The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-08-12
A Faithful Dog.

In the Scotsman of April 10, 1867, the
following narrative appeared:
7" A very singular and interesting occur
renee was yesterday brought to light in
the Burgh Court by the hearing of a sum
mons in regard to dog tax Eight and
half years ago it seems man named
Gray, of whom nothing now is known, ex-
cept that he was poor and lived in quiet
way in some obscure part of the town, was
buried in Old Grayfriars' Church.yard
His grave, leveled by the hand of time
and unmarked by any stone, is now scarce
! ly discernible; but although no human
! interest would seem 10 attach to it, the
sacred spot has not been wholly disre-
| garded and forgotten. During all these
years the dead mans faithful dog has
kept constant watch and guard over the
| grave; and it was this animal for which
! the Collectors sought TO recover the tax.
James Brown, the old curator of the
battle-ground, remembers Gray's funeral,
and the dog Scotch terrier, was, he SAYS.
one Of the most conspicuous of the mourn,
ers. The grave was closed in as usual,
and next morning Bobby, as the dog is
called, was found lying on the new-made
mound This was an innovation which |
old James could not permit; for there was |
an order at the gate stating in the most in
telligible characters that dogs were not
admitted. Bobby was accordingly driven
out; but next morning he was there
again, and for the second time was dis |
charged. Tie third morning was cold |
and wet; and when the old man saw the
faithful animal, in spite Of all chastise- |
ment, still lying shiverlng on the grave, he |
took pity on him and gave him some food. |
This recognition of his devotion gave |
Bobby the right to make the churchyard |
his home; and from that time to the pres
ent he has never spent a night away from
his masters tomb. Often in bad weather
attempts have been made to keep him
withindoors, but by dismal howls he has |
succeeded in making it known that this |
interference is not agreeable to him, and |
latterly he has always been allowed his |
own way At almost any time during the |
day he may hes seen in or about the church.
yard; and no matter how rough the night |
may be nothing can induce him TO fOrsake |
the hallowcd spot whose identity, despite
the irresistible obltcration, lie has 80 faith
fully preserved
Bobby has many friends, and the tax
gathercra have by no means proved his en-
cmics \ weekly treat of steak was long
allowed him by Scrgt. Scott Of the En-
ginecrs; but for more than six years he
has been regularly fed by Mr.. Trail, Of |
the restaurant, 6 Grayfriars Place. He i
is constant and punctual in his calls, being !
guided in his midday visits by the sound |
Of the time-gun. On the ground of har-
boring the dog proceedings were taken
against Mr. Trail for payment Of the tax.
The defendant expressed his willingness,
could he claim the dog. to be responsible
for the tax; but so long as the dog refused
to attach himself to anyone it was impossi-
Die to fix the ownership; and the Court
seeing the peculiar circumstances Of the
case, dismissed the summons
Bobby has long been IN object of Gu
riosity TO ali WHO have become acquainted |
with his history. Hiscons ant appearance
in the graveyard has caused many inQui-
rics to be made regarding him, and efforts
without number have been made to get
possession Of him. The old curator, of |
course, stands up as the next claimant to
Mr. Trail, and yesterday offered to pay
the tax himself rather than have Bobby
Graytriars' Bobby, to allow him his fuI.
name-put out Of the way"
-Four years longer the faithful little do
kept his loving watch, and atlasr died. to
the regret Of all who knew him, never hay
ing been out of reach of his masters
grave; though in his later years the in
frmities of doggish age forced him to &C
ccpt partial hospitality of the curator. l
am sure that Lady BurdettCoutts glad
dcncd the hearts Of many lovers of ami
mals-as she certainly did minc-when
she pcrpetuated his memory by lasting
monument of granite and bronze. The
monument is drinking -fOuntain made Of
Peterhead granite, and surmounted by a
life-size statue of Bobby in bronze.
During the many years which elapsed
between the death Of his master and his
own departure the lowly grave was for,
gotten by all but the dog. No stone
guarded it, and not even mound marked
it. The grass and weeds grew luxuriantly
over it as over the level soil around. There
has been for years nothing that could
mark out the grave from the surrounding
soil, but the little dog knew the sacred |
spot under which lay his masters remains, /
and fOrhours used to stand upon it, keeping |
his guard A little way from the grave is
an altar-tomb, under which Bobby used TO
shelter himself in bad weather. and t.
which he always used to take the bones
and other food provided for him by the
generous persons whose names have al
ready been mentioned.
possess three Photographic portraits OF |
Bobby, from the best Of which the bronze |
statue was taken. In it he is sitting on |
the aItar-tomb above mentioned, and is |
looking upward with that wistiul, patient, |
longing, yearning expression of cOunte- |
nance which was peculiar to the animal |
and is conspicuous'in all the photographs |
however imperfect they may be.-Harper's |
WeeLJy