The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-01
MORAL PURPOSE OF OLD BONES.
A Dog That Saved the Lives Of
More Than 300 Lambs.
New York sun.


Old Bones died late.v at the home of
Silas Leach. He was the most disraputa-
be looking dog that ever frightened chill
dren from apple orchards in Maine. Though
ne was fully 10 years old at the time OF
his death. he was not called Old Bones on
account OF his age. Both names came TO
him in early puppyhood and clung to him
through life. In the back yard of the
Leach homestead was a CARLOAD of coffee
pots dinner pals. tomato cans, and other
battered tinware which Old Bones had I'M
willingly brought home dangling from the
end u his tai. When a Cape Rozier moth
er had exhausted all other efforts to re-
strain her unruly son, she told him Old
Bones would catch him IL he didn't behave.
and II this failed the lad was at once sent
TO the reform school.
Though old Bones was hated and stoned
ana sco.aed BY everyone who knew him,
1t was IL, this s,u very perversity OF luck that
thereby prolonged his life far beyond the
span which ia usually allotted to dogs
Nearly all the farmers that Hive on the
shores OF Eastern bay are more or less
Interested in sheep raising. They keep
their fiocks on the shoals OF islands which
begin TO dot the waters close in shore
Atlantic ocean. Some farmers count their
islands by scores and others by hundredk.
and the man who doesn't own at least a
dozen cannot get credit at the country
stores The sheep which inhahdt these is-
lands i've outdoors the year round, fatten-
ing on the sweet grasses OF the islands In
summer and starving upon seaweed and
ocean dr.ft during the long winter. In
May. when the young lambs are born,
the owners visit the islands for q week
sheep
Reared under such conditions, the wild
and half starved ewes are often lacking
In maternal instinct spurning the lambs
of their own blood and allowing them TO
perish from hunger. A dozen years ago
MIR. Leach took Old Bones of TO the sheep
shearing and lamb saving exercises. On
reaching the flock he found that of eleven
newborn lambs four were already dead
and the mothers OF five survivors would
not care for them. Though Old Bones
was considered OF no use even at tina.
early age, Mr.. Leach permitted him 10 so
I'm and help catch the sheep. As the UNI
calmly and tattered dog dashed In among
the flock the unnatural mothers discovered
tfeir hearts. and instead OF running away
turned head 70 and butted Old Bones all
over the island. When Mr. Leach had car
ried the dog on board 70 save his life. he
went back and found every sheep provid-
ing her offspring with what II most craved
After this adventure the services OF Old
Homes were IN demand from Easi port 10
Castine, SO great WAS his success n
awakening the maternal instinct in ewes
that Mr.. Leach let him out for 81 an hour
all through the Landing time. For a dozen
years the dog was butted BY rams ana
STAMPED upon by angry ewes while follow
ing the path % duty. Never a thing OF
beauty the repeated gatherings made his
after the last act Of some geological con-
vu-sioD For eleven months In the year
ne occupied sunny spot on headland
overlooking the bay and put in his time
lodging hrickhats. During the remaining
ncnth he fulfilled his moral purpose
Once aid only once did Old Bones gain
any mark OF recognition for services per
formed. Eight years ago this summer
young wife came here from Massachu-
sets town Sick unto death with consnup-
ton Two weeks later ste gave birth 10
"a male child. which she would not rerng-
ulze as her own. Though the old wives ex-
erted AL f1eir skin 10 make her 10 sn One
bright afternoon. TWO days before her
death. the bedroom door be ng onen 10 adj
Ut fresh aiT. Old Bones strolie2 In pas,
the sleeping B1rse ard Pvt his ugly face
upon the bed Tae beU ildere,i mother
c.aspea the cn'id IN her arms and from
taat t!r7e or wQald 10, allow ii n quit her
side. Two wears ago when ne incident
hai been entirely forgotten Nj Leach re-
Sesved a ca,4~saouutc5 deg COLLAR hv ex-
press. cn Il was this inscription: