Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-29
"UNSER FRITZ
A True Story Of One OF tho Trucst ana
Most Faithful of Friends.

was ot' DeTnaru Oh lne U'st lnaRuln
cent prOport ons, with a strain OF tht
bloodhound. which mado people al
times a little afraid OF him. But h,
never troubled them unless there wa.
something suspicious-looking abou;
them. Of which he took il upon himself
to be the Judge. He was as black as .
coal from head to foot. with tho exccp.
ton OF white star upon his breast
Hc was most suprb watch dog; no
regiment OF the old Kaisor's grenadiers
could have guarded our premises more
yigilantly than did he. and II the Ger
man Fritz look, after tho affairs of his
Empire, when he comes TO govern it, ~
well aS our Fritz did after his charge.
his subjects will bo admirably taken
care OF.
frit1 was dog OF very lofty bearing.
very exclusive in his associations, and
the soul Of dignity and prid. He was
superior 10 all the ordinary little mean
ncsscs OF dog-hood; no was nevei
known to take anything no was forbid
den 10 touch, for Ii = dbed,e ,enco was alb.
solute.
have. from my friend Rolo Kings
ley, an anccdote of dog belonging to
her father, Charles Kingsley. who once
SO far forgot his principles (tliough
reared In the EverSley RectOry) as TO
steal boefsteak while tho family was
at church. MIR. Kingsley called up the
dog. and in a grave manner reproachcd
him with what he had done From
that day forth, till the day Of his death.
tho word "bcefstoak" was never ut
tered IN tho dogs presence without his
dropping his head and skulking away,
with his tai between his legs, Our
Fritz was higher bred, and had more
honorable PRINCIPLES than Mr. Kings
lcy's dog; he never stole bOofsteakl
His devotion TO his master was cxclu.
sivc and extreme believe ho would
have lot his ears DO cut Off his master
had wished TO do it. and would have
made no fuss about it. He went with
his master everywhere except 10 church:
and rs ho always knew whom Sunday
came, he had never TO DO told 10 stay
at home that day. Hp was not allowed
TO enter the library whore his master
usually sat, unless on special 90 'asions;
and motion OF the finger was then
sufficient 10 bcekon him in or TO order
him out Yet no would lie with his
muzsle on tho rug. ut tho bibrary door,
with mathematical precision. bringing
ii to line with tho door moldings, but
not intrudng u half,lnch bcyond-so
strict was he to the letter ln his obe-
diencc. He would b und to the cham
Der and bring down his masters slip
pers when he saw his master como in.
aud II hc heard an order gwen for the
riding horse to bo got out, he just as
eagerly hunted up and brought the
ridiag-boots
His devotion to his master was OF
such watchful character that II any
stranger approached him, he always
managol to stand between his master
and the newcomer, keeping a steady
eyo ON tho latter.
The way he would kiss and caress his
master. and the horse his master rode,
was pathetic to soc; he never seemed
perfectly happy unless he had in sight
tho face and form that we're dearer to
him than his own life.
shall never forget touching scene
that occurred last October Of our poor
Fritzs lie Our Virginia gentlemen
have every autumn what they call the
fall hunt, when about twenty of them
form an encampment In tho mountains,
some twenty or thirty miles distant,
where they remain a fortnight for deer
shooting. They carry several tents
with them, beds and bedding. cooking
stove, a oolorcd man-cook, and all the
utensils and arrangements for fort
nights comfortable living. All tho
packs of hounds in the neighborhood
are gathered together in leash.
On the morning of which ! speak, tho
whole cavalc;lde, hunters. horses, bag
gage-wagons, servants and many packs
Of hounds, were gathered together In
our stable-yard, awaiting the signalfor
starting, Horns were sounding. dogs
were baying, guns were pattering,
eager hunters were laughing and talk.
ing, and a general excitement was over
| III tho establishment
Fritz's spirits were extremely high,
He sprang up dozen times and kissed
his masters riding-horse, brought bis
master his whip and boots, and seemed
fairly beside himself with joy,
But Fritz was not TO be Of tho hunt.
ing-party. On the mountains he was
out Of his element, and only marred
the sport; so he was 70 be loft at home,
But his master could not bear to tell
him this. and determined not to start
with the party, but mako detoar and
slip away unpercoivod. Consequently
he had his horse led round to the from
gate Of tho house, intending to mount
there, but Fritz was so alcrt and vigi,
liant that 1t was impossible to elude Ills
watchiulness. So his master took him
aside and said. in a low but impressive
tone OF vo;co:
Fritz, you are not to go with meI'
II the dog had boon shot, think he
could scarcely have fallen to the ground
moro suddenly, as il deprived of life,
II was at tho end of a long hall. hal
commanded the front door and from
gate, where tho dog had dropped Hi
master patted him afloctl0nately. passed
on and mounted his horse, but Fritz ne
more moved than II he were dead.
His master called to him. Goodbye
FRITZ but he lay motionless. Th'
household gathered about him and triet
to comfort him.
Look up, Fritzln ! said. See! You
master is speaking to you," but h
buried his face between his paws ans
seemed not to hear