The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-08
SHOWS TEMPERANCE DOG.
TFrom the Youth,s Companion.l

The old blue farm wagon, with its
load of fresh, green garden truck, -
gave a pleasant touch of spring to the
city square and the farmer had such
a kindly face that many a man in the
hurrying throng smiled half invOluntar-
lily as he caught his eye
But it was the farmers dog on which
the glances of the passers-by rested
longest magnificent, pure blOOded
Newfoundland, black as coal except for
little patch Of white on his chest and
a hint Of gray with which advancing
age had touched his muZZle. He stood
on the curb by his master, watching the
passers with eXpectant eye. and wag-
Eing his tail in dignified approval when
ever someone stopped to make pur-
chase.
BY and by one man. who seemed to
have more leisure than his fellows,
paused moment TO speak to him
What's his name2'' he asked.
Dow" replied the farmer promptly.
Dow That's a queer name for a
dog"
Neal Dow is his full name.''
oh, l see. Temperance dog" said the
stranger. smiling Never takes any
thing but water, I suppose"
Yes. but he's more than that. He's
a prOhibitiOniSt-a regular temperance
TefOrmer.'
The stranger evidently wanted the
story. and the farmer continued.
Yes" he said. Jim Snow a hired
der when he was about a year old.
Jim was a good worker and a pretty
decent fellow otherwise, but he never
went to town without coming home the
worse for liquor.
''One day. a week or two after he got
the dog, he came home, as usual. stag
gering drunk. He had grown very fond
jim, put TINS time, instead of running to
meet him, he rose up growing. with the
hair on his back as stiff a 5 bristles, and
every tooth in his head showing. Any
man in his senses would have kept
away. but Jim was too far gone to
know what he was doing. He spoke to
him. but the minute he started TO go
a step nearer the dog fastened on his
hand. and there he hung. Jim yelled,
and the Spragues. where he worked
came running out; but the whole fam
lily had all they could do to make him
let go
The next day the dog was as good
ratured as ever. but when Jim came
home drunk again a week or two later
he growled and snarled just he had be
fore, and finally went off out to the
barn and stayed two days.
Jim kind Of took the thing to heart.
He'd had plenty of good advice before,
but it didn't seem to take hold of him
the way this did. and after it happened
the third time, he said:
Well, If I've got so low my dog is
ashamed TO associate with me, I guess
It's time TO quit
He stopped right Interviewer drank
another drop. and never had another bit
of trouble with the dog from that day to
this
AT the time it struck everybody as
a mighty strange thing. We didn't
know how to account for it. But about
Two years afterWard the DeddIer told
somebody how one time a drunken tav-
ern loafer struck the dogs mother with
a hot poker. and after that she would
never let anybody who had been drink
ing come near her
But how came the dog in your pos
session. asked the stranger.
Well" said the farmer with a twin
hle, you see my name is Snow-James
Snow 1 was the hired man. If it hadn't
been for Neal here, might be a hired
man Vet. instead of owning a good farm. |
Poor old dog. he's getting we'll on in
years now, but 1 amt likely to forget
him"