The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-11-19
G j S G e III a n @ O u S.
Our Dog Jack.

If ever there was collie dog in exist.
cncc that deserved biography, most as.
suredly that dog was our Jack. SO pro-
nounced was his character, so varied his
accomplishments, and so extraordinary his
sagacity that to leave him in his grave
without written history would be an act
Of injustice not only to him but to the
public.
1t was at place called Burnside, on the
Scotch side Of the Chcviot hills, where my
father followed the ancient and honora-
bic calling Ola shepherd, that Jack first
saw the light He was spare pup, with
a dark brown back and light-brown breast
and legs, and was not expected to live; but,
by dint of good feeding and careful nurs-
ing, his spareness very soon disappeared,
and he grew up to be one of the strongest
and best wearing dogs my father ever pos
sesscd.
Two weeks after Jack made his appear.
ance among us he met with very sad at
Fiction. His mother, when taking a stroll
in the gloaming was seized by tramp
who had prejudice against her, and
thrown into sheep pool with stone fast
ened to her neck; and about the same time
his father, who belonged to neighboring
shepherd, was shot by Il half blind farmer,
who mistook him for fox.
TO this sudden bereavement did the
youngsters among us attribute the appa-
rent sadness of Jacks early life. He was
not like other young dogs. For months
he seemed to be in mourning. Such a
thing as play never appeared to enter his
head. He would lie for hours and hours
l,,,t ha In lnl ,l :
endeavouring to solve u solemn problem {;
then. like II puzzled philosopher whose
brain has been running after an idea which
refuses to be caught and who thinks that
"snilf Of caller air" will be sure to sharp
en- his intellect, he would leave the kitch-
en- and, slowly and soemnly as if mcasur-
ing every step, march five or six times
round the peat-stack at the back of the
house which performance, having been
completed, he would whine most piteously,
and with the same slow and measured pace
return to his former position by the fire
side. "Poor Jack" my only sister used to
say ON these occasions, "he's thinkiu' about
his father an mither, and greetin' because
they are deed" and not unfrequently did
she greet with him for very sympathy.
One morning, when Jack was little more
than eight months old, he astonished us
all by disappearing Immediately after
breakfast. went in search of him in one
direction and my father went in search OF
him in another, but all in vain. We whist.
led and made the hills on every side ring
with his name, but Jack was not to be
found. Did he know that my father had
determined to take him out that morning
| nj INF inf froi mi i
a private duty to perform which he was
determined to accomplish before showing
what he could do among the sheep? Thai
these are not idle questions the sequel will
most satisfactorily prove.
At that time my sister and | were at
tending school about three miles distant
from Burnside; and on the morning il
question, my father having work for me a
home, my sister was obliged to go alone
After walking about mile, and just wher
crossing burn in a deep narrow glen
where we usually met other children going
to the same school, she was pounccd upol
by swarthy faced, grutf looking man
with red plush doubled breasted vest ant
dirty corduroys, who, after shaking her t.
his hearts content, robbed her of her din
ner-wallet, and, with u tiendish chuckle
sat down on q stone to examine his plum
der. His chuckle was rather premature
however; for before he had time to opeI
the wallet q dark brown collie, abou
eight months old, whose name was Jack
appeared suddenly on the scene, and leap
ing upon him with bound, the grulf
looking man with the red plush vest ant
the dirty corluroys was very soon site chez
upon the grass, with streams of blood run
ming from his hands and face. This over
Jack lifted the wallet and carried it to m
astonished sister with the air of knight
Grant, and informing her, in his own way
that he was prepared to protect her iron
all corners and that there was therefore n
necessity for fear, he led the way until the
reached the school. Here he left her; bu
exactly at hali-past three in the afternoo
he met her again at the schoolroom dool
and after dancing round about her 10
some time with u joy which was quite un
usual in his case, he escorted her home.
How glad we were to see Jack on tina
memorable afternoon and with what 10
we listened to detailed account of til
dear dogs bravery But, what was OF
amazement on hearing that the owner
the red plush vest and the dirty corduroy
was no other than the malicious tramp VII
had drowned Jack s mother
"Bless my SOUL" exclaimed my fathe
who had never thought much of Jack, :
declare there's something in the brute a