The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-03-08

"Did l ever ever tell you about my
stone dogr" asked Biggs.
Thav oil daclorad that ba navar did

"Did l ever ever tell you about my
stone dogr" asked Biggs.
They all declared that he never did.
''Well," said Biggs, 81 had more
fun out of that dog than any man ever
got out of dozen live dogs. When
bought my place, you know, l looked
around for something to ornament the
grounds with, and 1 happened to hit
upon fellow who had big stone dog
that he was willing to sell cheap.
didn't suppose then that 1 was going
to get so much fun out Of the thing; if
1 had anticipated one tenth part of the
sport that was in store for me, would
have given three times as much as did
rather than not get the critter.
81 had the dog planted near the far
ther end Of the front walk, so that he
could be seen from the street gate, and
where he looked for all the world just
like dog taking quiet nap. did't
think much about him at first, except
to iatter myself that his presence gave
a sort of tone to my establishment, sug-
gesting to the passer-by that man
who could afford stone dog must have
a pocketrul of rocks, you know.
'But one evening 1 was sitting at
the front window, enjoying my pipe,
when peddler stopped at my gate.
He opened it half way, gave a little
start, shut it again very carefully, tip
toed for a rod Or two, and then ran off
as though the old Harry was after HIM.
l couldn't understand this for minute
or two; finally thought of that stone
dog. Then it came to me what a
treasure L possessed.
'And that was only the beginning of
the fun. suppose during that week
| saw no less than dozen fellows go
through the same pantomime. Before
this my establishment appeared to be a
fayorite house of call to all the beggars,
peddlers, old clo' dealers and organ
grinders in the country. Now they
all stopped at the gate. Not one of
them ventured inside. 1t would have
done your soul good to see the frighten
ed critters stop short and go off on the
double-quick.
II guess it got noised among the
tran sient fraternity that Biggs kept a
dog with ravenous appetite for ped
dlers and beggars. At all events, there
wasn't one came near the house after
that dog had been there two or three
weeks. The last one 1 saw was an old
lady. From her persistency, reckon
she was taking up subscriptions for a
church fair or something Of that sort.
She opened the gate, and then waited
apparently to see If that dog meant
business. AS the dog didn't spring at
her, she opened her umbrella with a
rush thinking to frighten him away.
But that dog didn't scare worth cent.
Then she tried the coaxing dodge.
Doggy she cal ed In persuasive tones,
poor doggy, nice doggy, Carlo, Rover,
LionP But that stone dog wasn't to
be wheedled into friendship. He lay
there as dogged as ever. The old lady
exhausted every means she could think
of to coax or to frighten the cur; but
there he lay with his head on
his outstretched paws, looking fast
asleep ora ready for spring, just as
one happened to fancy. The old lady
had to give it up finally, but she held
the fort longer than any Of the rest of
them.
"Why that uog has paid for himself
over and over again. 1 don't know
how much he saved me when he scared
the old lady away, and nobody can
reckon how many coats and trousers he
kept out Of the hands of the vase men.
Mrs. Biggs, you know is just gone on
vases, and if one comes in her way she
will have it even if she has to sacrifice
my entire wardrobe. But the biggest
saving was in fruit. The boys used to
come around to sample my pears and
apples, but as soon as they got a sight
of that stone dog they scattered. Oh
what fun have had watching them.
'And you should have seen the way
the cats would get their backs up a
that dogl How they would spit, ant
how they would scamper up the neares
tree, and sit there watching my stony
friend, and when they thought hey hat
a good chance, run down and make of
like all possessed
''It was fun, too, to see the dogs ma
neuver. They would come along, and
when they saw my stone dog, they
would jump over the fence and try al
sorts of dog ways to make friends witt
him but to all their Establishments he
paid not the slightest attention. Som'
would show fight, and come at hin
snorting and growing; but he stood
his ground so well that they didn'
dare to come too near, and when the.
turned their backs, they kept thei
heads over their shoulders, as thougl
they expected he would be on then
every minute. Some of the dogs VIII,
had come to be sociable and friendly
finding that their advances were me
with stony indifference, walked off witt
an air of offended pride, and as mucl
to say, 'Oh, very well, you needn't no
tIce us if you don't want to; guess W
are as good as you, any day in the week.
= Others timid little fellows, woul,
steal up on their bellies until they go
! within a couple of rods of my dog
! and then their courage forsaking them
! they would turn tail and scurr
down the walk, kicking up clouds o
dust and making the air musical wit