American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-05-17
The Man who Bought a Dog.

For many weeks past Hiram Ripley,
teamster living on Fort street, below tn
railroad bridge, had been thinking h.
ought to have good watchdog arount
the house and barn, as his wife is much O
the time alone, and as bad boys frequent,
raid his barn for old junk. So, the othe
day, when farmer came along with big
brindle dog under his wagon and wanted
to sell him for five dollars, Ripley crit
cised the canine, inquired as to his merits
and said it was a trade. He tied the dos
up in the woodshed, fed him bountifully
and he went into the country after loaC
of potatoes with light heart, believing
that no human being could come foolin&
around his house and live long. He wa:
gone over night, and it was afternoon
| Friday 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 to the main floor when
a buzZ-saw began ripping up and down his
| left leg. He thought it was buZz-saw, but
it wasn't; 1t was that watch dog Of his. Mrs
| Ripley, desiring to go Oft to a relatives
| had turned the dog into the barn, and he
was watching, as was his business. Rip.
| ley yelled: "Oh hockey to saltpeter," as
he felt the grinding at his leg, and he made
a long skip into a cornerand faced about
and saw the dog. The old canine delib.
erately picked the wooden and flesh out
of his teeth, and was then ready for bust
ness. His eyes were fixed on Ripley's
lower vest button, his stump tail stood up
straight, and his fore legs had an uneasy
motion, as if they wanted to reach out at
ter something.
Mice old fellowr began Ripley, think
ing to beguile the dog; good doggy-nice
doggy-don't you know me?"
The dog seemed to have heard the voice
before, and he sat down and lost a
little of his fierce look. This encouraged
Ripley, 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 a piece of flesh.
Ripley fell over the peck measure, and the
dog took another mouthful, but did not
pursue to the corner.
"Ohi jewhittaker to Jerusalem groaned
the dog buyer as he leaned up against
barrel and saw the dog calmly Illuminating
over the last mOuthful.
The canine sat up again and smacked
his lips and uttered growl which rever-
berated 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
before the dog checked him with look
that spoke volumes. Then he went at the
beguiling business again. Here, Tiger"
he called, swapping his fingers, mice
Tiger-best dog in Detroit-poor old
doggy" Tiger uttered a 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 started out
again. keeping his back behind him. He
had half crossed the floor when he felt
buzz-saws, and reu-hot irons, and pitch
forks jabbiHg him all over. He went up
and came down, turned handsprings and
jumped from the trapeZe, and IN moment
was back in his corner and the old dog
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 and
recklessly abused and insulted the dog.
He called him an old loafer, "ring'
thief, Il back-salary stealer, "A carpetbagger,
and a Mormon, and then went on and
abused every one of the canine relatives,
back to the great grandfather.
At length, after being a prisoner for
nearly three hours, some boys discovered
the mans situation. By his directions
they went for grocer who keeps a revol- |
yer, and the grocer came and released the
prisoner 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 large extent of territory. However,
there's nothing like keeping a family |
atch-dog.-Detroit Free Press.