Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-11-15

A Tale from Japan.

EIeu WIS u hNIhy Jug NHohe origin anu
whose name even were shrouded in mystery
In 1861 he had landed in Yokohama from an
English tea-clipper, in the company of a mel
ancholy traveller. Nobody, of course, took
any notice of the dog at the time and he, on
on his part avoided all familiarity with
strangers, having, apparently, eyes and ears
only for his master whom he followed every
where.
This master, Mr. Alexander Young, was
rather mysterious character. Nobody knew
whence he came or whittier he was bound
The captain of the "Georgina" had made his
acquaintance in Java, and had given him a
passage to Japan on very moderate terms.
During the voyage, Alexander Young-or
Sandy, as he was commonly called-spoke
very little, but drank Il good deal. The cap
tain. who, when Mt sea, made it q rule never
to take anything stronger than water, was not
at all disinclined, when ashore, to indulge in
an extra bottle or So In consequence he
treated the weakness of his companion with
compassionate fellow-feeling, and even felt,
on that very account, a sort of sympathy for
him, which showed itself in many little kind
nesses. Sandy was very grateful and in his
sad, dreamy, blue eyes there was a tender
and friendly expression whenever they rested
on the rugged, weather beaten features of the
captain.
Fred was Sandy's constant companion, and
the dogs nose was never many inches distant
from his MASTER heels.
Fred is curious name for dog" said
the captain, one evening; why did you call
him so 2"
Sandy was silent for fully minute, and
then answered slowly, Because he was a
present from my cousin Louisa
The captain was much impressed by this
unexpected explanation but as he was him
self accustomed to clothe his ideas in most
enigmatical language, he made no doubt that
Sandy's reply had some deep hidden mean
ing and without indulging in indscreet
questions, he made many and fruitless efforts
to solve the problem unaided. From that
time Sandy rose in his esteem. Neither San
dy nor he ever required TO the subject but
when, at a later period, the captain was asked
why Mr.. Young's dog was called Fred, he
answered authoritatively, Because the'dog
was present from his cousin Louisa"
Fred was thoroughbred bull-terrier,
snow-white, with one black round spot over
his left eye. His fore-legs were bowed his
chest was broad and powerful, his head wide
and fiat as a frogs. His jaws were armed
with set of short, uneven, sharp teeth,
which seemed strong enough to crunch bar
of iron. His eyes were set obliquely in his
head, Chinese fashion; nevertheless there
was an honest and trustworthy expression in
lutLl. Out tbulAl hct Nilstl IItNs tnOuBu
was dangerous, was not savage or a WICK
ed beast
Fred could smile in his grim way, if his
master showed him a bone and said, Smile :"
But, rs "A rule, he was rs grave and serious as
Young himself. He was no bully or street
fighter. Confident in his own strength, he
looked with contempt on the small ours who
barked and yelled at him. But if large dog
a worthy adversary, attacked him, he fought
with mute, merciless fury. He neither barked
nor growled on such occasions, but the quick,
deep breathing under which his broad chest
heaved, betrayed his inward fury. His green
eyes shone like emeralds, and he fastened his
| fangs into his enemy with such mad violence
| that it was a matter of great difficulty to
make him loose his hold.
During six months Sandy and Fred led a
quiet life at Yokohama. Sandy was known,
| it is true, to consume in private an incredible
amount of spirits but in public, his behav-
| ior was uneXceptiOnable, and no one had ever
seen him intoxicated. A few days after his
arrival, he had bought one of the rough, ug-
ly little ponies of the country. Those who,
| for some reason or another, srayed from the
beaten paths usually frequented by foreign
residents at Yokohama, declared that they
| had met Young, the pony, and Fred in the
most unlocked for places. The lonely rider,
the horse and the dog appeared they said,
equally lost in deep reyerie. Young smoked !;
the pony with the reins hanging loose on its
neck, walked with his head down, as though
it We're studying that road of which its mas
ter took no heed while Fred followed close
behind, with his dreamy, half-closed eyes
fixed on the horses hoofs. Young never ad-
dressed anybody but returned every salute
politely, and so to speak, gratefully. The
Europeans at Yokohama wondered at their
quiet fellow-exile; and the japanese called
him kitchiRgay-crazy.
Young rarely remained in town when the
weather was fine. He would leave the settle
ment in the early morning with his two four
footed companions, and not return from his
ride till dusk. But if it rained and blew
hard, one might be sure to meet him on the
| bitnd-the street which leads from the Euro
pean quarter TO the harbor. On such occa-
sions Sandy, with his hands behind his back,
walked slowly up and down the broad road,
with Fred at his heels as usual; though 1t
was evident that the poor drenched animal
| did not share his masters enjoyment Of bad
weather. At intervals Sandy would stop in
his walk and watch with apparent interest the
boisterous sea and the vessels that were pass
ing ON it. Whenever this happened Fred i'm
mediately sat upon his launches and fixed his
blinking eyes on his masters countenance, as
though he were trying to discover some indi-
cation that he was going to exchange the i'm
passable street for the comfortable shelter of
! his lodgings. If Young stayed too long, Fred
! would push him gently with his nose as If to
wake him out OF his day-dreAm. Sandy