The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-01-12
Bruno IND DON.

There lived, some time ago, on Staten
Island an old judge, who owned one of
the finest saddle-horses in those parts.
tie used to ride the Don q good deal, and
was always accompanied by his great
black Newfoundland dog Bruno, also a
thoroughbred. The most perfect UNI
derstanding existed between the three,
and, certainly, neither the horse nor the
dog ought to have been called dumb
beasts, for as soon as they got sight of
their master one began to whinny, and
the other to bark a furious welcome.
When the judge was in the saddle he let
Bruno stand up just once, and catch the
rein, to which Don submitted as mat
ter of course, then he bounded on ahead,
after looking back to see that they could
get on without him.
The judge went to the city every
morning, and used to ride TO the ferry,
and then he would put the rein in Bru-
nos mouth and let him lead the horse
back to the stable, nearly mile distant
1t was a sight worth seeing to watch
these two on the march The sense of
duty expression on the dogs face, and
the gentle ac9uiescence beaming from
the Don's "meek brown eyes" Many
/ persons used to stop in the street every
/ day TO observe them. Whenever a
wagon passed them Don's training in
variably made him turn to the right,
and Bruno would look at him with re-
/ spectfsl admiration, because his larger
/ friend knew one thing better than he
! did. Mischievous boys tried sometimes
to get a ride, but Bruno never allowed
it. He would drop the bride, put his
paws on the youths shoulders, usually
upsetting him, while Don stood still
waiting for the signal to go on.
One day two boys, more daring than
the rest, determined to mount! The
Judge had warned everybody never to at
tempt this; but Harry Clarkson, the
brave spirit of the two, made up his
mind that ne would cure these beasts Of
their nonsense; so he got his friend
/ Charley Simpson to help him, who I'M
dertook to manage Bruno while he was
mounting. These boys walked suddenly
up to the dog and ordered him sharply
to stop Bruno's eyes flashed and he
growled as audibly As he could with the
bride in his mouth, but kept on. Char
/ lev was then cowardly enough TO strike
/ him a severe blow with his cane on his
mouth, which compelled him to drop
the bride, but the boy had now enough
to do to protect himself, while Harry
seized the reins and tried to mount.
Bruno stopped his onslaught for mo-
ment, after tearing Charley's coat nearly
/ off, and looked Don full in the face, as
much as to say "Surelv you will not
allow this insult" Don returned the
glance, but stood still, instead of turn
ing around and around, as he usually did
when impertinent strangers tried to
back him.
Bruno was evidently perplexed and
mortified at Don's want of spirit, but he
kept silent. Harry got into the saddle
without trouble, gathered the reins up
/ gingerly, and was just starting off when
Don put his head down suddenly, lashed
out furi.usly, and his rider was in the
ditch in a moment. Charley had to run
( to his friends rescue and Bruno, waving
his long plumy tail in triumph, sounded
one pean of victory, caught the dang
/ ling bride in his mouth and went quietly
+ home.
Harry and Charley tried to do 50 also,
+ but a crowd had gathered to witness the
combat, and the discounted boys re-
tired amid jeers and laughter, fully re-
solved for the future to let the old
judges horse and dog alone-Te lip
peal.