The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-10-28
Lunt.

Ella Rodman Church tells a very
Strange Story of a Goose" in st. Mich
olas-a story that recalls the legend of
the Roman capital and the cackling
geese that saved it from surprise. This
goose made its first appearance near
Quebec over fifty years ago, when some
British troops had been sent out to put
down a rebellion of the colonists. A
certain farm in the neighborhood, sus-
pected of being a resort for the insur-
gents, was surrounded by sentries
placed at some distance apart, and one
day the sentry whose post was near
the gate OF the farm heard a singular
noise. A fine, plump goose soon ap-
peared on a run, making directly for
the spot where the soldier stood, and
close behind in pursuit came a hun
cry fox. The sentry's first impulse was
to shoot the thievish animal and rescue
the goose, but since the noise of the
report would have brought out the
guard on a false alarm he was obliged
to deny himself this satisfaction. The
fox was gaining on his intended prey,
when the goose, in a frantic attempt
to reach the sentry box, ran his head
and neck between the soldiers legs just
as the pursuer was on the point of seiZ-
ing 1t. Fortunately, the guard could
use his bayonet without making a dis
t%urbance, and he did this to such good
advantage that the pursuit was soon
ended. The rescued goose, evidently
animated by the liveliest gratitude,
rubbed it's head against it's deliverer's
legs, and performed various other joy
full and kitten-like antics. Then, de-
l~iberately taking up it's residence at
the garrison post, it walked up and
down with the sentry while he was on
duty, and thus accompanied each sue
cesSive sentry who appeared to patrol
that beat. About two months later the
goose actually saved the life of it's par
ticular friend in a very remarkable
way. The soldier was again on duty
at the same place, and on a moonlight
night, when the was frequently
obscured by passing clouds, the enemy
had formed a plan to surprise and kill
him. His feathered devotee was be-
side him, as usual, while he paced his
lonely beat, challenging at every sound
and then standing at ease" before his
sentry box. The goose always stood
at ease, too, and it made a very COM
ical picture. But some undesirable
spectators-at least, of the soldiers
movements-were stealing cautiously
toward the place, under cover of the
frequent clouds and a line of stunted
pine trees. Nearer and nearer to the
post they crawled, till one Of them,
with uplifted knife, was about to spring
on the unsuspecting man. Then it
was that the watchful goose covered
itself with glory by rising unexpect-
eddy from the ground and tapping its
wings in the faces of the would-be
assassins. They rushed blindly for
ward, but the sentry succeeded in
shooting one of the party and bayo-
netting another, while the goose con-
tinued to worry and confuse the re-
mainder until they fled wildly for their
lives. The brave bird was at once
adopted by the regiment, under the
name OF Jacob" and decorated with
a gold collar or which his name was
engraved, in appreciation of his ser,
vices. Ever after, during his life OF
twelve years, he did sentry duty at
home and abroad, for he was taken to
England at the close of the war in
Canada, and greatly lamented there
when he died. His epitaph reads
Died on duty" and no human senti-
mel could have been more faithful than
poor old Jacob. AS it nay occur to
some readers who have not made a
study of the interesting and almoH hui.
man ways Of many animals to doub,
the truth of so remarkable a story
they are referred to the gold collar
with Jacobs name and exploit en-.
graved on 1t, which may still be seer
at the headquarters of the Horse
Guards in London.