Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-07-28
DON, THE SPANIEL.
HE KEPT A BANK AND DREW on 1T
WHEN HE WANTED BUNS
AND MEAT.

The following account has recent
II been given me by j. G. Sprague,
owner of Don, the water spaniel. he
TO of the story, writes an Ogdens
burg correspondent. The dog was
brought to Ogdensburg from SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, by Mr.. Sprague some
thirty years ago.-W While 10 SYRIA
cuse Don had been taught, or bad
self acquired Gt is uncertain which,
the practice of taking penny from
his master and exchanging it at
bake shop for bun. After coming
to Ogdensburg the dog improved on
this experience. He began to beg
pennies from acquaintances OF his
master and himself, some of whom
are still living and can substantiate
the fact. He had certain friends to
whose Offices or stores he specially
resorted. His method Of begging
was to seat himself by his friend.
and IL no attention was paid to him,
to tap the man on the knee sharply
with his paw, and continue this uu.
til the penny was forthcoming or
his appeal was clearly unavalling.
Don was often known to visit sever
al friends, one after the other, bring
ing the proceeds back to Mr.. Sprag
ue's drug store, where he stored
them behind a counter. In this way
the dog sometimes accumulated a
stock of pennies for future use-or,
to interpret the actions of the dog
into terms of human activity,-Don,
the spaniel, kept bank. On this
bank he drew as his appetite inclin-
ed him, usually going to the bake
shop of one Mrs. Martin, who know.
ing his ways, gave Don a bun in ex-
change for the penny which Don
would drop. Other times Don pat.
Ionized his butcher, and as bis own
er relates, lived almost entirely on
the proceeds of his own begging.
One day the dog was seen by his
master coming from the bakery
with a bun. Coming mp to his
owner, Don began eating the bun,
but was observed to spit the bits
out of his mouth, and soon 60 into
the store, get another penny, and
go to another bake shop and get an
other bun. The first proved to be
moldy, aud from that day Mrs. Mar
tin lost the dogs trade. lie bought
no more buns from her.
But the browning feat of Don's
life was the following, which is
thoroughly attested and is the most
remarkable dog story that has ever
come to my notice: Don came one
day rushing into Mr.. Spragne's store
with piece of meat, and hurried IN
to the back part. His curious ac-
tions attracted the attention of
those present, and were soon ex.
planned by the appearance of the
butcher, who asked where that dog
was. The butcher then told his sto.
rs. He had been accustomed 10
Don's appearance 1t his shop with a
penny to exchange for meat, had
been used to cut piece, hand it to
the dog, and have the penny drop.
ped in his hand in exchange. This
day Don rushed in, got his meat, and
darted out OF the shop, having, as
usual, dropped something INTO the
butchers hand. But this some.
thing on this occasion proved to be
a pebble, which the dog passed off
tor cent. Can any reader produce
another authenticated instance, as
this is, OF an an animals becoming a
counterfeiter 1t is believed that
Don's stock of pennies beng ex.
hausted, and be being unable to get
penny from his friends, resorted to
this expedient to obtain the meat.
At any rate, the fact is beyond
doubt.
Don died OF poison. His owner
buried him, properly boxed, in lot
near Green aud State streets, and
then he was taken by night, in a
wagon for a hearse, attended by due
mourners with dirge and torches, to
Pigeon point, in the upper part Of
the then village, where he was laid
to his last rest by the st. Lawrence
r;xor N U T..h.,ma