The Portland daily press., 1872-09-27
A Good Dog Story.
From the New Orleans Picayune.l


An English friend of the writer, who re-
sided many years in Texas, Travelled, when a
Young man, in France. He became the pur-
chaser of poodle dog belonging to non
commissioned officer of an infantry regiment
stationed in Paris. The dog was the pet OF
the whole command, from its great intelll-
gence and the many amusing as well as re-
markable tricks that it performed. Our En-
glishman, then gay, wild, jolly young man
of fortune, saw the poodle blow out a hghteu
candle every time it was held TO ms nose
John Bull like, he determined to own that dog
if he had to box with the whole regiment.
1t was with great difficulty that he could
indnce the sergeant to agree to part with the
dog, so afraid was he of the anger OF the reg
iment; and it was only by offering very
large price, half in advance and balance on
delivery, that the Englishman carried his
point, aud he had to wait some time for the
regiment to leave Paris ere the poodle could
be transferred.
To describe all the strange and wonderful
tricks that this sagacious poodle could per-
formal taught their pet by over one thou
sand soldiers in their hours of leisure, during
two or three years that he served with them
would be useless, for they would not be be-
leved. Many time during the war the
evening camp fire in Texas has been made
gay and lively by the stories our English
IrltuQ JOlu Vi Ills pOOulC uOSs AhO ihNANShN'
were comic and wonderful and their effect
was heightened by his inimitable manner OF
telling them.
On one occasion, of hot summer day, our
English friend whom we will call lllingsby)
went with other EnSishmen to play game
of cricket, Just outside OF Calais. Ou N ac-
tive exercise, in such hot weather, naturally
made everybody thirsty, and it was not long
ere all the party's drinkables had vanished IN
the way that drinkabes generally disappear
among thirsty men on hot summer DAY.
The game was a long one and well contested,
and by and by everybody got thirstier than
before. Their disgust on finding that there
was nothing at hand to quench thirst, ana no
place near by " here quenchables could De oD-
| tanned, was loudly expressed. Everybody de-
clared that it was impossible to go on wlth
the game without something to drink, YET 10
give up the game was not to be thougnt Oh py
We Britons bold.
Illingsby, who, with his poodle named
Zouzon), had been quiet loOker-on of the
game, now stepped forward; and, as many
of the cricketers had doubted his stories OF
the poodle's intellectual capacity, he offered
to bet them, one and all, that he could seed
Zouzon back to the city and get something
to drink for them; and that the dog would
not only get the refreshment, but would
bring it back, all by himself, and simply on
his mere verbal instructions. ''Done?' cried
every cricketer at once, with English faith in
betting.
Illingsby called Zouzon. The dog came
''Sit up, sir, when gentleman speaks to youP'
Zouzon sat up, looking as grave and dlgnited
as could be- HNow, gentlemen" said lllngs-
by, 81 will whisper his instructions in Zou-
zon's ears; and, after he is gone, will tell
you what directed him to do" "Agreed!'
Illingsby stopped down and whispered to
the poodle, and then patting him on the head,
a rapid rate, straight for Calais.
''Gentlemen," said Illingsby, Il ordered
| Zouzon to go to my rooms in the hotel; ask
| the landlord for the key; 60 in my bedroom
| he would find bottle Of buTgxndy on the
/ centre table: he is to put 1t in one of my
boots, which he will find in the corner, and
bring them, boot and bottle, to me here"
| An uproarious burst of derisive laughter
| greeted this announcement. "Will you dou-
| Bile the bets ?" said Illingsby ''Yes, yes p
said they, one ard all.
| The distance to Calais was considerable ;
but Zouzon kept steadily and rapidly on, and
| presently was seen no more. Alter resting
| awhile, the cricketcrs resumed their game,
determined to. finish IL as soon as possible,
and then go back to the city for an early din
ner and plenty of iced thirst-qnenchables.
They put not the slightest faith in Illingsby' 5
uOS, MS DuISunuy was nyLn.
Presently, in the heighth of the game. IL
lingsby exclaimed ''There he comesP' Every
| player STOPPED and looked down the broad,
| straight, level avenue leading to the city.
| There was a dark spot dimly visible in the
distance. Two to one it's not the poodle p'
exclaimed one cricketer. 'Donep' exclaimed
| nlingsby.
| Nearer and uearer came the black spot. 1t
moved very slowly. Still on it came, steadily.
''Two to one, if it is the dog, that he didn't
| get what he was sent forP' exclaimed an
| other cricketer. ''Donep' said Illingsby, be-
| ginning to get excited.
1t was soon certain that the black spot was
| black dog, and that the black dog was Zou-
zon; and, being a big, strong fellow, it was
seen that he was holding his head unusually
| high in the air, and that he carried some OBJ
\ ject in his mouth.
.sHe has the bootp' exclaimed nling.by,
| swapping his fingers in triumph. 1.-TWO to
| one there's nothing in the bootr' shouted an
| excited cricketer. ''Doner' shouted Illings-
by, who would have bet any amount on his
/ favorite.
Zouzon came slowly but proudly up to his
| master. Zouzon held boot in his mouth.
| Zouzon felt that he had accomplished re-
markable feat, He evidently foresaw Darwin,
and exclaimed to himself: "How is this for
| -p
|
the boot from Zouzon and held it up. An
angry frown gathered on his brow. 'Stupid
dog! he has forgotten the Burgundy" The
ericketers laughed in triumph. Zonzon still
cronched at his masters feet, looked up and
whined reproachfully. Ilngsby put his hand
in the boot. "Ohor' he exclaimed, smile
lighting up his countenance; here is a bot
tie, after ALL" And he pulled out bottle OF
wine. The crieketers stared. ''The Bur-
gundy, as Pm living manp' said Illingsby
delighted. 81 know It by this mark put on
the label this morning." The cricketers ex'
amined the bottle, one by one, in astonished
silence. Zouzon whined and wsgged his tail
''Hello what's this? exclaimed Illingsby
with a look of intense surprise, as he pulled
out package wrapped in paper. 'My silver
cup and corkserew. left them on the ta-
BILE, but forgot to tell Zouzon to pus them in
the boot, and he has done it of his own ac-
cord"
The ecricketers cheered wildly; Zouzon iump-
about delighted; Illingsby opened the bottle
and drank to the poodle's health. So did the
| cricketers.
Zouzon is dead long ago. Illinesby is
somewhere in Omaha or Nebraska, or there
abouts. Let Darwin ponder over this true