The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-10
The S0lIire's Dog.


Squire Martin, of Goose Island, is the
owner OF large yellow dog, of cheerful
demeanor and versatile habits. He has
been known to blockade 'possum hole
tor seven days and nights, without water
or commissary supplies; and more than
once has succeeded in making his way
to the tops OF trees in quest OF squirrels.
In shape he is lean and tall, with pccu-
liarly robust and cOmcly tail, that per-
sists in curling down his left side. and on
wet days appears limp and uninviting.
His eyes are OF a milky color, wear a
mild expression, and jaws powerful,
with sharp teeth, which he never
tails to use on extraordinary
occasions. When agitated or
bored he usually took hunting or senti-
mental journey to Cairo, making his
headquarters at Mc,calfs grocery, OPP
posite the court house, on Washington
avenue. For the past three weeks the
'squire's dog has been in our city, and
daily made things lively tor Cairo dogs,
even bouncing Taber's black Newfound-
land at least once a week to give himself
an appetite for the supper he usually en-
word that it was about time tor his dog
Wellington to be sent home; but Wei
lington would not mcandcr under the
most pressing invitations. Tin cans
were resortcd to, which were looked
upon by Wellington as freaks
OF nature, or weak inycn-
tions, possessed OF no startling eff
fleets and devoid of moral. The squire
was informed of the behavior of Yelling
ton, and sent in AL agent in the shape Of
small boy, who greeted Wellington
with cynical smile, saying
Wont 20 back to the squire ;? Bet
yer will. I'll give yer jest two hours and
Il half, by Captain Metcalrs watch, to va
cate these here premises
Wellington wagged his tail, gave the
small boy look of suspicion and retired
to a cool part of the store, where he re-
posed until nightiall In the meantime
the 'squire's small boy skirmished around
town. purchased four Roman candles and
returned to Metcalt's. Gazing at
Wellington, with determined
but sorrowful expression, he remarked:
captain, its sixteen miles to Goose
Island. Bet yer ten dollars he'll be at
the 'squire's In sixteen minutes"
The small boy attached the tour Roman
candles to Wellngton's tail, and as he
looped the tough strings into the fibrous
hair, said in supposed tones:
I'D like to-have somebody-cover
that-bet."
Placing Wellington in a favorable po-
silion the small boy from Goose Island,
his face wearing sinister and trlumph-
ant expression, set fire to one of the cam
dies. 1t spit and fixed. and Wellington,
alarmed, sprang to his feet. The yellow
hair raised upon his back. An explosion
followed and ball of brilliant colOrs
cleaned before the glaring eyes OF Wei
lington.
lies of ~ said the 'squire's smaA
boy as the Halliday, Gallagher and Taylor
neighborhood, one half mile away, was
momentariy lighted up.
"IS there any man here who will take
that bet?' queried the small boy as he
walked into the store and called for 4
chew of tobacco.
The next day fragments OF Wellington's
tail were found scattered along the road
as tar as the 'squire's neighborhood,
Goose Island precinct. People along the
route said that the 'squires yellow dog
resembled a flying meteor, and that he
made at least a mile minute.