Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-24
Brave OLA Tigo.

II Hal'pSl!cu Soou ihhhy years ago.
said grandfather to Harr; and me, as
we sat around the fireplace one De-
cember evening, that father bought
piece of timber several miles from our
house, and he had some men there
cutting it. One day he wanted me to
so and carry message to them.
Twas never afraid TO go anywhere
with Tige, our dog. He was big,
strong fellow. and so brave! So we
set off, happy as could be, both of us.
The sun was shining when we start
ed, but the sky began to cloud over.
Il didn't think anything about it,
though; hardly noticed it, till had
delivered my message, and turned
around to so back. Then the "bossnnI
said to me: =,
81 don't know, little chap, but You'd
better stay here. J. guess there's n
heavy snow-storm coming, and you've
got quite piece to go"
oh, L amt afraidI" said standing
up straight.
L didn't like to he called little
chap" and meant to show them that
i felt big enough to take care of my
self
well, you'd better walk along lively
then, or you will be showed under be-
fore YOU get home" the man said,
rightly laughing nj me for the airs
had put on.
walked Off, as coolly az could be,
TO show them l wasn't afraid But
before had gone far the fakes began
to come down closer together.
Tige acted as ii he knew what was
coming, and trotted On at a lively rate,
looking back now and then and whining
for me to keep up.
L hurried oil now, rs fast MS could,
and all the while the snow was coming
down thicker and the wind was rising
higher. 1t seemed to blow right through
my overcoat and muller, and the fine
flakes stung rs they came against my
check.
By-and-by began to grow tired.
The wind was blowing straight against
ME, the snow was binding me so I
could not see, and all the while Tige
was running on ahead so fast that I
feared L should lose sight of him. But
he did not propose to leave me- Every
little While he stopped and whined for
ME to come ND.
At last I grew so tired that could !
only stumble on, and then Tige came
back and walked at my side, or just in
front of me, rs il anSious to help me.
And 1 was thinking ii should stop
and rest few moments L would be
all right. But when l tried il Tige
caught hold of my coat aud pulled me
along.
Then grew so sleepy could hardly
keep on my feet. ] did not feel the cold
now, and was ready to lie down in the
snow and go to sleep. Twice I tried it,
but each time Tige pulled me up and
parked SO loud thai he woke me, and I
stumbled on
At last we came to It fence, and L
had not strength enough left to climb
over it. | Just rolled down in the
snow, and Tige could not get me to
move. did not know what happened
next, but was told afterward. The
fence where l had stopped was only
about mile away from home. and
Tige Mt once ran there as fast as ho
could go.
My people were looking out anxious
iy for me, and father was talking of
starting to meet me when they saw the
dog coming. They opened the door,
and the minute he saw them he began
to bark and whine, and started back.
Ihey knew at once what he meant.
and hurrying on their coats my father
and brothers followed him as fast az
they could.
was sound asleep when they found
me, almost covered with snow. Tine
began to paw Off the snow and lick me.
they said, and barked furiously as they
came up, and while they were CARRYING
me home kept jumping up against me
as II anxious to sec me wake up.
The first thing saw, when did
open my eyes, was Tige's head thrust
in between my father and mother, who
were rubbing me on one side, while
my brother rubbed on the other.
"Yes, old fellow, you saved him.
It's all on your account that he is
here, mother said, hugging his great
shaggy neck, after had told them
how he had dragged me along against
my will.
You may be sure that nothing was
too good for Tige after that. He wns
cared for as. kindly. as if he had been
one of the family which he was, to
our way of thinking and we kept
him until he died of old age.
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