Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-11-12
"UNSER FRITZ"
True Story of Ono OF tho Truest aud
Most Faithful of Friends.

think l am going to tell them something
about the Crown Prince of Germany,
whom all the people of the German
Empire love Familiarity to call "Unser
Fritz''-Our Fritz.
But the Fritz I'm about to speak of
was Crown Prince among dogs. He
was ST. Bernard of the most magnifi-
cent proportions. with a strain of the
bloodhound. which made people at
times a little afraid of him. But he
never troubled them unless there was
something suspicious-looking about
them, of which he took it upon himself
to be the Judge. He was as black as q
coal from head to foot. with the excep-
ton OF white star upon his breast
He was a most superb Watchdog: no
regiment of the old Kaiser's grenadiers
could have guarded our premises more
vigilantly than did he, and if the Ger
man Fritz looks after the affairs of his
Empire, when he comes to govern it, as
we'll as our Fritz did after his charge.
his subjects will be admirably taken
care of.
Fritz was dog of very lofty bearing,
very exclusive in his associations, and
the soul of dignity and pride. He was
superior to all the ordinary little mean
nesses of dog-hood; he was never
known to take anything he was forbid
den to touch, for his obedience was alb
solute.
l have, from my friend Rose Kings
ley, an anecdote of q dog belonging to
her father. Charles Kingsley. who once
20 far forgot his principles Though
feared in the Eversley Rectory) as TO
steal a beefsteak while the family was
at church. Mr.. Kingsley called up the
dog, and in grave manner reproached
him with what he had done From
that day forth, till the day of his death,
the word 'beefsteak" was never ut
tered in the dogs presence without his
dropping his head and skulking away,
with his tail between his legs. Our
Fritz was higher bred, and had more
honorable PRINCIPLES than Mr.. Kings
ley's dog; he never stole a beefsteak!
His devotion to his master was exclu-
sive and extreme. believe he would
have let his ears be cut off if his master
had wished to do it. and would have
made no fuss about it. He went with
his master everywhere except to church;
and as he always knew when Sunday
came, he had never to be told to stay
at home that day. He was Eot allowed
to enter the library where his master
usually sat, unless on special oc casions;
o,l ~ %Lo,,
sufficient to beckon him in or to order
him out Yet he would lie with his
muzzle on the rug. at the library door,
with mathematical precision. bringing
it to line with the door holdings, but
not intrud;ng a half.inch beyond-so
strict was he to the letter in his ODE
dience. He would bound to the cham
Der and bring down his masters Slip
pers when he saw his master come in.
and if he heard an order given for the
riding horse to be got ont. he just as
eagerly hunted up and brought the
riding boots.
His devotion to his master was of
such watchful character that if any
stranger approached him. he always
managed to stand between his master
and the newcomer, keeping a steady
eye on the latter.
The way he would kiss and caress his
master, and the horse his master rode.
was pathetic to see; he never seemed
perfectly happy unless he had in sight
the face and form that were dearer to
him than his own life.
shall never forget a touching scene
that occurred last October of our poor
Fritz's life. Our Virginia gentlemen
have every autumn what they call the
fall hunt; when about twenty of them
form an encampment in the mountains,
some twenty or thirty miles distant,
where they remain fortnight for deer
shooting They carry several tents
with them, beds and bedding, cooking
stove. a colored hancock, and all the
utensils and arrangements for fort
nights comfortable living. All the
packs of hounds in the neighborhood
are gathered together in a leash
On the morning of which speak, the
whole cavalcade, hunters. horses. bag
gage-wagons. servants and many packs
Of hounds, were gathered together in
our stable-yard. awaiting the signal for
SlaTGug. 11OIuS WcTc SOuuOiuS, dogs
were 5sying. guns were gathering,
eager hunters were laughing and talk
ing. and a general excitement was over
all the establishment
Fritz's snirits were extremely high.
He sprang up dozen times and kissed
his masters riding-horse, brought his
master his whip and boots. and seemed
fairly beside himself with Joy.
But Fritz was not to be of the hunt
ing-party. On the mountains he was
out of his element and only marred
the sport; so he was 10 be left at home.
But his master could not bear to tell
him this, and determined rot to start
with the party, but make q detour and
lip away unperceived. Consequently
ne had his horse led round to the front
gate of the house, intending to mount
here. but Fritz was SO alert and vigi-
lant that it was impossible to elude his
watchfulness. So his master took him
aside ana said. in low but impressive
tone of voice:
Fritz, you are not to go with mer'
If the dog had been shot, l think he
could scarcely have fallen to the ground
more suddenly. as if deprived Of life.
Il was a, the end Of q k.xg hail. that