The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
SERIES OF DOG STORIES
FRANK STOCKTON HAD DOGS AS
WELL AS LADY AND THE TIGER.
Deserted by His Faithful Friend in
Dogs and One That Loved Cat.

Frank r. Stockton. in Youths Companion.
/ must have been very young when
owned my first dog. Ny dog was rather
larger than the ordinary toy dog and there
was nothing about him SO interesting to me
as his name, which was Uno. / was then
in the very dawn of my appreciation of
pun, and 1t greatly delighted me to have
persons ask me the name of my dog, and
then to watch their faces when told them
what it was.
My next dog was a more important ami
NAL, by the name of Rollo, and my brother
and / were not far from seven years Of age
when we came into possession of him. He
was large Newfoundland, black and white,
and as full of energy and love of adventure
as any boy. We were fond of him in
general way, but for one particular purpose
we cultivated his friendship by every gra-
cious method known to US, our object being
to make him so attached to us that If ever
we were lost he would find us and return us
to our home.
When we believed that his affection for
us had reached a point sufficient to induce
him to devote himself to our preservation,
we started out one summer morning with
the definite intention of getting lost. We
would have preferred leaving Rollo behind,
SO that he might start out in search Of US
as soon as the family became alarmed, but
as he persisted in following us we con-
Guided that it would be just as well to let
him begin by going with US, SO that When
we had become thoroughly lost we might
call upon him to guide us back to our par
ents. We would have liked to hang a little
barrel of water and a piece OF LOAF OF
bread from his collar, that we might have
something with which to refresh ourselves
should we become exhausted, but as we
had no little barrel, and were quite certain
fhQf Rnlln hrH90 hanging
from his neck it would divert his thoughts
from all other pursuits, we omitted this
outfit.
we lived in the country, and it was not
long before we had entered a piece of woods
After walking for moderate distance
among the trees, carefully selecting the
most secluded paths, we stopped, gazed
about us, and declared that so far as our
own abilities We're concerned we were IRE
trievably lost. We sat down on fallen log
to rest and to reflect. 1t was plain that
everything now depended upon our dog. II
he did not appreciate the dangers Of our
situation here alone in the forest, with no
knowledge of the points or the compass;
with afternoon but a few hours away, ana
dark night sure TO follow after that ana II
he did not hurry toward us, lick our hands
to assure Us of his sympathy, ana gentiy
pulling at our jackets, urge us forward III
truly perish. Having firmly convinced our
selves of the grimnesS OF the alternative, we
impatently awaited rescue. That rescue
never came. When Rollo found that we had
determined to sit upon log ana 10 give up
further exploration, he gamboled about az
a distance, and then, finding tnat we uiu
not intend to do anything, decided to do
something himself, and went away.
THE DOG AN MIGRATE.
This want of fidelity astounded US. We
waited and waited and waited, suffering in
anticipation all the pangs of hunger and eX-
posure. We must have waited twelve or
fourteen minutes and then, unable longer
to bear it, we arose and left the spot 80
engrossed were our minds with the faithful
ness Of our canine friend that we forgot we
knew not the way home and went there by
the most direct path. Thus early did we
discover the uncertainty OF earthly 1rleho-
Our next dog was not really our property.
but belonged to our father. She was very
fine English bull terrier, ana had reputd-
ton for courage, largely given TO her by US,
which was not surpassed by that or any doS
in the surrounding country. -
In the course of time this dog, named
Fanny, had family of puppies, ana my
brother and [ each appropriated TWO o OF
education. We desired to teach them to
fetch and carry to go into the water When
they were told to do SO, TO come out Whe IN
shake themselves near any We'll dressed per
son. They were also to be instructed 10
come into the house whenever desired and
to stay out when not wanted, to pull little
wagons suitable to their strength ana never
to wriggle about nervously While we were
at suspicious strangers, but never to modest
well-intentioned visitors; to eat gratefully
all rendered food, but not to annoy the fam
lily by soliciting nutriment, and to hunt 10
the death all strange cats, but to protect our
old tabby and her two daughters.
wipe their feet before they came into the
house and to play simple game of cards.
intending, of course, to teach them TO op-
serve certain almost imperceptible signs
which we would make to them, so that they
would know what cards to touch with tneir
noses. By taking them thus early in life
we hoped to impress a great deal OF educa-
ton upon their youthful natures.
But our scholars never graduated They
were not half grown before they became
such insufferable nusances to the family
that not only those puppies which were IN
our charge but all the others We're qePo fbi
because the little beasts were refractory
scholars, and about that time we came INTO
possession of some pigeons of which we
hoped to make carriers, although they were
not of that breed.
| was beginning to be a young man when
/ came into possession of my most eherlsned
dog the great Captain. This dog, OF the
watch variety, was nearly grown when |
bought him. and he became in time my most
faithful friend and companion.
1t was during the time that owned zap
tain that a friend made me a present OF q
Young dog, which in time made for hlmseI
q reputation which extended over all our
neighborhood, and even to some distant
parts.
the head of a hound, the very large ears OF
spaniel, the forelegs of setter and the
body and hind quarters of pointer. !
named him Fax Mentis Incendium Glorle
csThe Torch of the Mind Lights us TO
Glory) which was the motto OF literary
society to which l belonged and II we
wanted him to come and get something 70
eat the first word of his name was sur
ficient but if we desired that ne Snould
cease any mischief in which he was engaged,
the frequent repetition of his entire appel
lation was generally inadequate
He was a dog which was born with tne
shirt of mischief and evil-doing, although
this disposition was usually concealed unuer
a sembiance Of gentle good will to all man
kind, -
Among the first indications of his peculiar
tendencies was his habit of going about the
house very early in the morning, before any
Of the family were up, and selecting from
the different rooms, here shoe and there
a stocking, and carrying these objects down
stairs and out upon the grounds. There he
would bury them out of sight, and great
was his apparent enjoyment of the disturb
ances in the family when it was time to
| get up Sometimes articles hidden by him
were found and sometimes they were not.
He once varied his performances by carry
| ing off a pocketDook containing small
| amount of money and the spot where this
was hidden was never discovered.
| He was a great chicken hunter, but Ior