Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-02
NO. 1856.
rsf
Misfellaneous.
4 GOOD WATCH DOG.

For many weeks past Hiram Ripley, q
teamster, living on Fort street, below the
railroad bridge had been thinking he ought
to have good watch dog around the
house and barn, as his wife was much of
the time alone, and as bad boys frequently
raid his barn for old junk. So the other
day, when farmer came along with big
brindle dog under his wagon, and wanted
to sell him for five dollars, Ripley criti-
cised the canine, inquired as to his merits,
and said it was a trade. He tied the dog
up in woodshed. fed him bountifully,
and he went into the country after load
of potatoes with light heart, believeing
that no human being could come fooling
around his house and live long. He was
gone over night, and it was Friday after
noon before he returned home. He drove
up to the barn, and went in by the stable
door to throw open the big doors. He had
Just got on the main floor when buzz
saw began ripping up and down his leg.
tie thought it was a buzz-saw, but it
wasn't; it was that watch dog of his. Mrs.
Ripley, desiring to go off to a relatives,
had turned the dog into the barn, and he
was watching, as was his business. Rip
ley yelled. "Oh. hokev TO saltpetre," as he
felt the grinding at his leg, and he made
Il long skip into a corner, and faced about,
and saw the dog. The old canine dcliber-
atcly picked the woollen and flesh out of
his teeth, and was then ready for business.
His eyes were fixed on Ripley's lower
vest button, his tail stood up straight,
and his fore legs had an uneasy mo-
ton, rs il they wanted to reach out after
something
Mice old fellow" began Ripley thinking
to bcgnle the dog; good doggy-nice
doggy--don't you know meo'
The dog seemed to have heard the voice
before, and he sat down and lost little
of the fierce look This encouraged Rip
ley, and he started to go out, but he had
taken but few steps when the dog took
half a yard from the back of his coat, and
brought away piece of flesh Ripley
fell over the peck measure and the dog
took another moutblul but did not pursue
to the corner.
The canine sat up again and smacked
his lips, and uttered Il low growl which
reverberated around the barn like thunder.
He closed one eye and peered at Ripley
with the other, and then moved his paws
around with that reckless uneasy manner
before mentioned. Ripley began yelling
for help, but he hadn't yelled more than
three times when the dog checked him
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went at the beguling business again.
''Ilere, Tiger" he called, swapping his
fingers, mice Tiger-best dog in Detroit
poor old doggy" Tiger uttered whine
and beat ben. Buffers Dream on the
floor with his stump narrative, while
tear Of tender love stole into each eye. The
thing was all right now, and Ripley start
ed out again, keeping his back behind
him. lie had halt crossed the floor when
he felt buzz saws and red-hot irons and
pitchlorks iabbing him all over. He went
up and came down. turned handsprings
and jumped from the trapeze, and in q mo-
ment was back in the corner. and the dog
was sitting up as before. Ripley couldn't
sit down, and he didn't feel like standing
up, and so he leaned up against the barrel
;.nd recklessly abused and insulted the dog.
He called him an old loafer, a ''ring thief"
a back salary stcaler, a carpet bagger and
Il Mormon, and then went and abused
every one of the canine relatives back to
the great grandfather
At length, after being prisoner for
nearly three hours, some boys discovered
the mans situation. BY his direction they
went for IL grocer, who keeps revolver,
and the grocer came and released the pris.
oner by shooting the dog. Ripley came
up town to have his wounds dressed, and
they numbered twenty-three different
bites and were impartially distributed over
II large extent of territory. However,
there's nothing like keeping family
watchdog-Detroa Free Press.