Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-01-29

was afraid that the dog might really hurt
the man, though | was perfectly certain
that jackson would not have attacked
the fellow as he had without very severe
provocation.
At the end of few hundred yards
came upon group of the village people
laughing together, and it relieved me
good deal.
''He's tramp-chap, doctor, who's been
hanging about here these last two days.
After no good, l think, said the.butcher.
But he's gone off now, and l don't s'pose
he'll come back"
"And was the dog fastened on to him
stilll' / said, anxiously.
ooh, no, sir,"' said another of the
group. "Just as he got here he tripped
and fell, and your dog went flying,
with a bit of the chaps coat in his
mouth
...syes, and he held on to it, too, aud
stood there growing when the tramp
chap got up and limped off. Say, doctor,
if you ever part with that dog, I'll buy
him of you"
Relieved in mind, but little puzzled,
too, at this display of savagery, and ask
ing myself whether, perhaps, after ALL for
my aunt's sake, had not better part
with Jackson, l went on my round, saw
several patients, feeling as important as
young doctor should forgot all about
jackson and my aunt, and finally made
my way home pretty tired, and then all
at once the dogs adventure came into
my mind.
For, as 1 let myself into the passage
and was in the act of hanging up my hat,
| suddenly stood us if petrified, for from
out of the little parlor, whose door stood
open, came the sound of my aunt's voice,
speaking softly, in cooling, gentle, ten
der way-words such as l never expected
to hear her utter
"And he was dear, good, old, faith
full doggie then, he was. And he did love
the cross, disagreeable old woman, he
did, he did"
Then there was a low, soft, whining
howl, from jackson Enthusiastically, for |
knew his voice. 1t was just the sound
he made when he had his leg broken and
l tied it up in splints.
stood in the doorway, and there was
my aunt upon her knees by the fire with
basin of water and q sponge, talking
away tenderly to Jackson, who was pa
tiently holding his head out, resting his
great ugly jowl on my aunt's white hand,
while she busily sponged away at one of
his eyes, which l saw at a glance was
very much injured, and bleeding freely.
On the hearth-rug there was large
piece of torn cloth, evidently part of
collar, and on the edge of the fender two
of my aunt's clean pocket handkerchiefs,
one folded bandage fashion, the other
formed into pad
So much matter-of-fa surgery was be
ing displayed that l stopped and watched
-silently-delighted at seeing this new
born affection of my old friend. And
there l stood, while my aunt went on
talking tenderly as she bathed, Jackson
answering with sympathetic howl,
never even finching, though he must
have been in good deal of pain.
''There!" she said; "and now his old
mistress will go and fetch him shawl,
and she'll fold it up, and he shall lie on
it till he gets well, and-oh, George, how
you startled mer' she cried; and l saw
that her face was wet with tears.
"Why, auntie, what's the matter?"
'Matter, my dear? Why, horrible
great tramp met me right away from the
village, and begged" she cried, yolubly;
"and he seemed so poor that | took out
my purse and gave him a shilling, when
he looked up and down the road, and
seeing no one near, he snatched my purse
out of my hand. Then he seized my
watch-chain, and tried to drag it off; but
l clung to it and shrieked out, when that
dear, good, brave dog flew at him"
"Wuph-wuph- bow i bow - boww
barked Jackson, tiercely. IT..
eyes, he did, a dear, good dog himp
cried my aunt, affectionately; "and the
savage man kicked him with his heavy
boot in the eye, and knocked him down,
but Jackson got up and rushed at him,
and the man ran off, and the dear dog
seized him as he ran away
"And did he get your purse, auntie3'
"No, my dear, he dropped it, and
when got home the poor dog lay there
with his eye bleeding dreadfully, and
and | declare, I'll never go for walk
without him againr'
AS she spoke, she knelt down to pa
and stroke the injured dog, who whined
softly, and then licked her hand
My aunt did not draw her hand ava,
but looked up at me with her eyes stream
ing.
"Now, look here, auntie," said one
day, months AFTER "he's getting too fat.
will not have him pampered and petted
500
OF course l don't believe in that dog
being a demon, but I'll make affidavit be-
fore any judge that that dog smiled at me
and winked.-G. ManoiUe Fem, IN
Y0uths COmpani0R.