The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-31
A Dog and His D0ings.

He was pure Newfoundland, with q
nice broad head and beautiful brown
eyes, and such a sweet expression at the
corners of his mouth you would be sure
to think he was smiling. A more af-
fectlonate heart never beat than that
beneath the shaggy Breast of our dog
Custer. We trained him to hold the
halter in his mouth and lead the horses
away, and he was very proud to be al
lowed this honor, and would wag his
big, 'bushy tail in a satisfied way, and
hold his head high in order to look as
dignifed as possible, suppose.
His tricks and accomplishments were
many. He could carry two eggs in his
huge mouth at once and never break
one. He could turn knob as well as
any one, and on entering room would
always turn around and put his paw on
the door to close it. If this failed he
would lump upon the door, taking care
nor to scratch with his nails. He was
more intelligent than many men have
seen, and if any one sat down in the
house without doffing his hat Custer
would steal stealthily up behind him
and pull it off, then dropping it on the
floor at the side of his chair would walk
quietly away and lie down, as one who
had performed duty.
We would wrap few pennies in a
paper and send him with it in his mouth
to a store for candy, of which he was
very fond. He would never give it to
any but one clerk, with whom he was
and would bring the candy
home untouched, but after delivering 1T
to us would stand expectantly by, wag-
ging his tail and waiting for the sweet
inorsel he knew he was sure to get. He
was fond of milk, too, but would carry
it faithfully to our pet lamb; and
though he would glance longingly into
the pail occasionally, he was never
known to betray our trust or steal one
SIP of the coveted beverage.
We could send him to q remote part OF
the house for any article, and ne would
be sure to understand and bring it to us
if he could find it, and he generally
found whatever he searched for. would
say: "Custer, bring my overshoes from
the hall" He would get up and yaWn,
perhaps, and look up in my face with
dog-smile, as though he said: You
lazy girl, why did you disturb my pleas
ant dreamp" then turn the knob OF the
hall door and in moment return to me
with both rubbers in the caVernous
depths of his great'red mouth.
Iwould say: bring me my thimble.
It is upstairs on the window" He
would turn his grand, glossy head first
on one side, then on the other, and look
at me in puzzled way, as though trying
to fix it upon his memory, then turn
slowly away to do his errand. Sometimes
on the way he would seem to forget and
come back to me, looking very, much
ashamed, dropping his wide. curly ears
and peering ut me from the top OF ms
eyes. Then would repeat my demand
and he would run friskily away again,
and come back with the thimble hid in
his mouth. Often he would tantalize me
playfully and refuse to give it to me,
shaking his head in a mischievous way
and keeping just out OF my reach, as
ran toward him.
One day friend came to visit us,
bringing her little poodle. He was q
mere pismy compared to our noble New
foundland. One blow from his great
paw would have utterly annihilatedi
the little fellow. In playing around
him as he lay on the rug, the poodle bit
him with his sharp littleteeth, upon his
huge upper lip. Dear old Gus
ter did not retaliate at all, but as the
impudent little dog persisted in annoy;
ing him and biting him, the tears rolled
down the dusky face. and a few sobs
wel]ed IN from his broad breast, indi-
cations OF physical pain, but he was al
together toe gentlemanly to touch one
50 unequal in size with himself; when
he would have needed only to open his
mouth once, and close it, and the little
poodle would have been among the
things that were.-Chtcago Field.