Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-12
Jhs family Cirele.
1 Benevolent Dog.

Benevolent Dog.
Sometimes he was called {" Busytred,"
but that was after his character for phi
anthropy became known, and he began to
be famous as a searcher for lost ones. Ii
poets could have known our old friend
sure y many pleasant rhymes would have
commemorated his brave deeds. AS a
puppy, he was, externally, far from attrac-
tive; ridge of coarse hair stood up abo ut
his throat, grizzly and stiff, often making
Us laugh at his grotesque appearance, but
he had thoughtful, serious air, and an
eye of unusual depth and power. Some
of the neighbors severely criticised the
wisdom Of Rob's purchase, but he had a
way of his own, and without a struggle,
gave in exchange his best knife and last
years sled. Before night rough but
comfortable kennel received the pet. Rob
spent the evening " getting acquainted"
and the most amlcabe relations were i'm
mediatey established.
He lived with US some months before his
80 mission declared itself. We had OBJ
served his good temper, and his tenderness
and patience with children, but never
dreamed of such out-reachlng sympathles
as his after,life developed. 1t commenced,
as far as we knew, by his coming in late
one balmy September evening with small
black dog, as ugIy-ooking and scrawny as
en- well be imagined Hunter was pow
erful creature, possessing " breadth and
swing" quite fearful for strangers to look
upon. and he carried his guest as cats do
their kittens and laid him gently down
upon the floor OF his straw-carpeted house,
and there he watched and tended him some
days with paternal sohcitude. Bits were
carried across the yard, AMI the invalid
was caressed like sick baby. 1t attracted
50 much attention in the neighborhood that
Hunter began to be respected ?
When LiIliput (for that was the name
Rob ga. Hunters pet) was quite well, a
new home was found for him, bur the two
often visited each other and exchanged in
their own fashion, the greetings Of the
season
One morning Hunter, and indeed the
whole family, were aroused by shrill barks;
outside the gate Rob espied Lliliput, who
10 remembrance of kindness shown him
had come IN time Of need to ask for aid,
| How he told the story remains a mystery,
bGt presently the two dogs trotted down
| ong green lane, Rob following cautiously.
What he saw should surely be chronicled /;
If it was not - intelligence" | should be
glad to have some philosopher name the
word that can explain 1t.
A poor, tired mother-dog lay by the
roadside, moaning piteou7ly, two puppies
not many days old, were in their dumb,
no doubt what had happened that she no
longer fondled them. A hedge, upon which
a few broken rails lay loosely piled, par
TALLY shielded them, and peeplpg through
Rob saw the two friends in evident consul
tation over the case. PerceivlDg that she
could not be moved, they did the next best
thing, provided food until she died, appar-
emily exhausted by excess of pain. Rob
thinks she had received a heavy blow.
When in few hours she ceased to breathe,
Hunter took one puppy, carrying it ten
DERBY, as he had LilIlput, but did not in
this case leave the moaning baby In his
kennel; no. indeed, the mistress lap waf
chosen, gentle-eyed. loving woman, whose
face he had read Alright, ana learned to
trust. As soon as Rob's mother began tc
pet the fuzzy little thing, Hunter knew
that all was right, and was off in twink.
: ling for the other. Beside it Liliput still
watched this one was also taken and com
mended by Hunters great human eyes tt
, better care than he could give.
After an absence Of two days, Rob:
t brave friend surprised US all by bringing
E in lovely Maltese kitten, and the crea
ture whose nature it was to wage war upoI
his kind, seemed to regard him with de
cided affection, looking up into his great
speaking eyes as much as to say, A" Pray
don't leave me among strangers J" Blu
she never lacked friends and became 1
$ great pet with US all
y But Hunters grandeSt feat was when h'
Il saved an emigrant woman and baby from
D starvation. Neither of these could b.
F bring home as he had the dog and cat
U thinking it over, Jas he must have done)
= and recognizing the imposslbllity Of &C
:; comprising his purpose aftes his usua
It fashion, he planned another, and delibe
Y rately tore piece from the woman's dress
e As she afterwards told US, she cried on
e with fear, supposing he was about to de
! YOUR them both, but suddenly looking int
;; his wonderful eyes, she felt assured tina
' he would not harm them. With the scra
a of calico, the wise old fellow trotted HON
= and laid it on his mistress lap, barkln
most soemn!y and walking rapidly bac
and forth between her and the door. Ro
j: was called, and was at once satisfied tina
f Hunter had come upon case OF suffering
i and was soon ready with basket of CON
a forts to follow where the dog might leac
l. The next step seems the strangest of all
e up to this moment Hunter had manifesto
= no desire for food or rest. and now as Ro
\ stood, basket in hand, and whistled for b
n missionary pioneer, 10, the creature la
E. stretched upon the piazza, pulling an
is painting as if greatly exhausted; tn
% brought US in measure to our senses. bu
u not wholly, until Uncle Bailey, who is we
y versed 10 canine ways, read out the who
story.
"Why, Rob-" said his father, "doIs
# 90 on foot take the buggy, my boy-HuI
n ter is half breathless-he has run lon
r way. and see, this is scrap from some W.
lie mans dress, you may be sure he has ha
is his own notions bringing this along"
> 1t was study we'll worth attention
:. note the satisfaction with which the do
:, watched the Harvesting of Whiteface int
D the low, light carriage-he actually hui
Ii ried then, and started with bone in hi
;. mouth, leading the way down the Felwa
, road. After time he accepted an invi