The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-01-25
Rough Was A Knowing Dog

Edward F. Danforth, Esquire, now
nrominent Skowhegan attorney,
,eg during his boyhood, on farm
III mile out of Norridgewock on
~ north side of the river. The place
az for many years been owned and
oc,ried by dairyman, Charles H.
r,,,Iar Mr.. Danforth recalls that
tier he had grown to manhood he
ad occasion to pass quite little
30 away from home. He returned
M aay TO find that new dog, Rough,
= name had been added to the family.
a would be civil to him under GER
ii, circumstances, but always re-
orded him as an interloper. II Mr..
nonforth went to the barn to har-
ess a horse the dog would watch
in iealously, and usually before the
Iteration was completed would set
Il teeth into Mr.. Danforth's shoes
trousers just enough to hold up the
Iteration.
Roughs early home was with John
whiting, who lived ON the Waterville
rad on the plains, SO called. His
Master fell i'll and the dog could
carcely be driven or coaxed from his
edside. AS Mr.. Whiting grew worse
Rough insisted on keeping his nose
hurled in the pillow beside his below
a master. The moment the end
Zane. however, he left of his own
Record. A few hours after he was
missed. Some search was made for
him but his whereabouts were not dis
covered
Franklin Danforth. father of Ed
ward F. Danf0rth above named, was
M work on the road near his house.
he heard no sound but felt something
touching his ankle. Looking down,
i strange dog stood there looking up
Sadly into his eyes. He had never
Seen the dog before and so far as
be knew the dog had never seen him.
BE could not drive the. animal away.
however, although he did refuse to
bet him into his home or any of the
buildings for the night. The dog
would stand looking into the window
with both paws on the window sill.
|The family hardened their heart, how
|syer for this one night thinking it
their duty to exclude the dog and
compel him to go back to his real
home. The next day, however, they
gave up the idea and allowed Rough
10 become a member of the family.
A few weeks later on some of the
Whiting boys we're at the Danforth
place and of course discovered their
|los. He would pay very little
Intention to them, but with rope
around his neck consented to accom-
[pany them home. The operation was
repeated and this time they kept him
tiled. but he broke loose in some
manner, and again returned. The
two journeys just referred to were
made across the ice in the winter tiIne
THE next summer the boys tried it
again with the same result, but with
the somewhat interesting modification
that the dog, coming to the river
bank and finding no ice plunged In,
and swan across. He arrived at the
Danforth home early one morning.
dripping with the river water.
Altogether Rough was remark
able dog. He was a Shepherd, and
had the shrewdness of his breed He
would go after the cattle and bring
them up at night, or drive them back
into the pasture from the moving
field. Once In a while he would miss
his count and there would be an OK or
heifer that lie would not bring in.
In these cases his master would call
bis attention to the matter, saying
Rough, go and get the OK Rough
would start out without question even
though darkness had already come on.
He was ST to return with the miss
ing animal later in the evening or
night.
The dog was kept as long as he
could eat, see. or hear hut after
Franklin Danforth's death he was so
old and decrepit that he was finally
disposed of and given a suitable
burial.