The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-09-04
A Good Watch Dog.

For many weeks past, Hiram Ripley.
a teamsier 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 fre
quenty 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 So. Ripley
criticised the canine, inquired as to his
merits, and said it was trade He tied
the dog up in woodshed. fed him boun
tifully, and then went into the country
after load OF potatoes with light heart,
believing that no human being could
come fooling around his house apd live
long. He was 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 biz doors. He had just got on the
main floor when buzz saw began rip
ping up and dow his leg. lie thoue eht twas
"a buzz saw, but wasn't; it was that watch
dog of his. Mrs. Ripley, desiring to go
off to relatives, had turned the dog in
to the barn, and he was watching. as was
his business. Ripley yelled, "Oh y! hokey
to saltpetre," as he made long skip into
a corner, and faced about and saw the
day. The old canine deliberately pick
ed the wooden aud flesh out Of his teeth,
and was then ready for business 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 be wanted to reach out after some
thing
"Nicc old fellow - began Ripley, think
ing to beguile the dog ''good doggy
nice doggy-don't you know me 2"
The dog seemed to have heard the voice
before, aud he sat down and lost little
of the fierce look. This encouraged, and
he started to 60 out, but had taken but
few steps when the dog took half a yard
away piece of flesh. Ripley fell over
the peck measure, aud the dog took an-
other mouthful, but did not pursue to the
corner.
"Oh jewhittaker to Jerusalem ~
Sroaned the dog buyer, as he leaned up
against barrel and saw the dog calmly
ruminating over the last mouthiul
The canine sat up again and snacked
his lips, and uttered a low growl, which
reverberated around the barn like thun
der. lie closed one eye and pcered at
Rip9ley with the other, and then moved
his paws around with that reckless, un.
easy manner before mentioned. Ripley
began yelling for help, but he hadn't
yelled more than three times when 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 whine and beat "Ben
Buffers Dream" on the floor with his
stump narrative, while tear of tender
love stole into one 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 red hot irons and pitch
forks jabbing him all over. He went up
aud came down, turned hand springs and
jumped from the trapeze, aud 10 mo.
ment was back In the corner, and the old
dog was sitting up as before. Ripley
couldn't sit down, and didn't feel like
standing up, and so be leaned up against
the barre! and recklessly abused and in
suited the dog. He called him an old
loafer, ring" thief, back salary, steal
er, carpet Dagger, and Mormon, aud
then went on and abused every one of the
the canine relatives back to the great
grand father.
At length, after being prisoner for
nearly three hours, some boys discovered
the mans situation. BY his direc
ton they went for grocer who
keeps a revolver, and the grocer came
and released the prisoner by shooting the
dog. Ripley came up town to have the
wounds dressed, and they numbered
twenty-three different bites, and were i'm
partially distributed over large extent
of territory. However, there's nothing
like keeping family watch dog.-De
tr0tt Free Press.