The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-13
BITTEN BY A MAD DOG.

A summer seldom passes that the cTIy of
Mad dog!' Is not heard in some direction
or another, and many and stringent are
the police regulations put in force TO
guard against the perils of hydrophobia.
More than one unhappy dog, innocent of
anything except fright or thirst, panic at
being hnnted, OF having lost his way or
his master, has fallen a victim to mistaken
zeal.
One day during last summer n peddler
woman walking along the road observeda a
dog belonging to the neiGhborhood trot-
ting before her. She knew who was the
owner and also that the animal was not
far from home.
\ grassy bank was beside the footpath
and in this bank was a wasp's nest. The
dog in passing must have disturbed the
insects, which Few out upon him, cluster
ing round his head, and stinging him
about the ears, eyes and nostrils. The
poor animal, frightened and in pain,
sprang forward, rushing on with wild
contortious Of agony.
A policeman coming up at the moment
saw him fly past, his tongue hanging out,
his eyes protruded. MAD dogp' he cried,
and the poor beast was shot dead before
the screaming woman, running breath
lessly 10 the rescue, could explain what
she had seen
And a sore pity IL was, d" she said. CAS-
honest and faithful and as handsome q
dog as ever stepped before its own tail
Not soTnad, indeed, aS the man that WAS
in such a hurry TO shoot him.
OF all the changes which modern and
more enlightened times have brought
about, there is none happier than that
affecting the treatment of sufferers at
tackled with bydrophobia.
The writer Of this Is old enough to re-
member hygone tragedies connected with
those victims that make one shudder-
There was no hope for the unfortunates.
Death was the doom; and at the first
symptoms the hapless human victims
were ruthlessly Observation-Disclosures
between feather beds the usual model
An occurrence in humble Irish life, re-
membered still in the parish where it
took place, and for the truth of which
many can vouch, will illustrate painfully
the above.
The narrative viii be best given in the
words Of one of the family present at the
time.
Myself was in the house when it all
happened, being first-ccusin TO Mrs. Ryan,
the mistress. y comfortable farm il was
and she well to do; with cows and other
stock in plenty, scnd good land. Ryan
had been dead some years, and she man
aged IL all; n clever, brisk, stirring
woman. She'd be up and out in her dairy
at three o'clock in the summer mornings
20 get the butter of the chura in the cool
OF the day; and then away with her across
the fields 10 visit the cattle and oversee
the lsborers ut work.
Many a smart young fellow would
have been proud 10 help her, and right
glad 20 step into Ryan's shoes if he was
let. For she was pleasant 10 look at; rs
comely as she was industrious; tidy and
trim, wonderful at making and laying by
money. But although she had q gay
word for them ali, and was blithe and
cheery as the day, they soon found that
coming counting 10 the winsome young
widow was only wasting their time.
She wouldn't listen To man or mortal
Her whole heart and life was bound up
in her one child, lovely boy. II was
easy TO see by the look that would
.cumeIuto her face. aIrd the light and love
IL her eyes, as they followed him wEere-
oversize went, that she hadn't "A thought
20 give any beside. He was the entire
7sovld TO her Every penny size could
make-ur save was for him. aud late and
early she worked TO keep all things about
the farm in the best order against he was
old enough TO take il up
y fine handsome child ne was: merry as
n child, full Of spirits and fun. lie dotted
on his mother, and mzybe she wasn't
proud Of hint Every one loved him,
even the dumb animals. he was so good
natured and kindly-ioyous and bright
like sunshine in the house. There's
something in the young and their ways
that the heart warns 10. natural.
A. time wore on. young Ryan grew to
he handy aud helpful about the place, and
kuowledSahle concerning GSrm business.
II d, was rising sixteen years old, good
scholar, and a fine well grown active lad,
when there came a wonderful hot sum
mer, and rumors were rife about mad
dogs seen going through the country, and
Of the terrible mischief they did. Cows
were bitten. and pigs; Christians were at
tackled, and a neishbcring farmer lost
two valuable horses, that went mad after
being bitten, and had TO be destroyed.
People were everywhere in dread and on
the watch.
One morning just after the hay was
gathered in and safe, herself and the boy
were together in the yard, working away
as busy as bees They were seldom asun-
der now; for he had done with schooling,
and they always kept one another COM
pauy just like a pair Of comrades There
wa only nineteen years difference be-
tween the ages Of the two.
Talking merrily they were over their
work and lau-hinE-Ee was fun Of his
jokes-when a man rame tearing into the
yard. crying out that mad dog was in
the place, and was making straight for
the field the cows were in.
Quick - lightning the boy caught mp =
ritchf0rk and away like n shot into the
field. ri mother dew after him, shrek
ing out 70 him TO stop, and shouting ont
10 the men 10 follow. But he was ~
light Of foot and nimble as the deer, and
before ever n one could overtake him he
had come up with the dog
The great animal faced savaCely round
upon the lad when he made at him with
the pitchfork- and bit and tore with fury
But the brave boy grappled with him and
had him pinned to the ground by the time
the men came mp and gave the finishing
stroke.
Vow. mother dear - he cried in glee,
s'the cows are safe, Another minute and
the brute would have been into them"
But the poor mother wasn't needing
ths cows, when her darling son, for whom
she'd have given all she WAS worth in the
Wild world was there before Eer eyes all
bloody and covered with foam from the
beasts mouth. She washed and bathed
the bites, the boy laughed at her the
nothing there was for time.
But what all dreaded and were look
ing cut for in trembling, came at
last. He knew IL himself. the poor fel-
low IL was pitiful 10 see how he strovs
and fought manfully against il; and
forced himself 70 drink, when even the