Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-03-04
SMITHS GENTLE DOG.
why Dog-Bitten Resident Left EIys
Ian Retreat
Pittsburgh Telegraph.

! Ahh beekTtaA.
Pittsburgh Telegraph.
Verify, we know not what a day
may bring forth Last SATURDAY.
night, IN accordance with a previous
ly arranged scheme of revenge,
dragged my mutilated frame 10 q
magistrates office and entered suit
against Smith for keeping a ferccious
dog. Yesterday morning the hearing
took place, and after rehersing my
tale of woe | stepped 10 one side ia
allow the defendant to stammer forth
such paltry excuse as he might see fiji
to make. Judge, then, of my indip-
nation when Smith to present his case
in such light that | vas thrown UP
on the defensive. He narrated how,
night after night, crowd of hood
lums had forcibly entered upon his
premises, and by allowing his hydrant
to run had converted his yard into an
ice pond; furthermore, the aforesaid
hoodlums had willfully broke wheel
barrow that had been left out over
night, besides trsmping over -four
beds where a number of choice bushes
were tied up. AS to the dog, he claim
ed that the annual was as gentle as a
lamb, and would not bite anyone UNI
less provoked, and anyhow it was on
his masters property,
THAT is enough, Mr.. Smith, " re-
marked the Squire. "I'he suit is dis
missed at the cost of complainant"
Sat whose cost" inquired, thinking
that [ surely had not heard Alright.
AT the cost of complainant-your
cost, to make 1t plainer-and you may
feel thankful that Mr.. Smith does not
prosecute you for trespassing."
Inever was so sad in my life as when
l counted out the necessary sum to
defray the costs of the suit | had en-
tered, for Smith still fingered around
to witness the closing scenes; and
right then and there | concluded that
the man who embarks in the petty
suing business is not far from being a
fool.
A multitude of conflicting emotions
thrilled my bosom as | emerged from
the den of injustice. Should | 20
back to Elysian Retreat again, and
wait for the breaking up of winter be
fore the water-plpes could be thawed
out2 Go back TO a place where / had
to wash my face in winter in order to
save the water for cooking purposes2
Go back 10 the neighborhood where /
could hear Smiths bulldog bay the
moon, and where my sleep would be
disturbed by awful visions of hydro
phobia2 Never And thus deciding
/ Immediately closed the bargain for
an empty house that had attracted my
attention several days before, and, ere
the shades of evening fell, the major
portion of my household belongings
were in the abode. This morning |
superintendent the packing of the last
load, and then, shaking the mud and
snow off my feet as a testimony
against the community, babe Elysian
Retreat farewell forever.
Here, in Happy Hollow, a new
field o. usefulness awaits me. Far
from the maddlng dogs ignoble bite,
| shall speedily overcome the fear of
rabies and find peace and content
ment in again building up reputa-
ton as a weather prophet, Here the
water pipes never burst or freezs-at
least tho oldest inhabitants fails to re-
member any such occurrence-and
tradition has it that plumber once
set shop up here, but wasted his en-
tire fortane while waiting for job.
This is the place l have long sought,
and here | shall remain.
Postcript-Smce penning the above
courier has arrived from the former
scene of action, bringing the startling
intelligence thai Smiths bulldog died
at noon to-day, after brief but VIC
lent illness. Foul play is suspected.