Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-07-19
AFAMILY WATCHDOG.
What One Industrious, Faithful Canine
Can Accomplish in Three Hours

For many weeks past, Hiram Ripley,
teanster living on Fort street, below the
railroad bridge, had beeu thinking ne
ought to have 4 good Watchdog around
the house aud baru, as his wife was much
of the time alone, and as bad boys ire
quently raid his barn for old junk. NO,
the other dav, when farmer came along
with big brlndle dog under his wagon,
and wanted to sell him for five dollars,
Ripley criticised the canine, inquired as
To his merits, and said It was trade.
lie tied the dog up In wood-shedi fed
him bountifully, and went Into the eoun'
try after load of potatoes with lght
heart, believing that no human being
could come fooling round his house and
live long. lie was gone over night, ana
Il was Friday afternoon before he re-
turned home. He drove up to the barn
and went in by the stable door TO throw
open the big doors. lie had just got on
tie main door when buzz saw began
ripping up and down his left leg. lie
thought il was buzz saw, but II wasn't,
il was that Watchdog of his. Mrs Kip.
lev, desiring to 20 oil TO relatives, had
turned the dog into the barn, and he was
watching, as was his business. Ripley
yelled, so hockey TO saltpetre" as he
felt the grinding at his leg, and he made
long skip into a corner, aud faced about
and saw the dog. The old canine DELHI
erately picked tue wooden and nesh out
Of his teeth, aud was then ready lor busl-
ness, His ewes were fixed on Ripley's
lower vest button, his stump tail stood
IN straight, and his fore legs had an UNI
easy motion, as If they wanted to reach
ont after something.
/ Nfro old faliaNy - hpman RfplpV think
| ing to beguiie the dog "gOod doggy
nice doggy don't you know me 2"
The dog seemed to have heard the voice
before, aud be sat down and lost a little
of his fierce look. This encouraged Rip
| ley and he started to go out, but be had
taken but few steps when the dog took
! talf "A yard from the back Of his coat and
brought away piece If flesh. Ripley
fell over the peck measure and the dog
took another mouthful, but did not pur'
SUI TO the corner.
con iewhitakcr to Jerusalem ~
| groancd the dog buyer as he Leaned up
Against barrel and saw the dog calmly
| Illuminating over the last lnouthful.
The canine sat up again and smacked
his lips, and uttered a grOwl which rover
herated around the barn like thunder.
lie closed one eye and peeped at Ripley
with the other, and then moved his paws
around with that reckless, easy manner
before mentioned. Ripley began yelling
for help, but he hadn't yelled more than
three times before the dog checked hin
with look that spoke volumes. Then
he went at the beguiing business again
" Here, Tiger" he called, swapping hii
fingers, "nica Tiger-best dog in Detroit
poor old doggy" Tiger uttered d
whine and beat " Ben Buffers Dream d
on the floor with his stump narrative
while q tear of tender love stole into eacl
eve. The thing was all right now, and
Ripley started ont agaiu, keeping hi
back behind him. He had half crOsset
the llpOr whcu he felt buzz-saws, and red
hot irons and pitchforks jabbing him al
over. lie went mp and came down, turned
handsI rings and jumped from the trapeze
and iu moment was back in his cOrnOr
and the OLD dog was sitting mp as before
Ripley couldn't sit down, aud be didn'
feel like standing up, and SO be leane,
sgainst the barrel and recElessly abused
and rsultcd the dog. lie called him AZ
old luafcr. ring" thief, back salary
-leal-r, a carpct-hagger and Mormon
aud then went and abused every one o
jhc cauiur's relatives, back ~ the great
grandfather.
At length, after being a prisoner 70
nearly three hours, some boys discovered
| 'lc mans situation. BY his direction
they went for grocer, who keeps a re-
yOlycr, and the grocer came and release
{ The prisoner by shooting the dog. RIPPLE
came up tO town 10 have his wound
! dressed, aud they numbered twenty tire
q different bites. and We're impartialiy dis
iihuled over large extent Of territory
60 However, there's nothing like keeping
! family watch dog.-DetrYu Pros.