The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-08-01

OF all four legs at once. First he would
come in from some of his private excur-
sions holding up an injured front paw
for attention, and when that would get
well he would appear some morning
with one of the hind ones ready for re.
pairs. At first we used to incase the
afflicted members in bandages, but as
he was SO careless about cropping them
broadcast all over the lawn we content
ed ourselves with the application of
witch-hazel alone. But no matter how
lame Duke was he could never see the
horses brought to the door without
feeling that it was his duty to accom-
pany them to town, and where duty or
danger led, there was Duke, legs or no
legs.
Birds and squirrels were the most
fascinating objects in existence to
Duke. A bird could not fly across the
sky above him even without his start
ing after it, each leg prancing wildly
by itself, and barking shrilly.
Once he became so much interested
in mad chase after bobolink that
was flying over the Hudson that he
plunged into the river and swan half
way across. Fortunately there was a
boat near at hand, which came to
his rescue, or Duke might never have
lived to display the rare musical gifts
which became eventually the pride of
the house and the countryside.
He had never manifested any special
ability in this direction until gentle
man came who played the cornet;
then all Dukes long depressed talents
came to the surface at once, and we re-
allied that we had a genius in the
family.
The gentleman who awakened this
dormant gift in Duke used to play the
reveille every morning to arouse the
1amlIy-and also as a call to meals.
Duke evidently decided that the cornet
was nothing without an accompani-
ment, so at the first note of the call he
was invariably on hand at the side OF
the cornetist, head well up, chest ex-
banded, and following the call in an
exceedingly well modulated voice, con-
sidering his advantages. When the
notes of the reveille ran up, there was
Dukes shrill treble after it, and when
they went down, Duke was there, too.
Boats going by on the river stopped to
listen to this curious duet, neighboring
families marveled at the strange phe-
nomenon until the mystery was ex-
planned, while to guests and children it
was source of never-failing delight.
But alasl
Death cuts down all
Both great and small,
as the old New England reader used to
say, and death came to Duke, though
not in the heroic guise we could have
wished for one of his genius.
After the guests went away in the
fall and his friend the cornetist packed
his cornet and returned to the city
Duke seemed to be very lonely, and to
relieve the tedium of the quiet days he
took to wandering about in search of
amusement.
One day drover in charge of large
flock of sheep came along, and Duke
joined number of his friends in fol-
lowing along after the procession,
keeping up meanwhile a canine COM
mentary that was evidently displeasing
to the drover, for he drew his pistol
and shot into the ranks of the accom-
panying dogs. Poor Duke! Although
innocent of all intent to do mischief he
was in bad company, and, like old dog
Tray, he was forced to pay the penalty
for it with his life. Never again shall
we hear his doggish notes, like run
ming vine" through the reveille Or a
sunny slope overlooking the Hudson
lies all that was mortal of our poor
Duke; and over his grave the birds
sing, the squirrels chatter, and the
clover and daisies bend softly in the
summer breeze.--N. Y. Times.