The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-08-28
A Faithful Dog.


Some fifteen years since very singu-
lar and interesting occurrence was
brought to light in the Burgh Court,
Edinboro, by the hearing of sum-
mons in regard to a dog tax Eight
and half years previously it seems a
man named Gray, of whom nothing
was known except that he was poor, and
lived in quiet way in some obscure
partof the town, was buried in Old Gray
friarS' Church yard. His grave, leveled
by the hand of time and unmarked by
any stone, is now scarcely discernable;
but, although no human interest would
seem to attach to it, the sacred spot
had not been wholly disregarded and
forgotten. During all these years the
dead mans faithful dog had kept con-
slant watch and guard over the grave;
and it was this animal for which the
collectors sought to recover the tax.
James Brown, the old curator of the
burial ground, so the story goes, re-
membered Gray's funeral, and the dog,
Scotch terrier, was, he said, one of
the most conspicuous of the mourners.
The grave was closed in as usual, and
next morning Bobby" as the dog was
called, was found lying on the new
made mound. This was an innovation
which old James could not permit; for
there was an order at the gate stating
in the most Ineligible characters that
dogs were not admitted. Bobby was
accordingly driven out; but next morn
ing he was there again, and for the Sec
ond time was discharged The third
morning was cold and wet, and when
the old man saw the faithful animal, in
spite of all chastisment, lying shivering
onthe grave, he took pity on him and
gave him some food.
This recognition of his devotion
gave Bobby the right to make the
church-yard his home; and from that
time on he never spent a night away
from his masters tomb. Often in bad
weather attempts were made to keep
him within doors, but by dismal howls
he succeeded in making it known that
this interleieace was not agreeable to
him, and latterly he was allowed his
own way. At almost anytime during
the day he might be seen in or about
the church yard; and no matter how
rough the night was, nothing could in
duce him to forsake the halloWed spot,
whose identity, despite the irresistible
obliteration. he SO faithfully preserved.
Bobby had many friends, and the
x-gatherers by no means proved to
to be his enemies. A weekly treat OF
steaks was long allowed him by Ser
geant Scott, of the Engineers, and for
more than six years heawas regularly
fed by Mr.. Trail, of the restaurant,
Grayfriars' Place He was constant
and punctual in his calls, being guided
i'll his midday visits by the sound of
the time gun. On the ground of har-
boring the dog, proceedings were taken
against Mr.. Trail for payment of the
tax. The defendant expressed his will
ingness, could he claim the dog, to be
responsible for the tax; but so long as
the dog refused to attach himself to
any one, it was impossible to fix the
ownership; and the court, seeing the
peculiar circumstances of the case, dis
missed the summons.
Bobby was long an object of curios-
ity to all who had become acquainted
with his history. His constant appear
anee in the grave yard had caused
many inquiries to be made regarding
him, and efforts without number were
made to get possession of him. The
old curator, of course, stood up as the
next claimant to Mr.. Trail, and finally
offered to pay the tax himself rather
than to have Bobby -Grayfriars' Bobby,
to allow him his full name-put out of
the way. .s...t.. f..-a1..-.
Four wears longer the faithful little
dog kept his loving watch, and at last
died, to the regret of all who knew him,
never having been out of reach of his
masters grave, though in his later
years the infirmities of doggish age
forced him to accept a partial hospitali-
tyof the curator. During the many years
which elapsed between the death of his
master and his own departure the
lowly grave was forgotten by all but
the dog. No stone guarded it, and not
even mound marked it. The grass
and weeds grew luxuriantly over it as
over the level soil around. There had
been for years nothing that could mark
out the grave from the surrounding
soil, but the little dog knew the sacred
spot under which lay his masters re-
mains, and for hours used to stand
upon it. keeping his guard. A little
way from the grave is an altar-tomb,
under which Bobby use to shelter him
self in bad weather, and to which he
always was wont to take the bones and
other food provided for him by the gen
erous persons whose names have been
mentioned. Lady Burdett-Coutts glad
dened the hearts of many lovers of an
imals, when she perpetuated his mem
ory by lasting monument of granite
and bronze. The monument is drink
ing fountain made of Peterhead granite,
and surmounted by life-size statue of
Bobby in bronze.-E0ery Other SGt~r-
day.
A missionary of the American Sun