The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-07
A DEAR OLD DOG.
His Name Is Ben, and He In a Gentle
man Of the Old School.
Forest and Stream.


Forest and Stream.
1 see your readers are beginning to write
of the dogs they own or have owned. Why
cannot We have more of 1t? There is an
old saying that poor man will have one
dog, but very poor one will have two or
more. l am in that latter class and will
write of old Ben, how came to get him
and what he is good for.
A few years ago i became acquainted
with an officer in a town not far from New
York where they nave a dog pound. i told
them II they ever took in a nice bird dog
not to kill him, but let me know and 1
would pay the necessary charges and take
him out. l had forgotten all about il,
when one day about six months ago got a
call on the telephone: Have a dog for
you. What train do you go up on?" 1 told
him. and when the train rolled in 1 went
into the baggage car and there was my
dog. No name to call him-nothing but an
old rope around his neck / called him Ben
and he made friends at once. He paid
attention to the noise and hustle of the
train, for, as l afterwards found out, he
was used to it and had been all over the
country on hunting trips with his former
owner | took the old fellow home. He
was big, white English setter, finely
feathered, with coal-black ears, a fine
shaped head. 1 fed myself and Ben and
went to bed. About IL o'clock Ben came to
the side of the bed and barked twice and
then ran TO the door, as much as to say, II
want to go out" l dressed and took him
out. He still does that. If he wants a
drink he Will go to the sink and bark, and
If not attended to at once will come and
root you with his nose. When heJis out.
II he wants to come in he will come TO the
door, put his paw on the knob and rattle it.
If that brings no response he will bark.
kept him all summer, but had no chance
to try him except on Sundays and found
that he knew what was wanted OF him.
When one night l went home and was told
that Ben was afraid of thunder thought
had a gun-shy dog; but got a shell that
had been fired and the gun. He smelled
them all over, wagged his tail and ran to
the door. Then 1 knew that everything
was o. K
Well. Nov. 10 came at last. and 4 o'clock
found me at a breakfast of pancakes and
sausage, Ben sitting alongside waiting for
his share After breakfast we had sew
en-mile drive. Old Ben crawled into the
back part of the wagon, at home anywhere.
We put our team up at a farmhouse and
started. What a coach Ben is! He is as
fast as the fastest; very careful; no fool
ing; nothing but hunt, in every slough,
around every bush heap, that old tail of his
going to beat the band. If you went up one
side of hedge fence old Ben was on the
other side. was the proudest man in the
country. have been out with him often
since, and it is the same thing. We may
not get much game, for game is scarce, but
1T Is sport to see that old dog work. Go
in for dinner at noon, and he will act so
tired that you will say, II will leave him
in for the afternoon" But then he will
take a snooze and be just as fresh as in the
| morning. / have had him out with some
of the best settlers about here. They are
not 1-2-6 with Benjamin. He is first to
find birds and first in every bush and briar
patch. But why shouldn't he be? The old
dog was educated for that.
l have found out all about him. Old
Colonel - brought little pup from
England ten years ago and put him in
the hands of a trainer could not find out
have him broke. The colonel had plenty of
| means and did nothing but hunt, always
taking the dog with him. That is why he
has such good manners on a train or in
| wagon or house. 1t is too bad he can
not talk. l often sit and hold his head
in my lap and wish he could tell me about
his different hunting trips. He would
likely tell about once in Florida when he
came near being gobbled up by a large alli-
gator or how close he had been to q bear
| in Maine. or a wildcat may have chased
him out Of her home. He is no fighter
mind his own business all the time Has
no use for rabbits; will point them, but
never chaSes them.
The old colonel died about three years
ago, and before he died he gave the dog
to an old hunter to keep until he died Ben
outlived them all. The old hunter died and
Ben was without home. Then came the
dog pound. That's how came to own a
| dog that cost 500 to break. l only wish he
was about four years old, but from all ap-
pearance he is good for two or three years
| more. 1 have had him stolen from me
| twice and he has been poisoned once.
He has two bad habits-likes chickens
and will get on a clean bed. 1 would not
| part with the old fellow, for who could
| take his place? Who would meet me at
the door every night? And the last thing
| I hear in the morning is the old fellows
bark wanting the door opened to follow
| ne. What il he does get me all covered
with white silky hair? They will all brush
off. He don't want any salary Saturday
night Just give him a good bed and
plenty to eat and take him out once in a
while for walk on Sundays. Where can
| a truer friend be found than good bird
dog? They tell no tales, make no trouble
| unless perhaps I'm while with
| the neighbors' chickens. l would like to
know what would make dog afraid of
| thunder. If a thunder storm comes up
| Ben pulls for home in hurry.