, 1877-08-24
Ny Dog "Sport."

have always loved me. cannot recall q
time IN my life when was afraid of a
dog, and never knew dog TO be cross
to me. We understood each other. Dogs,
like people, soon find out who their
friends are, and all the sympathy Of their
dog nature warns up to them. / endure
cats, | fancy birds, l like horses; but
love dogs with real human love. l
have been the owner of good many, and
their memory is fragrant with me yet.
But the best and loveiest of them all
was Sport. He was as handsome as a
picture-of a rich brown color, with
large, liquid eyes, full of inexpressible
tenderness, long, silken ears, that reached
nearly to the ground, short. pug nose,
and square, intellectual head. He was a
rare beauty. People would always stop
and look round at him as he passed.
Thieves tried to steal him; but he was
too cunning for them.
He understood language, as far as his
range of words went, as well as man
yes, better than some men | know. He
would watch my every motion, and at the
slightest hint would be off like shot to
do my bidding. If told him to take a
mans hat off in the street (Which, | am
sorry to say, have done), he would give
a spring to his shoulders and bring me
that hat before the man had time to get
over his scare and look round. Some
times, if left home and had forgotten
something, it would be enough to say,
"Sport, handkerchief y 'pocketbookP =
'glovesp" when away he would 60, soon
after returning with the article in his
mouth.
was once bathing in the Delaware.
After had dressed and gone mile from
the place, l found that had left my
necktie. / looked at Sport, pointed at
my neck, and said: Bring it." Before
the words were fairly spoken he was off,
and in quarter of an hour returned
with the tie in his mouth.
used to play hide and seek with him.
would turn him out of the room and
then hide my handkerchief. He always
beat me. would put it under the car
pet inside the piano, stuff it down behind
the Sofa-seat but he always found it.
Once l put it on top of the curtain-cor-
nice. He had long hunt that time; but
at last he mounted on a chair, looked up,
gave long sniff, then wagged his tail
and WINGED. He couldn't get at it, but
told me plainly enough where it was.
One Sunday night came home from
church very tired, and thought l would
see if he could get my slippers. took
off my boots, and, pointing to my feet,
said: "Sport, slippers!" 1t was new
word to him. He looked at me sharply
then at my feet; then away he went to
my bedroom and brought my nightgown.
Seeing my boots of, and knowing it was
near bedtime, he thought that was what
| wanted. l shook my head "No, no."
and again pointed to my feet. "Slippers,
seeW showing the uncovered foot, Away
he went the second time, returning with
the booUack. 1 said. mo, no." He
looked at me again inquiringly, turned
his head on one side, then dashed off the
third time, with sharp yelp. This time
he got them; and oh how glad and
proud he was when l patted him approx
ingy. He never made mistake about
slippers after that.
OF all dogs he was the most faithful.
If put anything in his charge, he would
guard it for hours, and l believe he
would have sacrificed his life rather than
desert it. Put him beside a sleeping
child and say, "Watchl" and woe betide
any one who should disturb that child.
Once came to the city in steamboat.
l put my valise on the fore deck and told
Sport to watch it. He lay down with
his paw upon it and his sharp eyes un-
closed. When the boat reached the land
ing colored porter rushed up to me,
crying out: "Baggage6 baggage9" "Yes,"
l said, stake that valise," pointing to it.
He sprang for it; but Sport made q snap
at him that soon drove him back. He
tried in vain to get possession of it by ar
titiCe. l stood by, laughing.
The porter saw the joke and went
ashore to get comrade. "Here, Pete"
he said, "take that n'lman's valise. I'm
full" Away the second fellow went for
it; but Sports teeth ratified more furious
ly than ever. / offered him double fare
if he would get it; but it was of no use.
Sport was too much for him; and even
after had called him off duty he eyed
the man suspiciously, and never left him
till the valiSe was safely home.
Once only was Sport disobedient. He
was subjected to temptation too great
for even his great dog heart. We had
sailed across and down the river in q
large yacht; when anchoring, we took a
small skiff' to hunt in the reeds for ducks,
bidding Sport remain on the yacht and
keep watch. We were gone about an
hour, had fired few shots, and then re-
turned to the yacht. But Sport was not
there. We called him, whistled for him,
fred our guns; but in vain. We spent
hours seeking for him among the reeds.
Fruitless searchl He was not there. We
thought him lost to us forever, and, with
sad hearts, at nightfall returned home.
But Sport was ahead of US: He was ly-
ing on the grass at the landing, waiting;
but too weary to rise even. He could