Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-06


might not be as bad, as tigers went but
that, os they stayed, she thought him highly
Objectionable.
"Well, 'sposo he is, miss, said our new
friend "but VIC never calculate to have
him lying around loose but he's valuable
animal, and I'm kind Of fond Of the critter,
and I'd hate to kill him."
"I'm sure don't want the poor thing
killed" said Diana nervously "but, oh, we
want to 60 home !"
ayes, certainly" said the big man sooth-
ingly. IL guess the best way TO get out
will be right down out Of this window on to
the roof"
In few minutes we all stood safe on the
green sward, while the ugly dog ran to and
fro from one to the other, and then, finally
exhausted with his exertions, lay down and
painted for breath until the state Of his mind
impelled him once more to dance and yelp.
The tiger, wound round and round with
tho tough folds Of more than one asso aud
with his feet chained, lay helpless on the
ground. Two stout fellows, armed with
knives and pistols, stood over him; but
Dick turned away from the sight with
shudder.
"How did you 6ud him2" he asked the
Snowman.
at was all that dog" said our friend.
al declare, the way some critters act does
beat all natur'. You see, we lost the dog
going on moren a week back. One Of the
men got mad at the dog when he was drunk,
and give him an awful whipping-and ex.
poet II hurt his feelings, and he run of. As
for the tiger, he got out early this morning I;
and we didn't want to make none to much
fuss about it, and we just set out after him !;
but | expect half the cOuntry's out looking
now. Me and Jim aud these two VIC took
the lariats-I learned how to use the thing
out on the plains. 1t comes kind Of handy
to know most things generally. We'dmeant
to exhibit this afternoon, and, after we had
hunted the critter pretty much all the morn
ing, we went back to the tent over in Ca
loosa to sec if any one else had heard Of
him, and we hadn't more'n got there when
in bounces this dog, He hadn't got no
name, only the ugly dog and he comes up
to me and begins to beg and whine, aud then
he catches hold Of me and tries to drag me
along with him, and felt sure something
was to pay. So, having the tiger on my
mind, naturally thought Of him FIRST aud,
as long as didn't know where TO look for
him, was just as like to find him by follow
ing the dog as any other way; so we sci
out, and you never saw crtter SO tickled
as that dog was. He led us along through
the swamp, and by and by | was sure |
heard the beast. So we kind Of stole q
march on him, and when he jumped on the
roof we'd got quite comfortably close to him
and he was so busy cawing the shutter he
never suspected nothing; and | threw thu
lariat, and it took him just as slick as 1
whistle. I'm awful glad of it, because II
have hated to shoot him only for acting &C
cording to his nature. faint as if he wa
Christian, you know, y concluded the show
man, excusing his pet. 3 f..l.,-a
"But how could the dog know he woulC
find you in Galoosa?" Is u
"Well, critters know more things thar
folks think they do. Maybe he remembered
We we're there last year, or likely enough
some of the other dogs told him."
81 hope you'll let me keep him." l said
as the ugly dog pressed close to my side.
u, "Oh, my, yes'm! 1 amt tho kind o
man to take q dog away from lady," said
tho gallant Snowman. "I've sens one o
thc boys 70 Galoosa for the tigers cago anC
my buggy, and I'll see you home. I'm aw
full sorry the beast has put you and thc
young lady 10 90 much Inconvenience; but
he amt n bad fs!. y, now, really" ~ 80
We reached home before any rumor o
the runaway colts had come to MaysVills
but we found the village in great excitement
about the tiger, and the captain, in rathe
an anxious state Of mind, preparing To g
out aud meet us. He looked rather grin
when he heard Of our adventure, aud re
ceived poor Dicks penitent confession bu
had the discretion to do nothing more thar
to express the hope that it would abe les
son to him" and, indeed, l think it was.
As for "the ugly dog" he was the hero
of the family. So long as he lived, his wal
the warm place on the rug in winter, tn
shady piazza in'summer, aud any quantity
] Of affection and careeses He lived to ex
IRENE old age, and, in spite of growing in
: trinity, preserved his loving aud amiAbl
temper to the end. His last act was !
drag himself to my feet, and be died wit
, his head on my arm, feebly trying TO lie
my hand. There were some tears she
over his grave, and we did not think it nee
essary to enter into an argument agains
the firm belief entertained by our childre
: that 'the ugly dog had gone to heaven"
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