Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-09-26

Jack was dog of another temper
the dearest, wiry, black-and- tar
terrier that ever chased butterflies OF
burrowed after moles. The velvet.
coated gentry were his chosen prey
No matter where he found run, al
at once he fell to furious digging
One day, in the course of it, he found
himself stopped by a biggish shal.
low-growing root, directly acro oss the
mole-hill. He tried first to dig be.
yond 1t, but it impeded his flying
paws. He stopped short, and drop.
ped his head, as one in deep thought,
then caught the offending root be
tween his teeth and guswed il in
two. After that he began digging
afresh, but the projecting root-ends
were nearly as troublesome as before
they were severed. Crouching a lit.
tie at one side, he seized an end fast
in bis mouth and gave a backward
spring or two, which pulled the root
out Of the earth for space of per-
haps a foot. Then he caught the
other end and jerked it out lik q
distance, while looking reproach-
fully at his young mistress. Her
father, Jacks usual comrade, had q
habit of cutting roots In two and
pulling them out thus for him.
Possibly Jack had recognized and
resented the indubitable fact that
womenkind rarely carry pocket
knives.
Jack and Tipsy, the tortoise-shell
Kitten, were great friends. Neither
had the least goodwill toward other
cats or dogs. But they ate often
from the same platter, and always
when Jack lay curled in front of the
big open fireplace, Tipsy's chosen
resting-p place was the round of his
side. One chilly evening when roar
ing fire made fierce draft over the
rug, Jack lay down at full length,
prone and straight, as though he
were dead. Tipsy came tip-toeing
in little later, and tried to establish
herself comfortably on the side of
him next the fire. For perhaps three
minutes she twirled and turned,
curled herself now this way, now
that, but could not adapt herself to
his altered position. Presently she
got up, walked around to his head,
and began to give him dainty fillips
on the nose with a soft forepaw.-
Twice, thrice she struck, and he did
not STIR Then the watchers saw her
claws unsheathe, and smart scratch
planted upon Master Jacks nose. It
brought him to terms. He sat up.
blinked minute at Tipsy, then laid
himself down i'm his usual concaye.
while she made herself snug in the
hollow of his forearm.
In another household there was
the keenest jealousy between Major,
the black Newfoundland, and Trix,
wisest Of rat-terriers. If she heard
rat or mouse, there was no peace
for anybody until she had chased
and killed it. Then the sport began
for the human on lockers. Major
was bit Of wag. 1t delighted him
to seize Trix's quarry aud parade
about with 1t as fast in his mouth as
though he could answer for its death.
Trix ran after him, whining piteously
and now and then swapping at his
curly heels. If he was forced to
surrender her prey to her he would
drop down, put his nose between
his paws and watch her, lynx-eyed,
as she went from one to another.
laying her dead mouse down at the
feet Of each, and looking up until
she was told: "Yes, Trixy caught
1t! Nice Trixy." After she had
made the round, she ran off and bu-
ried her trophy, watching the spot
Jealously until her master came home
at night. Then she dug it up and
laid 1t before him. When he had
given her need of praise she tossed
the mouse away, and looked over at
Major, as though saying, "Take 1t
and welcome, ] don't care for it
any more"
A gentleman living some twelve
miles out of Memphis, Tenn, owned
bird dog whose intelligence was a
neighborhood marvel. This was
some fifty years back, but even then
there were such things as yellow-fe-
yer epidemics. A peculiarly virulent
one was raging in the town, and the
gentleman found himself under the
strenuous necessity of communicate
ing with his son, John, who was
commission merchant there. His
family, white and black, numbered
more than hundred, and naturally
he did not wish to risk bringing the
fatal fever on to the plantation.-
Therefore he determined to test
Birdo as a messenger. He wrote a
letter, fastened it securely to tho
dogs collar, took him to the planta-
tion's outer verge, and said:
Birdo, go and give John this let
ter. Understand me, John! No
body else. Then come home, but
not till you have seen him."
Birdo trotted off. 1t was a little
after sunrise when he started. At
sundown he was back with a letter
from John, saying that the dog had
gone first to his house and found him
absent, then had trotted to the store
and sat growing when ever his part
ner tried to take the letter, until
John himself came in. To him he
darted, barking and capering, and
though he sat quiet throughout the
writing Of return letter, 1t was no
sooner fast to his collar than he ran
to the door, whining to be off.
In the flush days of steam boating,
before the war, the captain Of a Mis-
sissippi-river boat had a dog that
could distinguish between the pas
sengers if once he had heard their
names. The matter was mentioned
one night in the saloon and a passen-
ger sneered at the idea.
Bet You $500 the dog can't do 1t
once In three times" he said.
"Done,n rejoined the captain