The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-05
A TALE OF A TERRIER.
How a Shrewd One-LegRed English
man from Federal Hill Responded to
an Advertisement for a Dog That
Would Decimate the Rats in Mr..
BOnaparte's Stable

man from Federal Hill Responded to
an Advertisement for a Dog That
Would Decimate the Rats in MIR.
Bonapartes Stable.
From the baltimore Herald
Talking about rats, remarked Col. Ned
O'Mahony, the poet of West Falls avenue
and the Bard of the Red Bandana-"
ing about rats, l say" as he stroked his i'm
pressive salmon tinted goatee, reminds me
Of very good joke that was played upon
the late Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, father
of the distinguished and self-confeSsed
Mugwunp, Charles j. Bonaparte. AT the
time of the occurrence of the episode which
! am about to relate | was connected with
the establishment of Gen. George S. Brown.
and the elder Bonaparte knew me well
enough to know who | was. ar. Bona
parties stable was infested with rats, his
yard was overrun with rats, and rats wan
deredup and down his spacious hallwaysand
haunted his wine-cellar.
THE old gentleman finally put an ad-
vertisement in a paper for good rat ter
rier, offering to pay fair sum for a suita-
BILE animal / saw the advertisement, and
calling at his house told Mr. Bonaparte that
| thought | could find man who would
furnish the dog he wanted. He was very
grateful. and so | at once hunted up an old
one-legged English soldier in South Balti-
more, who figured as a sort of rat extermi-J
nator in that section His name was Dick
Dick Sykes, think.
"'Dick,' says l, I've got an offer for
YOU
"'Have you,' says he. What Is itp
"'Well, says |, Mr.. Jerome Napoleon
Bonaparte wants a good ratter and is will
ing to pay for him. Have you got one that'l
suitP
HE thought awhile and then replied:
YES
"'Then come along with me- SAYS |, and
bring your pup with you
80 we went up to Mr. Bonaparte's house,
rang the door bell, which was answered by
the old gentleman himself.
Mr.. Bonaparte was delighted when Dick
showed him the pup aud enlarged upon bis
excellent rat-destroying talents All three
OF us went into the yard. | noticed partic-
ularly that Dick was very anxious to know
where the dog would be left during the
night. Mr.. Bonaparte suggested shutting
him ND in the stable.
" No says Dick, mo, Mr.. NAPOLEON, bet
ter let MIN stay in the yard. Rats always
come out doors at night
Every well, Mr.-a-Mr. Sykes, he shall
remain III the ward, and Dick looked more
comfortable.
NOW, how much do you want for the
uOE inquired MT. BOnapdrte.
Not cent less than SIS was the re
ply
THE money is yours, sir, and Mr. Bona
parte handed Dick two $40 bills aud S..
Next morning." continued Col OMa-
honey, "Mr. Bonaparte's yard was COW
cred with 'ad rats There must have been
hundred or two lying all around stone
dead while the terrier was sitting on its
launches in the corner looking almost ter
Il l.. q 1
rodent life scattered about him.
MIR. Bonaparte was delighted
" Shortly after breakfast Sykes called on
me to know what had heard l told him,
and he burst into roar of laughter, but
said nothing. except to ask us to go to Mr.
Bonaparte'S with him.
HE was received with great cordiality by
that gentleman, who was unbounded in his
praise of the terrier.
Wonderful dog. my mani he ex-
claimed, wonderful animalp
"'Dear Mr.. Bonaparte.' said Dick, look
ing very melancholy, 4 called to tell you,
sir, that will have to withdraw my offer
to sell The dog at S25 Here's yours
money back, sir. My mother is very fond
of that animal and when she heard had
intended selling him she nearly had a
spasm.
"'Whatl Do you want to take him away 2
you $25 more
"Dck shook his head
"'Then $50 more, added Mr. Bonaparte.
'Dick thought while and added:
Well, that might satisfy the old
woman. sir. Ill take it and you keep the
pup
The $50 extra were paid and Dick and |
left him with Mr.. Bonaparte. No sooner
were we around the corner then Dick began
chuckling.
Know that dogp says he. He amt got
tooth in his head! not onei"
He got away with the rats, though l
remarked in amazement
Hal ma! not bit of It, was Dicks re-
ply. He amt killed rat for the last four
teen years | brought those rats up in a
bag from South Baltimore last night and
chucked EN- over the yard wall. Hal hap
Dick roared, and couldn't help joining Ia.
You see now why | wanted the pup left
in the open air In a day or two the cur
will be back at my house. on Federal Hill
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparto will be offer
Ing reward for him. Don't worry. I'll
make 300 of that dog before / get
through
And so Dick did, before Mr.. Bonanarte
discovered how he had been fooled. No. |
warn't to blame ! acted in good faith an
tae way through, although the old gentle
man for time suspected that had put up
the job on him"