The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-21
The Brindled Doc.

Yesterday morning soap-haired young man
of eighteen was drawing big brinded dog
around the City Hall market anxious to find
purchaser. A corpulent old chap, smoking
long pipe and lodging the rain, finally halted
the young man and asked
"My trent. how little you veants for doss
dog %
1.-Two dollars will take him." was the reply,
''and better dog never stood on four legs and
hOwledn
We'll, COON along mid me-" continued the
old chap, raising his umbrella. He padded u
full mile through the pouring rain, the young
man and the brindled dog at his heels, and
reaching home at last the dog was led in, the
old man refilled his pipe and sat down and
said:
Now, my trent, ish dose good dogs"
S'He's the best kind of dog,'' was the reply
''Does he keep teves away from my house?''
''You bet he will! Why, he'd chaw up a
man quicker'n fiash.''
docs he keep der bat poys out Of my gar
temp
'Well. you ought to see him go for boy
once! He's had his teeth into every bow II,
Macomb county,"
Does he like my shildren?''
"Like 'en? Why that's his great hold
Nothing so pleases him as house full of chill
dreli.'
The old man hestated for a minute and then
asked:
Can dozc dog play on a fiddle ?''
''Play ON fiddle? Why-why-yes, sir, he
can I! He can play seven different tunes on
fiddle ~
1t was big lie, but the soap-haired young
man was bound to make a sale If he had to bu-
ry truth out Of sight.
Can doze dog play on horn in der prass
III 1-n1 r II
''On horn? Why, he has led the Mt. Gle
mems band for the last year. Yes stree, lie
can play on horn with anybody"
The old man was little staggered, and he
waited quite a while before asking:
Can doze dog write letters for me to my
prlldder in Shermany?"
''Wrte Write letters ?''
''Yaw'
81 wish I had pen and paper here! He writes
the most beautiful hand you ever saw, and he
writes like lightning! | could hire him cut for
fifty dollars Il month to keep books. but done
want to work him too hard. Besides, there's
a mortgage on my farm, and must have mon
ey to raise it.
''Der brice is two dolars?"
''Only two dollars. He's worth hundredif
he's worth a cent, but I'm forced to sell. II
you keep him till March I'll buy him back and
give you two hundred dollars for him.
The old man smoked away for awhile and
then asked:
''Can doze dog baint a house ~
''Paint house. I'd like you to see three big
houses he painted last week. He's as good as
three men, and he never wastes a drop of
paint. Pm in a hurry to catch the train, ana
Ia like the money"
''Two dollar?''
Eyes, two dollars. You'll never have an.
other such chance
The old man made motion towards his wal
let, hut let his hand drop and inquired:
Can doze dog shulnp over the City Hall -
This was a crlisher The young man knew
he couldn't beat in, and he replied:
mo, I don't think he can, but I'll warrant
him to jump forty feet and catch q hy?''
''You gan take -doze dog away, my frent,"
said the old man.
You won't take him -
mo, eur; WANTS no dog what can't shump'
over der City Hail.
''But you'd made fair bargain and said
you'd take him.
II can't help dot. Vhens bay two dollars
for dog he shall be able to slump like
pird.'
And the young man dragged his brindled
dog out of the house and back to the market,
where he offered him for fifty cents without
getting a buyer.