The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-10-12

1armnOuSSS all along tne pie.
country way that stretched betyyc
the two great turnpil1es
The old residents say that in the fore
part of the present century there were
ten taverns between Daleviile, in Will
lington, and Westford hill. At all OF
these houses of enterta inment New
England rum was sold, and refresh
ment for man and beast could be pro-
vided on short notice.
Beaver had no occasion to call at any
of these places, neither did he hunt for
squirrels and woodchucks along the
way. He attended strictly to his bust
ness of mail carrier and exchanged
very few compliments with his canine
acquaintance who salutcd him with a
cordial bow-wow as he trotted past
their abiding places.
This went on for several months,
and then one winter day Mother Law
son was taken suddenly and violently
i'll. Capt. Lawson and James were
away, and merry Ruby knew not what
to do.
''If | only could send to Wilmington
for DR. Skinner / should be thankful
indeed Beaver she said to the old
dog, who from one corner of the
hearth was very gravely taking note
of his mistress distress, 81 might send
old jerry, who is cutting wood at the
door, to be sure, but he would call so
long at every tavern in turn that he
would never get to the end of the
journey! Do you hear, Beaver.
want to have DR.. Skinner come to see
poor mother OF course, you don't
know DR.. Skinner from any of
the other friends who call here. Poor
old dog. You know enough to go for
Lucy, and that is what you shall do. -
Taking slip of paper she wrote upon
it:
DEAR LUcY-Mother Is very sick Get DR..
Skinner here just as quickly as you can.
RUBY"
There, Beaver. Go, Beaver!' she
said, and closing the door, she returned
to her herb teas and hot water appli-
cations.
The old doctor can't get here until
shutdown, at the quickest" she said
and it is not high noon"
What was her surprise, therefore
when, in little more than an hour after
Beaver started out, the skillful ply
stefan cantered up or his fleet gray
horse, with Beaver following close at
his heels.
'Now, this beats ALL" said the old
man, entering the house, saddle bags
in hand. ''It certainly beats all that
ever heard of. l was Just turning up
to Col. Britt's tavern to get me little
drop of something hot-for it is an
amazin' chilly air-and the old dog
came along, running like streak, and
headed me off. Go long about your
business, Beve,' said; Lucy is wait
ing for her letter But he answered,
in as plain dog talk as ever heard,
that he was after DR.. Skinner So
made bold to tell Col. Britt when he
came out to see what all this bow
wowing was about to open the little
leather bag and see what message was
inside. But the old dog showed the
whole length and width of his teeth
in such a way that the colonel re-
treated forthwith, and upon that
Beaver opened his conversation again
at me. So got off my horse, as much
out of curiosity as anything else, and,
if you will believe me, he raised no OBJ
lection to my finding and reading the
letter, and, sure enough, there I found
in black and white that DR.. Skinner
was wanted.
However, before l started up here
l put the bag on Beavers neck again
and told him to go to Lucy with it,
but he would not bulge an inch in any
direction excepting this"
81 told him he couldn't be expected
to know DR.. Skinner" said Ruby,
laughing and crying in the same
breath, and sitting down on the white
floor to hug the intelligent dog, while
the doctor took charge of her patient.
Mother Lawson recovered and
Beavers praises rang far and wide all
about the country side.
The fine old dog lived several years
after that episode and died of old age.
lamented by many friends and ad-
mirers. l had this story from one of
the family, who was my neighbor, and
it is all true but the names.-Mrs.
Annie A. Preston, in Springfield Re-
publican