Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-21
MAJOR STILES'S DOG.
A TERRIER THAT DISPLAYED RE-
MARkABLE KNOWLEDGE.
TOOK CARE OF A LITTLE SNOYBIRD.
He and DIR. McGuire's Collie, "True,"
Had n Funny Experience Herdfng
Chickens-How an Apology Was
Made to an Old Friend.


size. with the same 1.-the. muscular figure,
and even more vivid alertness Of manner.
In some traits and characteristics, too,
he resembled Frank, having the same
astounding power of scent and the same
reckless courage and audacious pugnacity;
but he was harder, healthier dog, never
having slept in the house after his early
puppyhood. His temper was brighter
and more playful, and his brain power
and general appreciation and sympathy
were incomparably greater.
As before remarked. he was the most
individual and original animal l have
ever known. When a puppy he took his
food in the most peculiar way. As his
head went down in the saucer his hind
legs went up in the air. and he actually
Tapped his milk standing, as it were, upon
his head and forefeet. He would whip
a kitten twice his size, backing upon her
until she stuck her claws into his rear,
then turning in a flash and Selling her
with his teeth.
THE HOME OF WREN.
Wren's entire life, after the first few
weeks, was spent at Bon Air. the sum
mer home Of the family. We dared not
bring him to Richmond, as he would un-
doubtediy have died in battle in a city,
and he was therefore separated from us
more than half the year. The day We
left Bon Air i'm the autumn he would
move over to the house Of Mr.. Whitworth,
the well-known and popular Bon Air STA
ton agent-say a quarter of mile or
more from our cottage-and there he
would remain until we returned the next
summer but, the day we appeared, he
would meet us at the station and, in an
ecstacy OF joy, accompany his own pe0-
pie to his own home. This was his un-
varying habit during ali the years of his
life, and there never was even momen-
tary pickering of his allegiance.
APOLOGY TO MR.. WENTWORTH.
The Whitworths were very good TO him,
and ne was very fond of them, but they
were not his people, and he never spent
any time with them while we were at
Bon Air. During the summer Wren and
/ would sometimes meet Mr. Whitworth,
who would laughingly reproach him with
his hypocritical and interested friend
ship when the little fellow would run to
him, rearing up against him with his
forcpaws wagging his tail, and making
earnest protest and apology, saying
quite as plainly as words could say:
"Oh, you understand il; I'm sure you do.
You know | love you and yours, but the
Stileses are my own people, and the Major
here (glanclng at mel is my own dear
master It's all right between us, though,
I'm sure II is or, If we CHANGED 10 run
across the Whitworth baby carriage, he
would bound into IL. lick the baby's
hands and face a moment, and then jump
out again and rejOin his own people"
For a year or more the family washing
was done at Bon Air by a servant who
occupied the kitchen as protection TO
the place. During all this time it was
Nren's habit to meet the clothes-trunk
at the train on Mondays and accompany
IL TO our kitchen, where his dearest plea
sure was 10 lie and roll and sleep upon
the soiled clothing until the last article
was put in the tub. A friend, who oc-
cuLled for a whole winter the next cot
tage to ours, has told me that however
stormy the night he would hear the lit
tie hero about midnight making the
grand rounds OF our place. daShing all
about 1t, and barking furiousy. having,
of course. come all the way from the
Whitworths' for the purpose
SAT UP LIKE. A MAN.
Wren was the only dog 1 ever owned
who was taught any tricks. and 1t could
scarcely be said that he was taught
them My dear wife was very fond Of
animals and had unusual sympathy with
and control over them. From heI he
readily learned 10 "sit M like a gem
tleman," Gross your hands like a lady"
Speak" Beg" Faint away and die, -
etc, etc. OF course. she rewarded him
for these little performances-that is, by
them ne got what he wanted. The only
noteworthy feature Of the matter was
bp In directed IF
doors. ne would constantly put I'm play
his little accomplishments, with a view
Of securing what he desired For in
stance, when playing with the cat, If she
ran uD a tree for out of his reach, he
would 'sit up and beg" her to come
down lower. and when this did not
have the desired effect | have seen him
faint away and die" al the foot of the
tree: or If he wished his little master 10
go TO ride. he would leave his side. and
running 10 where the pony was grazing
I'm the yard. would sit up near him. bark
ing TO arrest attention and holding up
his forepaws In suppllcation and en-
treaty toward the little boy and | have
seen him. I'm his intense anxiety. actually
faint away and die" between the very
feet of the horse.
TOOK CARE OF THE BIRD.
The family life at Bon Air about this
period was one OF almost inconceiVable
simplicity. We lived I'm a sweet pine
forest, WIN our lllAlt tllllllttl anu AllHti
animal pets as our chief companions.
Among the latter was snowbird, found
by our little daughter lying on the ground
wounded and bleeding: but under her
tender care It had been restored TO per-
feet sOundness except that IL could not
fly But it could ascend and descend By
a pretty ladder Of vines TO and from the
second story Of a wire flower stand in the
dining-roOm, where il had sleeping nest
I'm soft moss Wren took the greatest
To-. In hf fGI - fgh Il M III
the least fear him. | have often seen
il hopping and pecking all over him as
he lay on a rug, ana have seen him pro-
tect IL from the chlldren's kittens whom
he and we together soon taught not 10
modest Ii. | have also seen him follow
the bird out on the porch in stormy wea-
Their with evident anxiety. and gently
drive il back into the house, as II appre-
ciating the fact that IL was not fitted 10
brave the storms and enemies without.
Many a time have breakfasted with two
kittens, a terrier dog and snOwbrd
tremendously gathered about my chair.
About this time Or. Mcclure. who then
owned and occupied the cottage next 10
ours. had a fine collie named True, and
the two dogs were great friends indeed.
they were inseparable companions during
the summer, and the year we passed en-
tirely nj Bon Air. throughout the winter,
after the McGuires returned TO Richmond,
every few weeks True would trot up
through the country 10 visit his friend. /
was accustomed TO work late az night
I'm the dning-room. and when | heard
the hustle of the greeting on the back
norch where Wrens little kennel stood,
1 would let the dogs in. After greeting
me. the two friends would invariably tr0-
off 10 our chamber. on the same floor
and satisfy themselves with "A peep at
the sleeping family. and especially at the
children in the trundle-bed, when would
let them out OF doors again. Wren
greatly enjoyed these visits of his dear
friend True which ordinarily lasted two
or three days.
The story which | am about TO relate
of these two dogs is. in m opinion, the
most interesting and valuable story OF
animal intelligence which has ever come
TO my knowledge. ard | relate IL, fully