Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-09
7 Old Bob
 By WAYLAND JOHNSON

l ue was ever SOluS uO one udu any l recollection of it. There was a time when he was puppy, but he was an old puppy He had sad look in his puppy face as if he did not think much of the world and was rather sorry he ever came into it. He had no giddy period such as all puppies and other young folk are en- titled to. He never worried the cat nor tugged at the curtains nor dragged over shoes from hall to kitchen. Nobody ever stumbled over him, for he was always in the right place, soberly taking care of his dignity. He offered no familiar ities and allowed none. From the first he took life seriously and never wagged his stumpy tail unless the occasion plainly demanded it. Often in my boy ish glee I would persuade him to follow me in wild runs across the prairie, but there was always an expression on his sad little face that said plainly enough: Well, do this because you seem to enjoy it, but when you are as old as am you will see how foolish it all is." He was then three months old; 1 was seven years old.
 He had no fancy for children. He did not dislike them, was never cross !N them. but he considered them triflng and bother some, just as some grown folks do who have forgotten their own childhood. He seemed to have fond ness for me but it was sort of fatherly feeling He appeared to think himself responsible tor me, accompanied me about, but always with the resigned air of one who dOes disagreeable duty but looks forward to the time when it will be over. But between him and father there was mute but perfect sympathy Perhaps it was because they were alike taciturn. Have I not sat for hours be- side my father on our long journeys across the prairie to Council Bluffs and not heard a single sound from his lips except his ceaseless clucking to the team? At the same time Old Bob equal ly silent, was trotting along under the wagon
 There came time when father thought to make his first visit to his own people in Canada. None of the necessary preparations escaped Bob. He knew that something unusual was going on and he was uneasy. He clung close to father, watching for him at the door and logging silently at his heels every moment he was out of the house. When the day for starting came and the old travelling bag was thrown into the wagon he gave way 10 the only fit of fierce surliness that ever saw fin him He sprang into the wagon--a thing he had never been known to do before growled and snarled and had to be sternly ordered out before he would al- low father to come near. Then, whin- ing piteously. he followed as far as the corner of the fence where the road turns up the long hill. No one told him he was to go no further, but he knew. On a little hillock he stationed himself ard for six weeks. day and night. he kept his lonely watch. No coaxing could move him. IL was the fall of the year and the cold rain would drizzle and beat. for days together. but through it al! Bob's patient face could be seen looking. looking up the long hill We carried him food and drink. but he would barely taste if. How he kept life in his old body do not know As the weeks passed on his eyes became dim and bloodshOt with long watching and his 1 skin hung in loose folds. Now and then all day long and in the silent night his 1 melancholy howl would startle the lone prairies. As the hopelessness of the situation wore on us We suffered az much as the faithful dog. At length it became unbearable SC a messenger on q swift horse was sent ,O the nearest tele- graph office. Q miles away. to summon father home. The meeting of master and dog is the most pathetic scene in my memory
 ! I suppose every creature that moves. | human beings and other animals. has it's own peculiar gait. and Old Bob had his. Instead of keeping himself parallel with the road. as one might expect of a sensi- ble. healthy dog. he slung his unhand- some body cOrnerwise So that when his whole dogship was ambling south, his nose was pointing southeast and his tail northxeSt- fused to say to him: Bob you're making 8 spectacle of yourself But he would only stop a moment lift [ fOrefoot in his characteristic way. slow.
 
 lids and again disregard the points Oi the cOmpas- Ny little uncle said Bob-: brains were all in one side Of his head But don't think his explains it unlesz the explanation fits the oddities of soms other people know- I concluded that it was BobIs pet individuality. and Iel hirs suiov jt :. pcarst