The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-03-14
A FAITHFUL WATCH.
The Aoonomic Advantages ofa STONE DOG
From the Boston Transcript.

y r
The Hoonomic Advantages ofa stons Dog.
From the Boston Transcript
: 'sDid I ever tal you about my stone
dog? asked Biggs, =.
Ii They all declared that he never did.
!, "Well," said Biggs, Il had more fun
put of that dog than any man ever got
of dozen dogs, When bought my
place, you know, | looked around for
something to ornament the grounds
with, and | happened to hit upon fell
low who had u big stone dog that he
was willing to sell cheap. didn't sup
pose then that + was going to get so
much fun out of the thing; If had
anticipated one tenth part of the sport
that was in store for me. ] would have
given three times as much rs I did rather
than not get the critter. .v...
81 had the dog planted near the far
ther end of the front walk, so that he
could he seen from the street gate, and
where he looked for all the world just
like a dog of flesh and blood taking q
quiet nap. didn't think much about
him at first except rs fatter myself that
his presence gave sort of tone to my
establishment, suggesting to the passer-
by that man who could afford stone
| dog must have pocketful of rocks You
know.
But one evening I was sitting at tho
front window, enjoying my pipe, when
a peddler stopped at my gate. He
opened it half way gave a little start,
shut it again very carefully, tiptoed for
a rod or two, and then ran off as though
the Old Harry was after him. couldn't
understand this for minute or two:
finally I thought of thet stone dog. !.
Then it came to me what'as treasure ID
possessed. /
! And that was only the beginning Of
the fun. suppose during that week /
saw no less than dozen fellows 20,
| through the same pantomime. Befora
this my establishment had appes2ed 10,
bea favorite house Of call 70 all tie ths
beggars, peddlers, old clo' dealers and
organ grinders in the t~,nntry. Ndw
they all stopped at ~ gate. Not one;
OF them ventured aside. It would have
done yonr Soul good to see the fright
enea o.. .Gers stob-short and then 70
on on the double quick.
|, II guess it got noised among the
transient fraternity that Biggs kept 9
dog with rayenons appetite for ped
dlers and beggars. At3all events, there
wasn't one came near the house after
that dog had been there two or three
weeks. The last one saw was an old
lady. From her perss::,,ency. i reckon
she w.. ,shing Up subscriptions for 3. g
| church fair or something Of that sort,
She opened TIE gate, AID then waited
apparently TO se> if that dog meant bus
mess. As the ddA- didn't spring at het, !,
she opened her umbrella
with rush, thinking to frighten him
awar But tha4 clog a. dnt scare worth y.
cent. Then. she trieA the u. coaxlng5
dodge, Doggy, she cal1e> IN persta7s 4
siye tones, poor doggy, M e doggy,
Carlo, Rover. Lion But th st stone e
dog wasn't to be wheedled into frlend-s
ship. He lay there as logged as ever. G
The old lady exhausted every npeA ns
she could think of to coax on to frighseA
the cur; hut there he lay with his heads
on his outstretched paws, looking fast
asleep or already for q spring, Just as
one happened to fancy. The old lady
had to give il up finally, but she held
the fort ..oile,.r than any Of the rest Of
them. t... ~.
"Why,. that dog has paid for himself
over and over again. Idon't know how
much he saved me when he scared the
old lady away, and nobody can reckon
how many coats and tronsers 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 sight
of that stone dog they scattered. 0hE
what fun l have bad watching them. |
And yon should have seen the way
the cats would get their backs up at Il
that dog How they would spit, and
how they would scamrer mp the nearest
tree, and sit there watching my stony
friend, and when they thought they had
q good chance, run down again and
make off like. all possessedi
TWAS fun, too, to see the dogs
maneuver. They would come along,
and when they saw my stone dog, they
would jump over the fence and try .aH
sorts Of dog ways to make friends with
him !; but TO all their establishments he
paid not the slightest attention. ss,ome
would shew fight, and come ut linn Il
snorting and growing; but he stood his i
ground SO well that they didn't dare to
come too near. aud when they turned
their backs, they kept their heads over
their shoulders, as though they expect
ed he would be on to them every min
ute. Sonae Of the dogs, who had come
to be SO sociable and friendly, finding !,
that their advances were met with stony
Indifference, walked of with an air ct
offended pride, rs much as to say, g Oh,
very we'll, you needn't notice MS If you
don't want to; guess we are as good as
you, any day in the week y Others. Il
timid little fellows would steal sup on
their bellies until they got within .
couple Of rods of my dog, and then,
their courage forsaking them. they would
turn tail and s.urry down the walk,
Kicking up clouds Of dust and making
the air musical with their ki-yies.
Yes, said .Biggs, after stopping y i
few moments to laugh over the scenes
that came to his mind, 81 if you want to,
have fun buy a astoned dog. There moth
ing like it. si
Twenty Ave firms in this country
publish school books, hut five of them
- - sslSa