The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-02-08
miscellaneous.
Our Dog Rover.

Rover was gift. Born on the same day
with baby Charley, he was present to him.
1t was winter and Rover was wrapped in a
square of flannel and laid by the kitchen fire,
and fed milk from a saucer. Five pair of
hands helped him change his positiOn-ive
pair of feet ran themselves tired waiting on
and capering about him in their joy, and five
tongues said: ooh sect when he opened
his eyes and put out his cunning little red
tongue To lap the milk.
One of the differences between him and
the baby up stairs was that he grew so much
faster. and when little Charley was ready to
creep, and rolled over in the effort, Rover
could bound after ball and curvet around,
as much at home on his own legs as he ever
could be.
Rover was well named. He never saw a
patch of water that he didn't make dive for
it, nor IL piece of woodland that he did not
explore. The children were all lively. They
ran races with him, and swan with him, but
were not always ready for his mischief
Once he seized little pair of pants Qhe own
er was in the watcr) What commotion !
His eyes shone with fun. The bare-legged
owner started for his trousers Whenever
ut safe distance Rover stopped and shook
them vigorously, paved and rolled over in
the grass with them, and finally deposited
them on the doorstep. Now, little sDick
could not appreciate so much fun, and howl
ed and vowed all sorts of punishment when
he should be caught.
scamp never could be caught No burglar
ever kept out of police tracks as he did theirs
after one of his tricks.
1t was not often he was quiet. At one
time he had rushed through an open door
way into bedroom, seized n boot, which
he mumbled shook, tore and then hid in his
kennel. He was caught and tied up. His
release was due to the appearance of a pho.
tographer, and in aquiet state ofmind he al
lowed himself to be made picture Of
Whether he thought this part of his pun
ishment or not, | can't say, but he immedi-
ately afterwards gravely marched 10 the ken
mel and brought the injured boot and laid it
at the owners feet. The puzzle now was,
should he be praised for returning the stolen
property. 1t was incurably injured, but the
way they had taken to teach him right from
wrong was to always praise him when he
did right. He stood now demurely, without
a wag of his tail or move of Lis long ears,
evidently in anticipation of something
should it be praise? l think no one could
help it, and Good dog, Rover! Nice dogl"
satisfied him, and the cloud rolled by" off
his dog mind and he trotted off, evidently
thinking virtue was its own reward.
Rover had unbounded dare about him.
The snort OF a locomotive engine was always
looked upon as challenge for a race that
could not be resisted At that time the car
platforms were not protected by gates as
now. 1t was incredible how far dog and en-
CINE would keep pace together, but no one
knew better than Rover that steam would
beat finally, and just at the right point he
would sacken his speed enough to jump on
the platform, and so, of course, the dog and
the engine arrived at the station at the same
time This cunning maneuvcr was watched
for by the engineer, who gave him reserved
seat front for the rest ofthe ride.
But how the boys hearts thumped the first
time they saw him race in front of the en-.
CINE, barking at it, and then lie down in the
middle of the track (this was before the cow
catchcrs were made to clear the track and
let the whole train fears run over him, fin
ishing his bark at the rear end the same way
| he had commenced 1t in front.
These freaks were only n small part of Ro-
ver's incessant activity. The fullncss of life
was so abundant in him he must whisk it of
| in some way, and he was just as full of love
| too, and would always be bringing something
home to the boys and lay it directly al
their feet.
His moral nature did not always lead him
right, Especially in his zeal to serve his
friends One day splendid leg of lamb was
found on long bench in the kitchen The
butcher soon appeared, tuning and wipinl
his blazing red face,
"Your, your d-dog must p pay mime fol
my m-meat sputtered he, so mad he couldn'
talk straight.
"Certainly," said his master, and paid thu
price. But Rover had to take that mea
back, and Rover could not be found. 1t wa
ordered to be left alone until he returned
The next day he returned. Pointing TO TIN
meat the boys ordered him to carry IL wher
he got it. With look of disgust he sniffe,
around, then taking it between his teeth il
the daintiest manner, SUNK away with il
hugging the fences on the way, and left it, a
he did the brooches before, on the butcher
doorstep. He never stole meat again. bu
once he brought home pair Of gloves and
cane, and another time a parcel of school
books but the funniest was when he pounc
ed upon the old cat and laid her mewing an
scratching on the hearth, and then watche
her arch her back until her feet hardly touch
ed the iloor rs she spat at him in her wratl
But Rover, sobered down, became tn
most loving protector. He would have gon
regularly to church, but the church reques
ed him not to. The boys always vowed tha
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