Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-14
NO. 295.
MiseellaaepMs.
FAITH fUL DHU.

among tne FARMERS In the market-place
at Falkirk stood Duncan MacGregor. He
had come down from his farm in the
mountains of Argyleshire with sheep, and
having finished his business, was prepar-
ing for his journey home. which lay
through some of the finest scenery in Ar
gyleshire. As he turned into the stablc-
yard where his horse was put up, his at
tention was caught by howl from dog,
evidently in great pain. Turning round.
he saw collie puppy, who had just re-
ceived kick from drunken farmer, who
was now reeling out of sight. Macgregor
picked up the dog, and, upon examination
found one OF his forelegs broken. Garry
ing him into the inn, he inquired to whom
he belonged. Nobody knew anything
about him. He looked starved and mis-
erable, and evidently had been neglected
for some days. On finding himself gently
handled and spoken to, the puppy left off
bowling, and looked at his new protector
with an expression of astonishment, evil
denlly unaccustomed to such usage, which
soon turned to one of instructive trust
Procuring some splits of wood, MacGreg-
or set and bound up his leg. and then tas-
tened him into a basket, which he placed
in his gig. Then he went into the stables,
where he was greeted by loud neigh in
few minutes he returned, followed by q
handsome, strong-built Scotch pony,
which, though rough and shaggy, showed
marks of his Arab blood in delicate muz-
zle and small pointed ears. Bluebell was
soon harnessed, and they started on their
way. MacGregor was one of those few
people who love and thoroughly under
stand animals. He had found the secret
of managing them. They were not to him
"hewers of wood and drawers of water"
to do his work, and to be treated and
cared for just as much as was needful not
to lose by them but TO him they were,
what they ought to be to every true man.
Gods gift, to be loved and cared for As
such, and for the use of which he WAS ono
day to give an account. All the animals
of his farm obeyed and loved him. He
showed that he loved them, and did not
fear them, and they gave to him, what
the severest treatment or the wrongly
called "breaking-in" could never have OBJ
tanned, their full submission.
The first nights resting-place was at a
small inn on the shore of large loch.
After seeing TO Bluebelrs comfort, Mac
Gregor bound up the puppy's leg again,
and gave him some food. The dog had
evidently accepted him for his master, and
would allow nobody else to touch him.
He was peculiarly large dog for his age,
jet black, except where marked by tan.
MacGregor called him "Dhu," which, in
Gaelic, means dark
And now our story must pass several
years-years in which Dhu has fully re-
warded all the care and kindness he re-
ceived as a miserable and neglected pup.
py, by devotion to his master only end
ed with life. They were never apart and
cleverer sheep-dog on the hill could not
be found. How easily one can tell, by
the way dog does his work, how be has
been trained. Some will turn sheep any
way by turn of the hand or q glance
from the masters eye; others. again, can
be got to do nothing without swearing,
gesticulating and shouting, and often
stones thrown at the dog, who stands puz-
zled and uncertain amid such a din. We
find MacGregor, Dhu and Bluebell cross
ing the same range of mountains we de-
scribed in the beginning of our story, but
in very different weather. 1t was the
month of November; the road was Gov
cred with snow, driven by fierce north
east wind Calamity the little horse had
climbed the long, steep ascent. 1t was
hard work sometimes to keep footing,
as the wind came whistling with tremen-
dous force down the glens, driving the
binding show in their faces. Many .
time it had brought Bluebell to a stand,
with his legs firmly planted till the wild
blast passed. Slowly they reached the
top where the road wound along the lit
tie loch, now dark and wild, lashed into
rough waves by the wind. The horse
stopped, exhausted with his pull, when
wilder gust came bowling on them. Blue.
bell could not resist it; and the gig was
blown off the road down into the water
beneath, a fall of some thirty feet, into an
awful abyss of seething water, with the
night closing in, and several miles from
help. This is no invention of fancy. The
fact happened within the last two years,
and close to the writer's home. Happily,
MacGregor was tossed out, and fell not in
deep water, his fall broken by some BUSH
es, but still 80 severely Injured that for q
long time he remained unconscious. Blue
bell was almost Immediately drowned,
being unable to free himself from the
gig. When MacGregor awoke from his
stupor, he found his faithful dog ly-
ing near him. Dhu had fallen over
some little distance from his master, and
had dragged himself, severely cut and in
jured, to his masters side. MacGregor
spoke to the dog, who struggled 10 rise
and answer him. As his senses grew
clearer, he saw that his only salvation de-
pended upon his dog; il he could only
reach the nearest house, they would un-
derstand and follow him to the place
where the accident had happened. Lay
ing his hand on the dogs head, MacGreg-
or said, slowly and clearly, "Hie, fetch
them, Dhu ~ Dhu looked into his face,
to leave him. The order was
repeated, and the noble dog struggled to
his feet. Finding place where he could
scramble up, he started as quick as he
could down the brae. At last he reached
the small public house, eight miles down
the glen. where MacGregor was wont to
water his horse. He reused the people
by barking and on opening the door they
found him sunk on the ground exhausted.