The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-16
H,srehang.
FRED A TALE FROM JAPAN
BY Il. l..

BY RI.
From Backwoods Magazine.
Fred was stray dog whose origin and
whose name even were shrouded in mys-
terry. In 1861 he had landed in Yokoha-
ma from an English tea-clipper, IN the
co npany of a melancholy traveller. No
bcay, of course, took any notice of the dog
at the time, and he, on his part, avoided
all familiarity with strangers, having APP
parently eyes and ears only for his mas
ter, whom he followed everywhere.
This master, Mr.. Alexander Young, was
a 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, Alex
ander Younger Sandy, as he was COM
monty called-spoke but very little and
drank good deal. The captain. who,
when at sea, made it a rule never to take
anything stronger than water, was not at
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, d sort of
sympathy for him, which showed itself in
many little kindnesses. Sandy was very
grateful; and in his sad, dreamy, blue
eyes, there was a tender and friendly ex-
preston whenever they rested on the
rugged weather-beaten figure Of the cap
tam.
Fred was Sandy's constant companion,
and the dogs nose was never many inches
distant from his masters heels.
Erred is a curious name for dog, "
said the captain, one evening; why did
you cali him SOP"
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 himself accustomed to clOthe his ideas
in most emgmatical language, he made no
doubt but that Sandy's reply had some
deep, hidden meaning; and without in
dulgng in indiscreet questions, he made
many and fruitless efforts to solve the
problem unaided. From that time Sandy.
rose in his esteem Neither Sandy 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 a present from his cousin Louisa. "
Fred was a Thoroughbred bull-terrier,
Enow-white, with one black, round spot
over his left eye. HIS fore-legs were bow
ed, his chest was broad and powerful, his
head wide and fiat as 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
in his head ob]iquely, Chinese fashion;
nevertheless there was an honest, trust
worthy expression in them. One could
see that Fred, though he was dangerous,
was not a savage or a wicked beast.
Fred could smile in his grim way, if his
master showed him a bone and said
.'Smile," But. as a rule, he was as grave
andserious as Young himself. He was nc
bully nor street-fghter. Confident in his
own strength. he looked with contempt
on the small ours who barked
and yelped at him. But If large
dog. a worthy adversary, attacked him,
he fought with mute merciless fury. He
neither barked nor growled on such occa
sions, 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 il
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, Ii is true, to consume in privat,
an Incredible amount of spirits; but IL
public his behavior was uneXceptionable
and no one had ever seen him intoxicated
A few DAYS after his arrival he had bought
one of the rough, ugly little ponies of tn,
country. Those who, for some reason OF
other. strayed from the path usually fire.
quented by foreign residents at Yokohama
declared that they had met Young, tn,
pony and Frrd in the most unlocked fol
places. The lonely rider. the horse. ana
the dog appeared. theo said, equally los
in deeprevefie. Young smoked: the po
ny. with the reins hanging loosely on IT,
neck, walked with his head down, a.
though it were studying that road o
which it's master took no heed: while Frei
followed close behind. with his dreamy
half-closed eyes fixed on the horses hoofs
Young never addressed anybody. but re
turned every salute politely and. so (,
speak, gratefully. The Europeans at Yo
kohama wondered at theirfellow-exile: anC
the Japanese called him kitshagay-cra
".
Young rarely remained in town wher
the weather was fine. He would leave III,
settlement in the early morning with hi
two four-footed companions. and not re
turn from his ride till dusk But If i
rained or blew hard. one might be sure (,
meet him on the busd-the street which
leads from the European quarter to th,
harbor. On such occasions Sandy. with
his hands behind his back. walked slowl,
up and down the broad road, with Fred a
his heels as usual; though it was eviden
that the poor. drenched animal did no
share his master enjoyment of bad wealth
er. At intervals Sandy would stop in hi
walk and watch with apparent interes
the boisterous sea and the YES
sells that were tossing on 1t. When
ever this happened Fred imme,iia;el,
tnpon his launches and fixed his blink
ing eyes on his masters countenance. a
though he were trying to discover som,
Indications that he was going to exchang,
the impossible street for the comfortably
shelter of his lodgings. If Young staye,
too long. Fred would push him gentl
with his nose as If to wake him from hi
lsy-dresm. Sandy would then move OF
again; but he never went home till III
e night had Get in