Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-25
JOe's Dog Brave.
A srop, ron rug uoY..

he named Brave
Joe's father lived on Water street. The
house was brick, and had long porch in
front, where Brave always took up his quar-
tiers for the night
Joe had big brother, whose name was
John. lie was clerk on a steamboat. This
boat made two trips up and down the Ohio
each week, starting from Pittsburgh and
going as far as Cincinnati. Very often
when the boat would lie at the landing,
John would get OF and come up to the
house or store to see the folks. When he
went back to the boat, Joe or his father
would often walk down TO the river with
him; Of course, Brave must follow. 10
this way he came to know John, and the
sound Of his boats whistle. Sometimes the
boat would come in the night and the fam.
lily would have some word or package for
John If SO, all they had to do was to
take the note or bundle, throw it down beside
Brave on the porch and say, Boat, John,
aud they gave themselves no more concern
about the matter.
Well, as soon as Johns boat would whis.
tie, up would spring Brave, and, taking the
letter or package 10 his mouth, would be at
the wharf when the boat landed. He would
wait moment to see if John would come
to take it. If he not, he would 60 aboard,
hunt up the clerk, and, springing toward
him, would present the package. John was
sure to pat him, call him " Good dog" and
after staying with him little while, hear
ing his own praise, Brave would walk so.
berly over the planks to shore and home
again.
In this way be was of great service to
the family. He always would carry the
meat or vegetables from market, and faith
fully guard what was trusted to his care.
If the boys did not wish to go to market
themselves, they had only to write an or.
der on a slip of paper, and sent it in the
basket
Then, this dog seemed to have memory
too, for one day in running over a cellar
door it sprung in with him, and landed his
unfortunate dogship down among the pota.
toes and cabbages of green grocer Poor
Brave He was taken out a little lame,
and never would cross that same door again.
No matter what his hurry, he would run in
the middle of the street for half blocks dis.
lance and then come on the sidewalk again.
Some very cold nights in winter he slept
by the fire in the dining room. Now one
night about twelve o'clock there was great
noise down stairs. What could Brave be
barking at The whole family was aroused
Joe, who was like an India-rubber ball, al
ways ready to spring, jumped from his bed
and was down in minute.
There lay Brave, rolling and tumbing
before the CRATE, on the floor Joe went
nearer and saw that some hot Goals had
fallen from the fire, and that large hole
was burned in the carpet.
The noble dog failing to bring help at
once by barking, had burned all the hair of
one side, in trying to roll ont the fire.
Don't you think he was well named, boys ?
How many of you would have been as
brave" for others sake2 Well you
need not answer, but remember dog has a
good deal OF sense, and his opinions of a
boy may be worth something after all
And what opinion do you suppose sensible
dog can have Of boy who cannot invent
some better sport than to tie tin cans to his
tail, Just to see him run and bring on dog
fight!
But to come back to Brave. He burnt
all the hair off that side, as we said ant
when it grew out, what do you think il
ioaS gray lie carried That spot yer!
much as old soldiers do their scars, and wa
proud Of it no doubt.
AS Joe grew older, be took full charg
oil the drug store brave seemed 10 kno'
that his young master was oloHer there, now
aud would often keep store while DO
ran In next door TO " make change Tor
customer.
on one such occasion as TINS 'oes younge
orother came TO the store IN great hurr
Ior some money ior MS mother. flndln
Joe gone ne went around 10 inc none
drawer brave followed Inc BOY pr
OUT ms manu- 10 pun II open ana up can
'ne Jog ioUa' anu was paced uec'ueu'
upon ~ Inc quiet determination
brave maze ,ne niue fellow angry, ana
uragged 30 naru a. IL that the uog WI
oNerconhe' NJ TINS ne assumeu grel
nerceness, growieu anu snoweu MS 'ee'
anu tue ooy jumper upon inc counter, III
1ar'ug 70 sur u'i Jos came H. me
praVe iei. nis pace py 'ne drawer anu Ia
uown pehinu 'he s'oVe' WINE Joe gave
prother Tue money
very Oi'en crowd oil young men won
gamer ID inc store smoking ana 'a'kIu
.oge'ner' SOMETIMES the thousntless lie
lo o.', wouiu throw Gown tue UP OF cisa
BUN uutn'ng upon Tue nSor' brave We wou
eye p'omeu'' as thinking Ihel
Ewing Tue onopuer a look whlch sal
pou you KNOW any pe1ter man that
~ woula rls', wax graVv'y 70 II, ana Pla'
nus paw over inc enu OIL tue CIGAR or spar
Ill II was out
ne i,'ea 70 DC fourteen years old' al
N'er met WIN violent uea'a' m,
~ was 'ne mluule OIL august IL
weather was very warm: Inc on'y preei
tua' was p.ow'ng cAuie from inc rNer: J'
was nol ieellng very well' So asking h
la'hef 10 stay IN 'he store ne anu bra'
s.ar'eu out ior a Stroll zoe wanaer'
eoWn the river ior some distance the
Ieeling very weak anu ,lred' ne CLIMBED upe
one 0, 'he stone walls pullt close 10 u
Wa'e, euge 70 ENJOY tne evening breez