The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-04
4 Faithful DEG.

Some fifteen years since avery siusu
lar and interesting occurrences Wa
brought to light in the Burgh Court
Ea;nRoro. by the hearing OF sum
mons In regard to . dog tax 'Egns !
and . half wears previously 1t seems :
man named Gray. of whom notr .ng
was known except that he was poo, anu
lived. in a quiet way in some onsculo
=. ~ ~ the town. was buried in Old Gray,
fr;srs' Church yard. His grave, ieveiea
nv the hand of time and unmarko! ~
any STONE. Is now scarcely diseernso'c, |
hri. although no human interest wouIu
Seem to attach to it, the sacred sPo,
had not been wholly disregarded suu
FORGOTTEN. During all these years LUG
dead; mans faithful dog had kept con-
stant watch and guard over the grave
and II was this animal for which tine
collectors sought to recover the tax.
LANES Brown, the old curator OF tho
burial ground, 40 the story goes, TO-
Wondered Grav's funeral, and the dog:
: Scotch terrier, was, he said. one OF
the most conspicuous OF the mouino. nJ
The grave was closed In a. usual, 81.
next morning Bobby. as the uog ~",
called, was found lying on the new
made mound. This was an lnnova'vu
which old James could not permit !oI
there was an order at the gate stsung
in the most Ineligible characters .nas
dogs were not admitted. "boopy wss
accordingly driven out; but next morn
inc he was there again, and for the sec, !,
ond time was discharged. The tniro
morning was cold and wet, and when
the old man saw the faithful animal. IN
sri,e Of all enlistment, lying shiverinS
on the grave, he took pity on him anu
gave him some food.
This recognition of his dcvoti0l
rave "Bobby" the right to make TN
church-yard his home; and from ina
time ON he never spent night ava.
from his masters tomb. Often IN pa
weathers attempts were made 70 keel
Mir, within doors, but by dismal howl
he succeeded in making it known tina
th;s interference was not agreeable =
him. and latterly he was allowed d
own way. At almost any time durin
the dav he might he seen in or aoot
the church ward; and no matter no'
= ronoh the night was, nothing could II
: dnce him to forsake the hallowed spo
whose identity, despite the irresistio
obliteration, he so faithfully preserves
Bobby had many friends, ana u
tax-patherers by no means proved
9 70 he his enemies. A weekly treat
steaks was long allowed him by Sc
8 ~eant Scott. of the Engineers. and I
n more than six wears he was regular
10 fed by Mr.. Trail, OF the restauran .s
Grayfriars' Place. He was cons.s
's and punctual in his calls. being quo
~ in his midday visits by the sou9u
~ the time gun. On the ground 0. ~
SO BORING the dog, proceedings were tax
es AGAINST Mr.. Trail for payment OF
70 tax. The defendant expressed ms VI
a. inoness, could he claim the dog 10
eo RESPONSIBLE for the tax; but 80 long
10 the dog refused to attach himself
anv one. it was impossible to nix
on ownership; and the court. seeing
an peculiar circumstances OF the case
:. missed the summons.
,r' Bobby was long an object OF cur
'e. itv to All who had become acqua'n
'ro with his history. His constant appe
IN .nce in the grave yard had eau
zen many inouiries to be made regard
ZEN him and efforts without number "
us made to get possession of him.
hs- old curator, Of course, stood up rs
nd ncrt claimant to Mr.. Trail, and fin'
oeersd to nav the tax himself raj
ak than to have Bobby -Grayfriars Dol
az to allow him his full name-put on
- the way. -. !,
-Four wears longer the faithful j
anu dog kept his loving watch. and at
died. to the regret of all who knew !
tho never having been out of reach OF
msster's grave, though in his
lore wears the infirmities of doggish
40. }crced him to accept a partial hospi
'u0o ty of the curator. During the many J
.. which elapsed between the dea.n =
Z :. master and his own departure
lowly grave was forgotten py All
the dog. No stone guarded II: ane
even a mound marked it. Inc
my and weeds grew luxuriantly over
over the level soil around. There
otel been for years nothing that could
LAKE out the grave from the surrour
u re- soil. but the little dog knew the s.
octor SPOT under which lay his master
q n% / mains, and for hours used TO
ougn upon it. keeping his guard A
the wny from the grave is an aitar-'
been under which Bobby use to shelter
II ms self in bad weather, end TO whic
vlo- elways ives wont to lake the bone
Win other food provided&br him by tn
lifted. erous persons whos( names have
when mentioned. Lady Irdett- Coutts
, the d.nsd The hearts Of nauy lovers o
aes: finals. when she peri etuated his
have. orv bv lasting mo1kiment OF g
night, and bronze. The monument is q
rning ;r- Fountain made of Peterhead gr
sur and surmounted by life-size stat
Bobby in bronze.-Eoery Osser
p him " .
,rtable lNam and His DOG.