy TO
the house, she would rush to the window, |
and If she recognized it as the Captains, |
would scratch and whine till | opened the !
door for her, in sheer self-defense. Dash |
ing up to the buggy, she would wag her
tail with such vehemence as threatened to
upset her little round body-begging, in |
this way, for glove, or the long buggy !
whip, to drag into the house.
Tiny also knew the name of the differ |
ent members of the family, whether they
occupied the same house with US or only
came on visits. If mother came on visit |
for instance, l could send Tiny from the |
kitchen with key, paper, or anything
she could carry, and on my order, Give it |
to mother" she would carry it TO the par
lor, or wherever mother might be, and lay !
II carefully in her lap, or on the sofa be !
side her. On the order, kiss the Cap
tain" she would Immediately dart at that |
gentleman, and, if he ever SO artfully |
avoided her little tongue for the time
being, she would watch the first opportu-
nifty TO climb into his lap, or jump on to |
piece OF furniture, to execute the com
mand.
Soon after Tiny's advent a young stag
hound was given to the Captain, and him |
she took under her wing, though in size |
he could boast of three times her own |
volume. Dick l am very sorry to own, !
was not 80 well treated as Tiny; and |
smite my breast even now, and say very
penitently, "mea cutpd," when think of !
how hurt him one day. l was lying on
the sofa, half asleep from the heat |
and the Cxertion of cutting the |
leaves of a new magazine Presently, |
Dick approached, and before could open |
my eyes, or ward him off, he had jumped |
ON the sofa and settled full ON my head and |
face. Angry and half-slitled flung the |
dog with all my might to the floor, where |
he set up such a pitiful crying, that |
knew he must be seriously hurt. Jump
ing up, | saw him, quite a distance from |
the sofa, holding up his fore-leg, on which |
his paw was dangling in loose, out of |
place manner. Comprehending what | |
had done, | carried him into the next |
room, and poured the basin full OF water, |
IN which held his paw, and then bound |
rags on the dislOcaLed limb, stepping the |
paw into the water occasionally, to keep |
down the swelling till the Captain should |
come. Sorry as felt for having inflicted |
such pain on the poor animal, 1t was per |
feet farce to watch his proceedings, and | |
had laughed till my sides ached before the !
Captain got home. 1t SO happened that |
mother and one or two other near friends |
came in during the course OF the day. As |
soon as any one entered the room, Dick,
who had been allowed to take up his uar-
tiers on blanket in the sitling-rOom,
would hObble up, hold up his ragwrapped |
paw, and, elevating his nose, would utter
heart'rending cries of pain thus passing |
his hat for penny-worth of sympathy
as / have known human
beings TO do many time before. Then, |
with cries aud grlmaces, he would induce 1
the behOlder to follow him pityingly into |
the next room, where he would immerse
his foot in the water, as / had made him
do, once or twice. During this perform
ance Tiny would keep close behind him,
and with little sympathetic whines, would |
echo all his cries and complainings; and |
this show was repeated whenever they |
could get fresh spec ator.
AT the same time, we had in our posses.
sion horse, which for sagacity kindness, |
and docility, outshOne all the horses | |
have ever had the fortune 10 become ac
quainled with, Not the most partial al |
miration Of Kitty many virtues could !
lead me Into believing her to be beautiful, |
though she was by no means an ugly |
horse. A bright bay, with well shaped |
head, she was too short. bodied, though the !