Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-11-26
: Ensign Jaekman's Dog.

~ Ensign Jackman was an old Vermont
farmer He had q good dog, that for
some reason bore half of his own name,
being plain Jack and it would be no
reflection on the old mans sense if we
should say that the creature knew half
as much as he did. Jackman once
owed his life to Jack; and it all came
about by his taking him with him to
his wood-lot, which was a good way
distant from his house. Almost every
day during the winter the farmer and
the dog went off together, always re-
turning safely with the great loads of
wood, until one afternoon, as they were
jogging homeward, the sled canted on q
stone, and the uppermoet log on the
load rolled off on the ensign's side, TAX
ing him unawares, knocked him down,
and held him there wedged in between
the runner and huge bowlder which
almost overhung the path.
As he fell he instinctively shouted
"Whos!" to the oxen aud they stopped
at once, then and there. II they had
started at an, the siding log would
have been precipitated upon his head !;
but, trained and most obedient of crea-
lures, like all good oxen, they minded
what was said to them, and halted, with
the toppling logs ready to roll OFF at the
first movement. But, though they
might stand there all the afternoon, as
probably they would, when night drew
near they ,would go home. Besides.
there was no help in them,
While this had been happening, Jack
had been of careering about the woods,
hunting hares and starting up par
tridges, and having most delightful
time but now when the ensign whistled
for him, he came bounding back to the
sled, saw what had happened, and that
he could not get at his master, snd
started for home with the speed of a
race-horse.
Mother Jackrnsn saw him coming
down the road, and he seemed to her to
be almost flying. His lsmeness did not
hinder him then, He cleared the ground
like deer running for his life. She
knew that something ives the matter,
and rushed to the door bnt, instead
of stopping there, he shot past and kept
straight on, by several houses and shops
to the shoemakers. Meanwhile she
caught up shawl and started for the
woods,
Jack had evidently gone through
with some reasoning which brought him
to the conclusion that it was a case in
which woman. could not help, not even
his own mistress. And SO he sped by
everybody else to the one man who had !;
befriended him. ..-i
He burst into the presence OF the
pulled at his shirt-sleeves,
and ran to to the door whining. The.
man put on his coat and followed. At
the grocery store. next door, he stopped
long enough to tell of the dogs con-
duct then borrowed horse and sleigh
which stood waiting while the owner
was making purchases, and drove on
after Jack. -...ay~ -1s.t. 81
Men came out along the road until
there was quite party on the way,
some in sleighs and some on, foot.
When the old Lady was overtaken, she
was picked up and conveyed along.
Jack led the way. There stood the
patient oxen in their tracks; they had
not lifted so much as one of their feet
in all that time. And there lay the en-
sign, quite insensible now, just where
be had fallen. .-y g.. s-.. ..... ......... /