Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-07-30

OF all four legs at once. First he would
come In from some of his rri7ate excur-
sions holding mp 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 inease the
afflicted members IN bahdaGes, 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 1t 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 1t, each leg prancing wildly
by itself, and barking shrilly.
Once he became so much interested
in a mad chase after bobolink that
was flying over the Hudson that he
plunged into the river and swan half
way across. Fortunately there was
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 repressed talents
came to the surface at once, and we re-
alizGd 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
famIly-and also as 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 reveillc ran up, there was
Dukes shrill treble after it, and when
| they went down, Duke was there, too.
Boats going by on the rivey stopped to-
listen to this curious duet, neighboring
families marveled at the strange pho
nomenon until the mystery was ex.
planned, while to guests and children it
was source of never-failing delight,
But alas!
| 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 havd
wished for one of his genius.
After the guests went away in tho
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 HI
took to wandering about in search Oh
amusement.
One day drover in charge of large
| flock of sheep came along, and Dukd
| joined q number of his friends in fob
lowing along after the procession,
| keeping up meanwhile canine COM
| mentary that was evidently displeasina
/ 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, hd
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. On a
sunny slope overlooking the Hudson
lies all that was mortal of our pool
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.