Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-02
A Famous Goose.
The Companion Bird of the One that Saw.
 ed Rome.

ed Rome.
 From Chambers Journall
 An interesting relic is preserved in glass case in the Goldstream Guards orderly-room at Whitehall. It consists of the head and neck of goose, around which is a golden collar with the inscription "Jacob-Second Battalion Goldstream Guards Beneath it are the words ''Died on Duty"
 In 1888 a rebellion broke out in our Cana dian possessions. and two battalions of the guards were sent thither to assist in quelling 1t, the battalion already mentioned being one of them. Both corps occupied the citadel of Quebec, and in their turn supplied the guards which were ordered to be mounted in different parts of the town and neighbor- hood.
 Near one of these guards was a farm yard which had suffered much from the ravages of foxes-aninnals that were at that period great pest to the colonists aud as the farm in question had been suspected of being the meeting place of the rebels chain of sen tries were placed around it. One day the sentry whose duty it was to watch the trance to the farm had his attention attracted by unusual noise, and on looking toward the spot whence it proceeded he beheld fine goose fleeing toward him closely pursued by fox. His first impulse was to have shot at the latter, but this would have alarmed the guard and brought condign punishment on himself for giving false alarm. He was compelled, therefore, to remain a silent spec tator of the scene, while every step brought reynard nearer to his prey.
 In the height of its despair the poor bird ran it's head and neck between the legs of the soldier in it's frantic endeavor to reach the refuge which the sentry box could afford and at the same moment the willy fox made desperate grab at the goose but too late for ere he could get feather between his teeth the ready bayonet of the sentiael had passed through his body. The poor goose, by way of showing it's gratitude to its preserver, rub bed it's head against his legs and made other equally curious demonstrations of joy, nor could it ever be prevailed upon to quit the post, but walked up and down day after day with each successive sentry that was placed there, until the battalion left Canada, when the goose was brought away with it as a regi- mental pet to England
 The most remarkable thing in connection with the story is that the goose in turn act ually saved its preserver's life. Whether the former knew that the sentry was the same man or not, must of course remain a prob lem but 1t so happened that he was on that particular post about two months afterward, when desperate attempt was made to sur prise and kill the unwary sentinel. It was winter time, and although it was..a bright moonlight night, the moon was hidden ever and anon by the scudding clouds which seemed to presage an approaching storm In these moments of darkness a sharp observer might have noticed the shadows of several men, who unobserved by the somewhat drowsy sentinel were endeavoring stealthily to approach the post where he stood. Sud denly he heard, or thought he heard, strange, rustIing sound, and, bringing his musket to Lis shoulder, he shouted loudly
 'sWho goes there ?" Not a sound save the echo of his own voice in the distance and the signing of the winter wind among the branches of the trees which stood in the T Id e., lzI lenge.
 Several minutes elapsed, during which the soldier marched up and down his lonely beat followed by the devoted goose, until, deeming his alarm unwarranted, he again ''stood at easel before the sentry This the enemy's opportunity, and the rebels were not long in endeavoring to profit by it. Closer and closer they stole up toward the post the thick snow which lay on the ground com pletely deadening the sound of their foot steps But just as two of their number, one on each side of the sentry-box, were prepar- ing, with uplifted knife, to spring upon the unsuspecting man, the bird made a grand effort, rose suddenly on it's wings, and swept round the sentry with tremendous force, flap ping it's wings right in the faces of the would be assassins. They were astounded any rushed blindly forward but the sentry, fully aroused to his danger, bayoneted one and shot the other he was running away. M0dnWLl6, the OCner COnSplfaGOrS aDprOacn- ed to the assistance of their colleagues but the bird repeated it's tactics and enabled the sentry to keep them at bay until the guard whom the firing of his musket had alarmed came upon the scene and made them flee for their lives.
 When this incident became known poor old Jacob was the hero of the garrison; and the officers subscribed for and purchased the golden collar which the bird afterward wore until the day of his death.
 On the arrival of the regiment in London, the bird resumed it's old duties with the sen tinel posted at the barrack gates; and it was exceedingly amusing to watchfts movements it walked proudly up and down with the sentry, or stood to attention beside the box when the latter was saluting a passing officer on guard. The feathered hero was fed and cared for, and a circular bath filled with water was always at his disposal. Chil- dren were its especial favorites, as they used to bring the creature all kinds of food but Jacob would never tolerate any liberties cept when, in military parlance, he was Standing easy" For many years Jacob seemed to bear charmed life; but he was at length run over by a van. Every ef- fort which kindness and skill could suggest was made to serve this extraordinary bird, but 1t was of no avail, and he died, like true English soldier, at the post of duty, after a ''sentry- go" of not less than twelve years.