Year: 1873

For many weeks past Hiram Ripley,


teamster living on Fort street, below the


railroad bridge, had been thinking he


ought to have good watchdog around


the house and barn, as his wife is much


of the time alone, and as bad boys fre-
quently raid his barn for old junk. So,


the other day, when farmer came along
| with big brindle dog under his wagon
and wanted to sell. him for five dollars,
| Ripley criticised the canine, inquired as
| to his merits and said it was a trade. He
| tied the dog up in the woodshed, fed him
bountifully, and he went into the country
after load of potatoes with ght heart,
believing that no human being could
come fooling around his house and live
long. He was gone all night, and it was
Friday afternoon before he returned
home: He drove up to the barn and went
in by the stable door to throw open the
big doors. He had just got on to the main
floor when buzz saw began ripping up
and down his left leg. He thought it was
buzz saw, but it wasn't; it was that
watchdog of his. Mrs. Ripley, desiring
to go off to a relatives, had turned the
dog into the barn, and he was watching,
as was his business. Ripley yelled: "Oh
hockey to saltpeter' as he felt the grind
ing at his leg, and he made long skip
into corner and faced about and saw
the dog The old canine deliberately
picked the woolen and flesh out of his
teeth, and was then ready for business.
His eyes were fixed on Ripley lower vest
button, his stump tail stood up straight,
and his fore-legs had an uneasy motion,
as if they wanted to reach out after
something.


mice old fellow" began Ripley, think
ing to beguile the dog; good doggy
nice doggy-don't you know me9'


The dog seemed to have heard the
voice before. and he sat down and lost a
little of his fierce look. This encouraged
Ripley, and he started to go out, but he
had taken but a few steps when the dog
took half yard from the back of his coat
and brought away piece of flesh. Rip
ley fell over the peck measure, and the
dog took another mouthful, but did not
pursue to the corner.


"Oh jewhittaker to Jerusaleml groan-
ed the dog-buyer as he leaned up against
barrel and saw the dog calmly ruminat-
ing over the last mouthful. .-=


The canine sat up again and smacked
his lips and uttered a growl which rever-
berated around the barn like thunder
He closed one eye and peered at Ripley
with the other, and then moved his paws
around with that reckless, uneasy man.
ner before mentioned. Ripley began
yelling for help, but he hadn't yelled
more than three times before the dog
checked him with look that spoke vol
umes. Then he went to the beguiling
business again. "Here, Tiger he called,
swapping his fingers, "nice Tiger-best
dog in Detroit-poor old doggy" Tiger
uttered whine and beat Ben Buffers
Dream on the floor with his stump nara
tive, while tear of tender love stole
into each eye. The thing was all right
now, and Ripley started out again, keep
ing his back behind him. He had half
crossed the floor when he felt buzz saws,
and red-hot irons, and pitch-forks jab-
bing him all over. He went up and came
down, turned handsprings and jumped
from the trapeze, and in moment was
back in his corner and the old dog sit
ting as before. Ripley couldn't sit down,
and he didn't feel like standing up, and
so leaned up against the barrel and reck-
lessly abused and insulted the dog. He
called him an old loafer, ring thief, a
back salary stealer, carpet-bagger, and
a Mormon, and then went on and abused
the great grandfather.


At length, after being prisoner for
nearly three hours, some boys discovered
the mans situation. By his directions
they went for grocer who keeps a revol-
yer, and the grocer came and released
the prisoner by shooting the dog. Rip
ley came up town to have his wounds
dressed, and they numbered twenty
three different bites and were inpartially q
distributed over large extent of terri
tory. However, there's nothing like
keeping family watchdog. @