Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-05-14

Gne sore lOOl, ana ItSJeneu III dTOuuN
the leg to hold the poultice and band
age in place. This kept out gravr
and cobble stones, as he grew better
and began to move about; and Row
r,for some little time, took his walks
abroad, a veritable "blue-stocking ~
/ One day, after his foot was nearly
cured, he lost the stocking in the
woods.
Another time, he cut his foot, and
came home with it bleeding. He
seemed to expect poultice, Jay down
and held up his paw. 1t was treated
in the same way, and soon healed.
At the time Rover was bought, his
new owner was boarding for the sum
mer at a hotel in the country, and
hired him kept in family she knew
well, where he was sure of good feed
ing and kind treatment. He was very
happy there, especially. as there were
children to play with him. He was
closely watched ut first; but he was
so contented that they were satisfied
he would not run away, and relaxed
their vigilance a little. One day, to
their surprise and dismay, he was
missing. They tried in vain to find
him that night. The next afternoon,
the eldest little girl, coming home
from school, rushed into the house,
out of breath, saying she had seen
a man leading Rover along the road
in the. direction of the railroad sta
ton. She had run all the way home.
"Willie, harness the horse, and 90
after him." said the mother. The
boy harnessed quicker than ever be-
fore, drove to the station at a speed
that astonished the quiet old horse,
and reached it hardly five minutes
before the arrival of the train. He
threw the reins on the horses back, +,
hurried into the station, and inquired
of the ticket-master if such dog
were about there.
'No," was answered. But the boy
used his own eyes as well, and pres
emily espied his playmate.
"There he is ~ he exclaimed.
The dog was lying down beneath
the shelf, partly hidden; but he was
so large that he was easily discover
ed.
''Why," said the ticket-master,
she came in with that man over
there He told him to get in here and
lie down, said he was his dog,-was
going to take him in the Albany
train"
"Well, he's not his dog" answered
the boy, "and I'll prove it. Rover,
come !"
Out bounded Rover, waiting no
second call, and, at a signal from
Willie, jumped into the wagon. The
boy jumped in like a cat, and i'm a
twinkling was off for home, the train
rumbling along as the horse turned
the corner. The man, whoever he
was, made no attempt to stop him,
but with a shamefaced air took him
self ont of the way. Rover did not
seem hungry, though very glad TO see
his friends; and their conjecture was
/ that the man had stolen him the day
before, kept him out of sight. and
fed him and petted him to get him
acquainted, so he would follow him
without drawing attention. Besides,
the dog was so large and powerful
that it would not have been easy for
stranger to force him. Rover was
then so young that he would readily
make friends. After this experience
his host was more watchful of his GO
ings and comings, took care that he
was within call or with some one of
the family, and no more mishaps oc
| Cured.
When we went to housekeeping
again, in village about twelve miles
distant, Rover was good-natured and
happy as usual, but seemed some
what befogged as to where his home
really was. He started off one day
on the road to his former boarding.
place, went about halfway, and lay
down in the door-yard of an old farm
er. The man noticed that he looked
very tired, also that he was dog of
choice breed, and suspected that he
| had strayed from home. He called
him in to feed him and let him rest
over night. 1t was then late in the
afternoon, and cold. It was winter
time. Rover was ready enough to
accept the invitation, for he was too
tired to go home. The family gath
cred around the tea-table, and Rover
directly sat up and begged. This
pleased them, and he had a good
supper.
We were very anxious about him
but, as his collar was plainly marked
with his owners name and town, and
the number of his license, we knew
if any honest man found him he
would be returned. And, sure enough,
there soon came postal, telling where
he was and offering to bring him
back. The old man was, of course,
well paid, and went home rejoicing.
Some months afterward, Rover
made another trip, and this time
went all the way; that is, into the
neighborhood where he had lived, but
concluded to pay visit at house
where he had been in the habit of
calling. The family were old friends