The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-10-12
BEAVER.
The Story of Capt Lawson's In.
telligent Canine Messenger.

U9u1gGnG C2Qln0 messenger.
81 don't at all like the idea of NOV
ing away off up here to Wcstford,'
said Mother Lawson, as she stepped
brislzly about, putting the long
kitchen, that was also parlor, bedroom
and hall, in order, SO that the new
home might have a coy look when
the tired family drew up about the
bountifully spread supper table.
'Why mother" laughed her daugh-
ter Ruby, turning about from her work
in front of the glowing fire, "our
neighbors up here in Westford all will
say: I want to know if you used to
live away off down in Willington?'
and l have no doubt you will soon
grow into the same manner of speech"
Perhaps I SHALL" replied Mother
Lawson, cheerfully: Il have learned
in my many years of life that home is
home, whether it is in one Connecticut
hill town or another If daughter
Lucy lived near by, as she did when
we were on the old farm, l shouldn't
mind so much; or if we were on the
same turnpike, where people are all
the time driving and teeming, so that
we could send word back and forth.
But there she is, down there on the
Hartford and Providence, and here we
are on the Hartford and Boston, and
on the cross roads between us there is
no mail route, no stage route, no
regular teams. We must drive the
dozen miles on purpose every time we
hear from poor daughter Lucy, all
alone, without relative near her,
away off down there in Wilmington"
"Ia, hal" laughed Ruby; ''who would
ever have expected the dear woman to
so soon fall into Westford ways? Do
you hear her. James? Bless me, what
is the boy thinking of? This is no
time to go off into brown study or to
write a Latin exercise for Parson
LOOMS to correct"
"This is no Latin exercise" replied
James, who in later years became an
eminent scholar. "This is little en-
terprise upon which Beaver and I arc
about entering. do the writing and
Beaver does the carrying, Here, Bea-
yer, good dog, Beaver! Do you under
stand, old fellow? Do you see this?"
and he showed the large, handsome
shepherd dog that stood by, wagging
his bushy taft, q small, leather money
bag, do you see this paper, Beaver?
have written a message upon it to
Lucy. l have told her that we have ar
rived away up here in Westford safe
and sound and that Ruby is frying flap
jacks for supper, and that mother is
worrying about her, as matter of
course, and finished up by begging
her to write and tell us how she is,
and send the letter back by you"
The bright-faced lad put the care
fully folded paper in the little bag,
and tied it by strong hempen cord
about the intelligent creatures neck.
Now, Beaver, you must go as quick
ly as you can and carry this to Lucy"
Opening the door, Beaver trotted out
in very important fashion, and James
repeated:
SEQ, Beaver Col"
'He will go good dealv" laughed
Ruby, who was always laughing.
'He would be as likely to obey if you
told him to chop an armful of wood
and bring 1t in"
you will see,'' replied the lad. clos
ing the door. Beaver is no common
dog; he understands great deal of
my talk to him. He will pass the night
in Wilmington with sister Lucy, and
will return to us tomorrow with q let
ter
Strange Beaver don't come back"
said unbelieving Ruby over and over,
during the evening, and she even sat
up until far into the night momentari-
! 30, 1.
of the favorite dog at the door.
He did not come, however, and she
arose in the morning convinced that
he considered himself sent away for
some reason, and that they should
never see the fine old fellow again.
''Ie will get home by dinner time"
said James, and, sure enough, about
noon he came trotting serenely in,
Wagering his tau and barking sharply
to express his joy.
James opened the little leather bag,
finding, as he expected, note from
Lucy.
~ cried all day after watching you
out of sight" it said, land you don't
know how glad l was to see Beaver
when he came barking at the door
early in the evening. Your letter was
great comfort, for l had no idea of
hearing from you for q week at least
shall not feel half so forlorn now, for
dog that will fetch a bone will carry
one, they say, and we can write as
often as we please"
They did write often, you may be
sure, and Capt. Lawson's Beaver, with
the little leather wallet suspended
beneath his white throat, came to be
familiar sight to the jewellers in the
O for an eye more clear to see,