Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
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was five years after we were married before we
had dog. That dog was a fox terrier rejoice
ing in the name of Tip. Our Irish handmaiden
made our little boy laugh by saying that Tip
was short for Tipperary. At first my wife OBJ
jected to keeping tie dog. and now as look
back on my rise and fall as the owner of fox
terrier regret that she did not have her way.
Tip came to us from friend, a member of
my congregation. who went to make long stay
In Europe. The dog had cost him $40 and yet
ne thought SO much Of him that he could L OF
bear the idea Of selling the animal but tearfuIly
hanoea MIN over to us, enjoining US to love
ana cherish him. He did not tell us that Tip
had any Objectionable traits. but elabora ted his
smartness ana alectionste disposition. He was
very pretty dog OF the larger kind of fox ter
riess, not far removed from the bull, fancy.
no had black nose, a brown car and black
spot the size of a dollar between his shoulders
Then OF course his tail was dreadfully abbre-
waited. 1t was impossible not to love him with
al MS cunning tricks and soon Mrs Robinson
that Is, my wife-thought as much of him as
aia l. he was such a wonderful dog A; the
tapie ne would sit on his launches and beg and
II that did not attract attention he would
Jump up into vacant chair and
repeat the performance. He trotted after our
little boy and obeyed his slightest word in a
way ,hst won our admiration. Then he at last
concluded that he would sleep in 40 other room
but ours AT first he lad insisted on sleeping
on Dear rug II our modest parlo-, but once
the bear skin happened to be away SO he came
upstairs, Jumped on pillow by the side of our
D PEI! ana there We found him in the morning.
Every night after that he slept on the chair at
the head Of our bed. I was surprised to find
my wife getting out old baby Quilt and
keeping it in the closet SO as to have It ALWAYS
ready to make Tip a comfortable bed.
ana when l was away she said she had
as much confidence in Tip as in all
the burglar alarms and policemen that
were ever invented. What wonder that YOU
grow to love dog that eats with YOU at the
table and that is so mindful of the prophecies
as never to drop morsel of food upon the car
Pet' dog that thinks SO much of you that he
even insists on sleeping on a chair at the head
OF your bed? By and by my wife and came
to think great deal OF our dog
You'd really think Mr.. and Mrs. Robinson
thought as much OF their dog they do of
their own flesh and blood" was the extreme
way IN which one of the neighbors put it.
But Tip was not always angelic He had one
.auit- lie would tight. He preferred fighting
70 eaunS. Never was game cock half SO
puSnaolous. he never saw another dog that
he did not offer battle, and the bigger the
other dog the more he wanted to fight IL was
not long before all the dogs on our suburban
street were cowed When they saw Tin coming
their tails would drop despondently and thew
would run. But around the corner in the
butcher shop was one dog that was worthy Of
his steel That was an English briudle buII
nve times as large as lip. lime and time
again they met III desperate conflict TiD WAS
never whipped, although he was never the
victor Those were drawn battles. After them
ne would come limping home bloody. dirty
torn and wretched. He would come To the
back door and then plaintiyely endure the
necessary washing and scrubbing in the laun-
dry. After these dreadful battles it would
take me half an hour to make him presentable
and an then ne would spend week recuperating
led mn
could not stop them. Even when Tin went
walking with me he would fight in spite of ali
l could do.
Things went from bad to worse. for after a
time lip succeeded in chewing up one of the
forefeet of the butchers bull dog and the ami.
NAL had to be killed. Then Tip felt himself TO
be an unquestioned champion. He WAS more
arrogant and mole belligerent than ever
though when in the house he was a pattern of
quietness. affection and the domestic yirtues.
men IL SO happened that there moved into our
nelghborhood gentleman who liked hunting
and who kept several very valuable Irish set
tiers. My wife wrote me of his coming when
was away on ministerial business Then came
the news that Tip had fought one of the settlers
and SO badly hurt 1t that it had to be KILLED.
Inc owner was exceedingly angry and threat
ened to arrest me for harboring a vicious dog.
vicious, my wife wrote 1.-THE dearest. most
loving dog in the worid-only he will fight"
Then Tip made an attack on another of the
Irish settlers and the policeman ON the beat
called and told my wife that the owner of the
settlers would kill Tip on sight and that she had
better lock him up. We had no place where
she could coop him and in desperation she sent
him to dog fancier to board at the rate of a
dollar week. When l came home this was
the state OF affairs. 1t was question of hav-
ing no nelghbors or Of having iIp, and as we
could not afford to live at enmity with every
one around us we sorrowfully resolved to dis
pose of Tip. My wife thought there vould he
no difficulty In selling dog that cost $40. but
we found he could not be sold because / did
not nave his pedigree. Buying and selling
are such different things at the best Meane
while had to pay his board. which was an ex-
penslve luxury, as l am not a rich mau-few
ministers are. Then it was that newspaper
friend suggested that send Tip to the captain
OF one OF the fire companies. This fireman
liked FLOODED dogs, and would give Tip home
where 1t would be convenient for me to run in
often and see him. That was the way i'm which
Tip went to live with the firemen
He distinguished himself the first day by get. |
ting under the corn CRIB and killing seventeen
rats. Capt Kelly told me that was a great
record. Then lip killed a poisoned rat and
nearly died. The tremen nursed him back TO |
life and strength. and he became much attached |
to them and to his new home called TO see |
him during his convalescence and was greatly
moved by the way In which tine poor dog |
Tagged his stump OF q tail. After that I did |
not see lip for six weeks, vacation taking me
from the city. When l returned dronps,l in
at the .'Four's' and found Capt. Kelly jubilaut
over Tip.
He is wonder" he said Il believe he can
lick any thing on four feet double his size"
When he called Tip to me 1 saw by his scars
and scratches that he had evidently had a fight
very recently.
"He has been fighting again?" asked.
You bet, and he just ate the other dog IN"
felt thrill of delight that Tip had been
the victor That was a balm to smooth ones
feelings, narrowed by his battered appearance.
1T was big white bull" Capt. Kelly pro-
ceeded, ''and the fight was back here in the BOY
stall. 1t was tough, but Tip chewed up one of
the bulls feet and that kinder knocked him
out"
Then I told how Tip had vanquished the
butchers dog by the same strategeni.
After that whenever l called at the s.Four's"
l heard OF lips exploits. / did not like it that
the firemen should make q professional tighter
Of him and mildly protested. But what Was
to do9 The dog had virtually passed out of NV
hands and Capt. Kelly was taking most excel |
lent care of him. had not absolutely given
Tip away, but had told the captain that he |
could have him Tor two years at least Then / |
began to find that the 6remen regarded me as |
quite q sporting character. The mere owner
ship Of dog like Tip was to them proof con-
elusive Of my delight in sport" l ALWAYS
dress in black, and while do not like the idea |
Of clerical cast of features or garb, vet I am |
that my appearance betrays my pro-
fession. Yet did not object to these rough |
man soeinp that 7 n man GLa xbau,..l,,e.