The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-11-19

shcep-stealing, but had never before been
caught III the act. Nor did my father, who
knew him, expose him. I may mention
however-as no relative of his is ever like
ly to see this narrative--that something
took place not many days after the above
occurrence which proved how difficult il
is for man TO live, who, having entered
upon criminal course, finds that his
quilts known to former friends with whom
he is frequently compelled to meet.
This story-illustrative of Jacks saga
city-was kept secret for considerable
time; but one night when our master, who
lived in the county of Durham, was with
us, my father being little elevated re-
lated it; and so struck was the master
with it, that he offered to buy the dog there
and then. The price Of four ordinary col
lies was offered for it, and at last we had
the modification of seeing Jack put into a
string and taken off to Durham. Jack was
only dog, but can assure the reader that
there was not dry eye in the house when
| he left U.S.
About II month or so after this happened
my father had occasion to take five or six
of his pack sheep to village some dis
lance off, and on the way called at the
schoolmastcr's to pay certain fees which
were due. AS was usual at such times,
the bottle was produced, and so long did
he stay that when lie came out, he found
that the sheep had wandered up the side
Of one of the neighboring hills and had
got mixed among others. Here was Il
ploy; he had Il dog with him which was
useful enough generally, but had never
distinguished itself in a case like the pre-
sent. What was to be donc2 Ben, as we
called him, very dutifulIy ran up the hill
but, not knowing one sheep from another,
he invariably brought down the wrong
ones. Chagrined at the delay, and vent
ing his wrath upon poor Ben, my father
sat down on the schoolmaster's garden wall,
and was just in the act Of expressing great
regret at having parted with the subject
Of this paper when, to his very great sur
prise, dark brown collie h0ce in sight and
without one word ofdirectioD galloped to-
ward the strayed packs and, singing them
out brought them down to the road. This
dog was Jack, who tired of his exile, had
escaped from Durham aud was on his way
home. Dear old dog" said my father 60
ing up to him. Blu tack would have moth
ing to do with him. lie seemed to have
grudgo against his old master for having
sold him; and going up to Ben, he exchan-
gcd sundry very atlectionate greetings with
him, and then ran off to Burnside, where he
met with Il most hearty welcome. 1t seems
that he behaved so badly at Durham that
they were glad to get rid Of him and be-
licving that he would find his way home,
they set him at liberty.
There are several other good sterics which
| could relate about Jack did space per-
init. | cannot conclude, however, without
mentioning that shortly before his death
he was Instrumental in saving the life ofa
young man, nephew to the farmer who de-
priyed him of his father. Coming home
late one night the young man lost his way
and fell into u peat hole, where he sank
almost to the waist and could not eXtri-
cate himself. Jack having been about
poaching no doubt-noticed his predica-
ment, and not being able to assist him, ran
to the farmhouse and alarmed the inmates,
who, following the sagacious animal, were
in time to save the young man. From that
time the old man contracted great friend
ship for Jack, and not unfrequently has he
been heard to say, when passing the spot
where the bones of our old collie lie, "rhe
best and wisest dog that ever was reared
on the Cheviot hills was buried here"
r. ii. w.