St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-04-14
ArrOgante, "a Shepherd Dog.

In ''Farm Talk written for IL re-
cent number of the American Cultiva-
tor, Ben. Perley Poore tells the fol-
lowing interesting story of Il shepherd
dog:
ArrOgante was sent from Spain with
a flock of MerinO sheep to gentleman
who resided near Bristol in England.
Soon after his arrival there, Il eve I'M
der his charge Glanced to get cast i'll Il
ditch during the temporary absence of
the Spanish shepherd who had accom-
panied the flock and dog at their inn
portation. An English shepherd, in IA
spirit of vaunting, insisted on reliev-
ing the fallen sheep i'll preference tn
having the absent shepherd called,
though warned by his companions to
deSist. The stern stranger dog met
him at the gate and also warned him
with sullen grOwls, growing more men
acing as he approached the sheep.
The shepherd was a powerful and bold
man, and felt that it was too late now
to retract with credit On reaching
the sheep he bent carefully forward,
with his eyes on the dog, which in
stantly made spring at his throat. A
quick forward movement of his arm
saved his throat, but the arm was sc
dreadfully lacerated that immediate
amputation became necessary. To
save the dog, which had but done his
duty as he had been taught it, from
popular excitement he was shipped in
ii vessel which sailed that very after
noon from Bristol to America. He
was sent to Francis Rotch, Esq, then
IL resident of New Bedford.
For Il long time ArrOgante would
not pay the least attention to his new
master; the voice of the latter would
scarcely arrest him for moment. AT
ter attempting in vain, for several
weeks, to obtain some recognition Ot
mastership from him, Mr.. ROtch chain
ed him securely to tree, punished
him severely, and then, with not IA few
misgivings, released him. But he sub,
mitted, for he well knew that the pun.
ishment came from his master, and af.
terward gave Il cold, naughty obedi
ence to all required of him.
Stupid and apparently sleeping mucl
of the day, nothing, however, escapeC
his observation, or was subsequently
erased from his memory. filed arOunC
building or enclosure, or even III
open space, ut nightfall, i'll manne
to evince particular design, during tht
entire night like sentinel he travers
ed some part of the guarded ring, per
mitting neither man nor beast to pas
in or out from it.
Arrogante was Temperance man
of the straightest sect-an out-and-Ou
| teetotaler-and if tolerant of devia
tions from his creed, he would bea
none from the sObriety of his practice
Never would he confess Acquaintance,
with drunken man, though the hauo
| fed him. The bailitf, who usually fec
ArrOgante, used occasionally to cOm'
home late in the evening a little ''fOu,
and never could he in this condition
| get his foot on the premises. The ole
man has pleaded guilty to more thai
one nights lodgings on the ground il
consequence of ArrOgante's temperanc
scruples.
On one occasion a couple of sailors
to take advantage of the tide, cam
Unexpectedly, and without giving an
notice, on the farm, at A. NJ, to tax
! AWAY sOllIC pOlhIOCS lHCN udu pun
chased. Arrogante thought it was no
so "nominated in the bond - he fore
ed them to Chamber into an empty caI
and there he kept them until morning
They tried the experiment of putin
leg over the side once or twice, bu
were admOnished in too unequivOcal
manner to keep quiet to need any fui
ther hints. They lost the tide, an
were in great tribulation, but, lik
honest fellows, confessed the fault wa
their own.
| might, did limits allow, recour
many more anecdotes displaying til
iron determination and fixed precisio
with which this noble dog obeyed h
instructions in guarding sheep or OtL
er property committed to his charg
He was decided "strict construction
) ist," swerving not from the letter
his commission, and woe to him WI
attempted to countervail the tenor
t that commission.