The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-02
FAITHFUL FRIENDS.

Ehc touching story OF Two California
Dogs.
An old Californian was telling me re-
,ently Of dog who lived in the early
Nays at San Francisco, and who re-
DICED in the strange name of '.Bode. :"
When or bcw or by whom he had been
ehris.encd, no one knew, but every one
vas fond OF .'Bode."
lie was mongrcl, with rough, but
shaggy hair, and no points of beauty,
with an independence and pluck that
made him friends among the pioneers
Of that day. He did not own single
master, but half the city claimed him.
and he was the affectionate friend of
hundreds.
Such an unsettled condition of affairs
would have made an outcast and a
straggler Of an Eastern dog, but not so
with Bode. While he was known to so
many and had no particular home. yet
he had habit which amounted to q
settled custom as TO his daily actions.
and which gave him recognized place
in the bustling town.
He followed regular route OF visits.
calling for his breakfast at one house,
for his dinner at the next, and for his
supper at the third; then going on to
fourth. fifth and sixth the next day, and
SO on through street after street in a
circuit which it took him months to
complete.
No amount Of petting. no offer OF
tempting food, could change this habit,
and for some years Bode continued it
without deviation. His temper was
good. but occasionally he was driven
to fight BY other dogs, and when he did
the battle was a severe one. 1t was his
reputation that he had never been
whipped.
One morning in November rs the
China steamer left her dock and before
she was fairly under way. magnificent
Newfoundland came racing down Mont
gomery street. and rushed out to the
extreme edge Of the dock, looking after
the steamer and barking wildly.
His master was on board, and the
poor dog knew it; but it was too late
he could not reach him, and all day
long, q stranger in a strange city, the
great handsome Newfoundland sal
upon the wharf and gazed mournfully
out upon the blue bay.
For two days the faithful animal thus
remained, taking no food. and only
walking about little and moaning.
The dock men were becoming afraid
that he was sick, or that grief might
drive him mad. when Bode appeared
on the scene. He made the acquaint.
ance OF the Newfoundland. and seemed
at once thoroughly to understand his
ease.
After q few moments OF trotting UP
and down. doubtless talking in dog.
fashion, the two left the wharf to-
gether, Bode guiding his new friend t.
his own dining-place, where he saw that
he was supplied with a bountiful re
past; and from that day the animals
were inscparable.
Lazarus" as the Newfoundland was
christened, had not half tho energy Of
Bode. nor, indeed, the pluck. for If at.
tackled he generally ran away. leaving
Bode to settle the dispute; but he was
handsome and good-natured, and read
lily adapted himself to the customs o.
his rescuer. especially as those customs
meant three good meals each day.
Both dogs became as we'll known al
any Of the prominent business mon o
She town, and for nearly three year:
they We're always to be seen together
Bode evidently the leading spirit, car
ing for and protecting his companion
Then came change. Lazarus fel
sick, and. after moping for few days
crouched in q corner and died.
Poor Bode! He stood near his deat
friend and defended his cold body from
any intruder. canine or human, for nj
most week, refusing all food himself
then. as the end approached, he curlet
beside his old companion and quietl!
slept his life away.
The rough miners and frOntiersmel
who made that PARKWAY city thei
home buried the two in one grave, an,
placed above them neat head-board OF
which was written: Lazarus and Bode
Faithful Friends. IF. f. Hamilton, il
i