Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-06
Intelligent Dogs.

JIM is a large brOWn-anG white mastifi
with an intelligent face, short, alert ears
wide-awake eyes, and a general air that
| seems to betOken that he considers him
| self master of the situation. Somewhat
! perhaps, on the lOve-me-lOve-my-do
! principle, lie has been much petted by
| the family across the way Whenever
! the young gentleman of the house called
| upon Miss Ida, Jim went also, and in
summer watched proceedings through
| the low parlOr window from his position
| on the piazza, and in winter from the
WarmeSt corner of the hearth-rug. When
| the family were invited to dinner Jim
| was included as a matter of course, and
was RECALLED with many dainty bits from
! the table as he sat behind the hostess
! chair Although usually very chary of
making new friends, Jim was on excel
| lent terms with the gentle, pale-faced
| lady who never passed him without
! kindly notice, and when she ran in for q
| call invariably escorted her home. When
| she sickened and died the other day jim
shared in the general sorrow, and lay on
the porch for hours, regarding the house
opposite with an unWOnted look Of grief
on his grave face The morning of the
funeral he went to the house, and during
pray tIS SlOONl III t4iG HlOSJ OIgilIHCOt Hall
ner near the casket that contained
all that was mortal of his lovely
friend; then followed decorously be
hind the procession to the church.
where, although he had never been
inside the door before, he walked grave
" up the broad aisle and took his place
in the pew with his master, where he sat
wide awake through the service, and
then walked beside the mourners to the
grave, seeming by his demeanor to real
iZe fully the sOlemnity of the occasion.
After the burial he trotted gravely home
with the Self-SatiSfaCtiOn Of the dog who
had done his duty.
MIC is a large, handsome fellow, with
out white hair to mar the beauty of
his shining black coat; and Tige is
black-and-White water-spaniel, who lives
next door, and with whom Mig is very
intimate. You have heard the old say
ing that dogs never trade BONES" but
these dogs arc a living illustration of the
falsity of that statement. One day
when Il beef-bone had been given to Mig
he laid it down behind the garden fence
and ran off up the street, presently re-
turning with Tige. They both examined
the dainty morsel, tasted and smelt Of
it; when Mig lay down beside it,
while Tige ran home and came back i'm
mediately with a large pOrk-bone, with
which Mig expressed his satisfaction by
commencing to gnaW, while Tige took
the beef-bone and trOtted complacently
hOmeward. They not only trade, but
frequently make each other presents Of
food, and they sometimes gnaW the same
bone, first one and then the other regal
ing himself.
Pinto is a proud little English coach
dog who lives up the street, and, being
rather smaller, the two crOnies seldom
condescend to notice him. The other
day, however, Tige and Pinto walked out
together around some Of PintO's favorite
haunts, and, wishing to show off, | sup
pose, he dug up a bone which he had
laid by for a rainy day, looked at his
companion boastfully, as much as to say,
Don't you wish it was yOurs?" and ran
of to hide it in a new place. Tige ele-
waited his nose as if such puppish actions
were entirely beneath his dignity, and
went prospecting for WOOdchucEs in the
bank near by. Pinto hid his bone, and,
giving his companion the slip, ran for
home across the orchard. Tige watched
him out of sight, very coOlly unearthed
the prize and trotted proudly home with
1t, where nave no doubt ne shared 1t
with his friend Mig.
| know Of a newfoundland dog who
rocks the cradle, and is thus of great as
SiStance to his mistress; and OF St. Der
nard dog who takes the baby out to ride,
drawing the carriage back and forth
beaten path as carefully as child. Sew
eral years ago there was a black-and-tan,
called Ned, who lived on Emery street,
in Springfield. His master worked for
Wason and Ned always went to the cor
ner of the street to meet him al noon and
night. He would lie and sleep quietly,
not regarding the whistles of the numer
Gus locomotives and manufactures in
the least until Wason's car-shop whistle
sounded. Then Ned would spring for the
door, and when let out would run to the
corner and wait till his master came,
never venturing on Main street alone
n. Y. independent.