The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-04-20
A Frontier Hero.

A Frontier Hero.
I think it was about the summer
Of 1901 or 'O2 that I had the pleas
ure of visiting in an excellent Ger
man home near Usage City, Okla
homa. AS we entered the house
large black Newfoundland dog fol-
lowed in. His beauty caught my eye.
and I made some remark about him:
and that led to this story told by the
old German lady. shall not attempt
to initiate her speech, though I as
sure you that her fine German accent
and sanity old face, as she related
the incident, added not a little to it's
fascinating charm:
''In the early days of the settle
ment of Kansas" said the good old
matron, 1--WE settled in the southern
part of the State. We owned big
ger and stronger dog then than the
one you just saw go out of the house.
We had only one child then, Charlie.
He was little over two. Our work
team was yoke of oxen-one OF
them inclined to be ugly Well.
that dog-Bruno was his name
had taken up with the baby from
the very first time he ever saw it,
Bruno was just about a year old
when Charlie was born-and as soon
| as the baby was able to crawl and
later to run about Bruno was always
with him. I don't believe he ever
let that child get out Of his sight
| when he was out of doors. Well
one day when father was working
away from home, went out at noon
to water the oxen. Charlie had fol-
lowed me out into the yard, though
| did not know it. He had on q
red dress, which I guess drew the
attention of the OK; and with snort
the animal charged. My first impress
| sion was that he was rushing at me,
but the instant I fixed my eyes upon
him / knew better; and turning
quickly in the direction Of his ter
rible eyes I saw Charlie. When he
reached the end of the picket rope
it snapped like 'twine. I was 90
frightened that to this day do not
know what I did-it always seems
to me as I try to recall that awful
moment that I was trying to run to
my child, but could not move. As
usual, Bruno was near the child. He,
too, saw what had happened and
what was about to happen. With
the noble instinct of his breed me
was a cross between mastih and
Newfoundland he sprang In front OF
the unsuspecting child. I can see
him to-day, his great muscles stand
ing out in knots upon his shoulders,
his powerful crouching limbs tense
for the oncoming struggle, his white
teeth shining, and his flaming fear
less eyes fixed upon the infuriated
charging beast. Before the madden
ed OK had reached him, with one
mighty bound Bruno met him, and
seizing him by the nose, he crouched
to the ground and held him fast,-
until had run and caught my child
up in my arms and run into the
house I was 80 weak with fright
that l could not stand, but sank
down upon the floor and cried Tor
sheer Joy.
when father came home that
night, Of course that was the frst
thing 1 had to tell him. He had ale
ways thought lots of Bruno, and was
always very fond of the baby; but
think he had never before thought
so much of Bruno or loved his baby
80 fondly as he did that night as ne
listened to my story. And when
had finished, he took Charlie IN nls
arms again, and kissed him half
dozen times; and then he went to the
door and opened 1t and called dig
Bruno in and sat down on the noof
beside him, and put his arm around
his neck and patted him on the Dig
brave head, and for half an hour
talked to him and tried to make h1m
understand that he appreciated what
he had done."-O. B. Whitaker, or
Merom, Ind, in Our Dumb Animals.
Notice.