The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-06-09

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Watchie was an old, old dog; just
how old no one in the family had
taken taken pains to remember exact
ly, but he was gray and bleary eyed
and stiff with rheumatism He was
of no particular breed, collie blood
predominating, to Judge from his
looks. His money value had probably
at no time in his life exceeded one
dollar. He was given to the Cartons
in his pup9yhood by a neighbor who
had more dogs than he knew what to
do with, and the Cartons, Of whom
there was a large family, had kept
him. Through his young days he
was considered simply a fairly intel
ligent home dog. It was only after
he became old that the things he
knew became manifest. He had al
ways driven the cows. Alone he went
to the pasture after them and drove
them to the barn. AS rule he
brought them all home, but occasion
ally one was missing. When this
was the case his master had only to
say, "Watchie, where is Brindle? Go
and find Brlndle," when the dog,
looking crestfallen, would retrace his
steps and bring in the m! sing ami
NAL.
After Watchie became lame and
stiff with years there came a day
when his master told him 20 go after
the cows and he did not obey. He
looked at his master and then away
over the pasture, then limped away
to the house and lay down on the mat
/ in the kitchen, as much as to say, 81
have driven your cows faithfully for
years. If you don't know any better
than to send lame old dog like me
on such an errand / must teach you"
| AT least his master so understood him
and drove the COWS himself. That he
| could still go If there was object
enough in it to be worth the effort
was amply proved. AS a mark of
| special favor he was sometimes al
lowed to go with some of the family
to town in the buggy. AS an expert
AAANAAt hin AhaoANA pdlu OllC dllNln
Come, Watchic, get the COWS, and
when the milking is done we will go
to town" With a delighted bark
Watchie limped away after the COWS,
then climbed into the buggy and sat
there until his master waC ready to
go. So sure was Mr.. Carton that the
dog understood, that he dared not
/ break his promise and disappoint the
dog, for fear that he would never
drive the cows again IL he did.
The aired man lived in a cottage
down the road half a mile. The R. F.
D. mail box was at the crossing OF
two roads half way between the house
and the cottage, Every night when
the hired man went home Watchie
went, too, with grape basket in his
mouth. The hired man took the mail
from the box and put it in the basket
Watchie carried it home and into the
house and delivered it to his mistress
| This he did for years, and no one
either stranger or acquaintance, could
entice him to give up the mail. Mr.
Carton frequently tried to take II
from him outside the door, but the
dog snarled and refused to give II
up. Mrs. Carton, as a test, com.
manded him to give it to her in the
yard. He did not growl at her, bur
kept firm hold on the basket and
kept out Of her reach. Indoors he
carried 1t directly to her, but no one
else could take 1t from him, even In
the house. This he had been taught
in the beginning was the right thinf
to do, and he did it faithfully as Ions
as he was able to carry the mail
The older children had grown III
and gone away from home. Al
Christmas one year the eldest daugh
ter was unable to come home, so she
packed a Christmas box with gifts fol-
the family, and not forgetting ole
Watclie, she put in a red ribbon will
silver BANGLE. When the Letter
came from Walter, the son, sayfll
that he would he home for the holl
days. Mr., CASTOR said, "Watchie
Walter is coming home; amt yoI
glad?"
Watchie gave a delighted bark ant
| went TO tha door Whara ha ctood %,