Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-05-15
OLD TIP.
The Remarkable Career of a Wonderfully
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 3, 1862.
This was the inscription. We boys
had spent q half holiday carving it with
our iack-knives on a pine slab, and when
the last ~ had been dotted with gim-
let, and the last period made, Tom laid it
down and surveyed his work moment.
Cant you think of something more
to put at the bottom?" he said. Il don't
feel so badly when l 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 morer' said Phil, indignant
". ''It would take all the pine slabs
that ever grew in Maine to say all that
ought to be said about him!'
This made happy diversion, for, used
as Tom and / were to Pills eXaggera-
tions, we felt the corners of our mouths
giving way.
One evening last summer father ex-
claimed;
'erhis is too hot. Let's fill the lunch
baskets tomorrow and take the steamer
for the islands,"
This was favorite trip with us boys,
down the harbor to the bay, and the
yerv mention of it sent us off into costa
sizes.
"And take Tip?" was the chorus, as
heads came uppermost.
No" said mother, ''three boys are all
l can manage. / let Tip go last time,
and he made so much trouble / can not
take him.
Tip had risen eagerly at the sound of
his name, but, as the last sentence was
finished, he dropped his head and slowly
left the room.
ssNow you have hurt Tips feelings"
we cried.
Hell have time to get over it, for
don't think we can get off before day
after tomorrow Phillus 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
every one we knew if they had seen
our dog; but in vain. That day father
sat in his Office, az much distressed as
we. At last, toward evening, the cap
tain of one of the island steamers saun-
tered in Good evening"" he said. "Do
you know were your dog is?''
NO" said my father, ''I'm sorry to
say DON'T
Needn't trouble yourself about him."
said the captain, laughing; 'I'll 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
propriety."
What shout there was at home when
the story came out. Tip had deter
mined to show that he could and would
go; and that he was perfectly proper
parsonage. The change in the day had
been made after he had left the room,
and he had marched down a little in adj
AS we did not appear, he would not re-
treat, but had gone through the day in
solitary grandeur.
Phillis had cat that had in Tip an
admirer 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
dinner.
A rival interfered. A poor little kit
ten. the only one Phillis had spared.
No more attention for Tip; not even
turn of the head or a glance as he passed
by; and as day after day went on with
no change, the dog could bear it no
longer.
Suddenly. without warning, he sprang
forward, seized the kitten by the neck
and dashed like lightning from the yard,
and before the cries of puss could bring
help Tip had reached the wharf and
dropped his luckless rival into the
water.