Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-31

| The art of growing Old.
| Coates kinney, HdTper's Magazine for Aul
TlPPECANOE.
Remarkable Career Of a Won
derully Sagacious Dog.
Here lies entOmbed beneath this soil
Watered with tears,
The dearest wisest, high old dog
For many years
The country ever knew,
Tippecanoe!
Died March 8, 1862.
This was the inscription. We boys
had spent half holiday carving it witt
our jack-knives on pine slab, and wher
the last ''i' had been dotted with gim
let, and the last period made, Tom LAID
it down and surveyed his work mo-
ment.
"Can't you think Of something more
to put at the bottom?" he said. 1 don't
feel so badly when am at work for the
old fellow"
Tom had already worked within half
an inch of the notch cut to show how
deep the slab must be sunk. Think of
something more" said Phil, Indignantly.
at would take all the pine slabs that ev-
er grew in Maine to say all that ought
to be said about him!"
This made happy diversion, for,
used as Tom and | were to PhiPs exag-
gerations. we felt the corners of our
mouths giving way.
One evening last summer father ex-
claimed:
"This is too hot! Let's fill the lunch
baskets tomorrow and take the steamer
for the islands,"
This was a favorite trip with us boys,
down the harbor to the bay, and the
very mention of it sent us off into &C.
stacies.
"And take Tip?" was the chorus, as
heads came uppermost.
"No," said mother, "three boys are all
can manage. l let Tip go last time,
and he made so much trouble cannot
take him"
Tip had risen eagerly at the sound of
his name, but, as the last sentence was
finished, he dropped his head and slow
ly left the room.
"Now you have hurt Tips feelings"
we cried.
Hell have time to get over it, for l
don't think we can get off before day
after tomorrow. Phillis will want one
day to make cake and sandwiches for so
many"
Where was Tip? No one had seen or
heard him since the night before, and he
never left the premises unless with one
of us.
Had some one stolen him?
The question became a fear, as the
hours went past, and no Tip. Up and
down the city We went, inquiring of ev
cry one we knew if they had seen our
dog; but in vain. That day father sat
in his office, as much distressed as we.
At last, toward evening, the captain of
one of the inland steamers sauntered in.
"Good evening" ne said. "Do you know
where your dog isl"
"No," said my father, "Tm sorry to
say don't.
Needn't trouble yourself about him."
said the captain, laughing; "rll tell you
where he has been all day. He marched
down to the wharf this morning, half an
hour before l started, and straight
aboard my steamer, and there he was
when | moored again, fifteen minutes
ago. He's made the round trip, done
the Islands, made himself agreeable to
every one, and behaved with the utmost
What a shout there was at home when
the story came outl Tip had determin-
ed to show that he conld and would go;
and that he was perfectly proper per-
sonage The change in the day had
been made after he had left the room,
and he had marched down little in ad-
vance of time, expecting us to follow.
AS we did not appear, he would not re-
treat, but had gone through the day in
solitary grandeur.
Phillus had a cat that had in Tip an
idmirer of unspeakable devotion. One
friendly glance, one touch of her velvet |
paw, was reward enough for hours of
gazing or the choicest morsels of his din
ler.
A rival interfered. A poor little kit
,en, the only one Phillus had spared |
No more attention for Tip; not even a
urn of the head or a glance as he passed
,y; and as day after day went on with
10 change, the dog could bear it no
onger.
Suddenly, without warning, he sprang
Onward, seized the kitten by the neck
md dashed like lightning from the yard,
md before the cries of puss could bring
lelp Tip had reached the wharf and
iropped his luckless rival into the water.
We boys, though forced to confess
hat snatching an only child from its
mother wasn't the truest spirit of knight
rood, were all ready to pat Tip in secret
or his brilliant stroke. But father took
10 such view of the case. Tip had
robbery and murder to make
Dom for his own selfish interests, and
hould be horsewhipped. We went away
hat we might not witness his disgrace
II hear his cries.
We made secret plans for comforting
Tip, but he was not to be found, and
morning failed to discover him. Had he
urned his back on us forever, was the