Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-09-21
DON. THE SPANIEL,
~" A"ps Bank and brow on II wh.r n.
Wanted Buns aud Meat

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Inc following account has recently
oeen given me by J. c Spraguc.
owner OF Don. the water spaniel hero
OF the story. writes an Ogdensburyt,
correspondent. The dog was brought
70 y ,dens burgh from Syracuse N Y
ny, ny ME- Sprague some thirty years ago.
"hile in Syracuse Don had been
ausat' Or had self-acquired lit is un-
certain which). the practice OF takino
penny from his master and exchan1.
ing 1t at bake-shop tor bun. After
coming 10 O5densburgh the dog i'm
proved on this experience. He began
70 beg pennies from acquaintance of
his master and himself some of whom
are still living and can substantiate
tie 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.
II no attention was paid to
lim. to tap the man on the
knee sharply with his paw. and to con.
lime this until the penny was forth
coming or his appeal was clearly una.
valling. Don was often known to visit
several friends. one after the other.
bringing tho proceeds back TO Mr..
Sprague' drug store. where he stored
hem behind counter. In this wav
the dog sometimes accumula ted a
stock of pennies for future use-or. 10
interpret the actions of the dog into
terms of human activity. Don, the
PANEL. kept bank. On this bank
he drew as his appetite inclined him
Usually going 10 the bake-shop of one
MIS-. Martin. who, knowing his ways
ave DON bun in exchange for the
emmy which Don would drop. Other
mes Don patronized his butcher, and,
rs his owner relates lived almost en-
rely on the proceeds of his own beg
ing.
One day the dog was seen by his
master coming from the bakery with a
'un. Coming up 10 his owner. DON
hogan eating the bun. but was OBJ
'erved to spit the bits out of his mouth.
md soon go into the store, get anoth-
penny. and go to another bake-shon
aud get another bun. The first proves
o be moldy. and from that day Mrs.
NJ Rim lost the dogs trade. He bought
no more buns from her.
Bat the browning feat of Don's life
was the f flowing which is thoroughly
attested and is the most remark able
dog story that has ever come to my
notice: Don came one day rushing in
to MI Sprague's store with piec, OF
meat, AMI hurried into the back part.
His curious actions attracted the at
,ention of those present. and were
soon explained BY the appearance of
The butcher. who asked where that
dog was The butcher then told his
storr. H. had been accustomed to
Don's appeara ce at his shop with
penny to exchange for meat. had been
used to cut piece hand it q the dog.
and have the penny dropped into his
hand in exchange. This day DON
rushed in, ct his m at. and darted
out of the shop. having. as usual.
dropped soma,hing into the
butchers hand. But this some
thing on this occasion proved
TO be pebble. which the dog
passed off for cent. Can any reader
produce ano,h,r authenticated in.
stance, rs this is, of an animals be-
coming cnmterfeiler? 1t is believed
that D,n's stock of pennies b,ing ex-
hausted. and he being unable to get
penny from his friends. escorted 10 this
expedient to obtain the meat. At any
rate, the fact is be yond doubt.
Don died Of poison. H ) owner
buried him. properly boxed, in q lot
near G cen an S ate streets. and then
he was taken by night in wag IN for
a hearse. attended, by due mourners
with drge and torches. to Pigeon
point. in the upper part of the then
village, where he was laid to his last
rest by the S Lawrence river. M T.
7r, 6aI4e.