Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-12-28
Home csick Dogs.

On going to my back door one day I
was startled by the appearance of q big,
black dog, which seemed very friendly
and very much at home.
Where did he come from?" ! asked
of Uncle John" who was an older resi-
dent than l On the place.
His name is Colonel. He used to be-
long here, but he went away with the
family when they moved. He gets
homesiclt every little while and comes
back for day or two. Shake, old fell
low"
An immense paw was laid in Uncle
Johns hand, and then in mine, as l
bade my canine guest cordial well
come.
He is a goodnatured fellow; and he
walks into my kitchen and stretches
himself on the floor, while the children
romp over him; and then they ride him
back and forth across the room. Some
times, when he stops to pick up scrap,
the rider goes over his head and the
play is stopped, for it is no light fall to
take.
After short stay he goes away again,
but he comes back to repeat the visit
and receive the general handshake that
always greets his coming.
Yes, even a dog gets homesick, and l
must tell you how one dog was cured of
his homecoming excursions.
Dan belonged to Professor G., of
Manhattan college, and seemed to con-
slider himself an honorary member of
the faculty He roamed at will through
the halls of learning, studying naught
but his own pleasure.
His favorite sleeping place was in the
college vault, where neither heat nor
flies could penetrate, and it required
constant watchfulness to avoid shutting
him in. Once, indeed, the door had
been locked, but Dan awakened to the
situation in time to obtain release.
There was no doubt of the dogs
worth, but there seemed no real need
of his services in an educational insti-
tuition, and there were few that did
not like his presence there; so Professor
G. found home elsewhere for his
favorite.
Dan seemed we'll content in his new
home, but he could not forget his old
associations, and quite frequently he
would take run up to the college to
take chat with the professor and see
that things had been going on all right
during his absence.
On Friday night the heavy vault door
was swung to as usual, and no one had
thought that Dan was taking nap
inside before his journey homeward
The click of the lock did not awaken
him, and soon the college was vacant
and still.
Then the dog awoke, stretched and
shook himself, and, wondering at the
pitchy darkness, he tried to find an
exit, but there was none. He shifted
about, then called and cried for help.
Tired at last, he lay down again to
wait till someone came.
Hours went by, but not a football.
Morning dawned, though not ray of
! light or breath of air could reach the
imprisoned dog. The situation grew
desperate, and poor Dan began to take
desperate measures TO affect release;
but iron and stone we're more than proof
against teeth and claws, and only the
latter suffered.
When exhausted he would stop and
rest, then renew the attack again until
everything movable in the vault was
torn down and mutilated. The walls
echoed with piteous howls and shrieks
of the maddened brute, but there was
no ear to hear, no hand to release.
Not until Monday morning did the
vault door swing open again; then, Dan,
little more than a shadow of himself,
staggered into the light. He was so
weak that he could hardly walk, but
| straight as he could he marched out Of
the building, down the walk and to-
wards home in a bewildered way.
1t was an efcectual cure for homesick-
ness, and never again was he seen in
his college haunts.-Ida Kays.