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

I y
very curly and glossy, with a white
anchor on his breast and white toes.
He has a large, finely formed head,
beautiful brown eyes, and long, silky
ears, like those of retriever. When
he has been swimming, or out in
rainy day, the hair on his ears hangs
in long, ripping curls, three inches
below the tip of the ear.
In his younger days he was very
frolicsome, ,delighted to play ball with
the boys, and would catch it in his
mouth when thrown to him. When
one missed it, and it rolled away
from them, he ran after it and bro't
/ it back. He liked ride in the wag
on, and, when they started off, was
pretty apt to spring in behind. A
/ buggy did not afford him comforta-
/ bic room He would jump over a
/ broomstick, held three feet from the
ground, and leap the fence instead of
going round to the gate as he-does
now He would give his paw, hold
biscuit on his nose, and sit up and
beg. This is not easy for him since
he has grown SO heavy, and he is the
only large dog we have ever known
to do it; but he keeps the trick in
reserve, to use when he can not get
what he wants without it. He will sit
up any time for piece of meat, and
will ''speak'' if desired. The request
to s'speak louder" is not often made.
When it is, it brings such a thunder
ing "bow-wow" that his meat is
speedily given in defense of the Civ
er's ears. When there is a warm
ginger bread for tea, he sits by, with
longing looks and waving tail, as if
sure of a share. In a little while if
none is offered, up go his paws, and
he sits very erect a moment. Pres
emily, he rests one paw on the table,
sometimes with little sigh,-and
he gets his cake.
"Want cracker, Rover?' always
starts him the shortest road to the
pantry; or, if the canister is opened,
without a word he comes and waits.
When he wants water, he stands by
| the faucet till some one notices and
draws it for him. Whatever dain-
ties we may have, he shares, even to
| Christmas candies. But he never
touches anything that is not given.
Roast beef is perfectly safe on the
table with him alone in the room.
And he will stand by and see the
cats eat their dinner, waiting patient
| ly for his own, with no infringement
of their rights.
He delights to carry parcels, will
meet us as we come home, take shop
ping bag or bundle, book or letter,
and carry it safely into the house.
A sunshade he never fails to turn
sideways, as he passes through the
gate, to avoid breaking it. One day
our eldest boy came home, bringing
beefsteak wrapped in paper, and
was daring enough to hand it to
Rover, only saying in a very gentle
tone, "Carry it to mother" }" waving
his hand toward her as she sat wait
ing on the veranda. The great dog
lifted his honest brown eyes to his
face, as if proud of the trust, walked
directly to her, and put the parcel in
her hand. She praised him, and gave
| him a piece of course, but objected
to any more such experiments,-not
that she distrusted the dog, but tho't
it hardly kind to try him so severely.
His fidelity is perfect. He gave
strong proof of it when we had own
ed him only short time. We removed
to village ten or twelve miles from
our former home. We still went
there often, as it was a beautiful
ride, and also an easy trip by cars.
One afternoon, we left Rover in the
house, Intending to return early next
morning. For some urgent reason,
we afterward concluded to stay till
forenoon, and telegraphed to neigh
Dor, with whom our house key was
left, asking him to go over in the
morning and feed the dog. The gen
tleman carried a plate filled with
tempting breakfast. Rover, gentle as
he usually was, and though then a
young dog, rushed to the window, land
growled SO fiercely that our friend
dared not open the door. The break
fast was shown him to no purpose,
though the poor dog must have been
very hungry. We had given him
good dinner just before we left home,
and he was supplied with water (it
was in cold weather) but it was a
long time to wait. Early in the af-
ternoon, we came home and he was
a delighted dog. When the neigh
Dor told his story, we resolved never
again to leave him so.
Rover is now pretty well appreciat-
ed in the neighborhood, He has on
his visiting list at least five homes
where he is fed and petted. One
morning, he happened to go to
neighbor's just at breakfast time. Ut
was the one he had so resolutely bar
red out that long ago winter morn
ing). He was invited in, and regal
ed with buckwheat cakes and coffee,
both of which he gratefully accepted.
The two years baby was SO delight
ed when he sat up and begged of his
own accord for cakes, that they were