Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1893 — Undeserved Reward. [ARTICLE]

Undeserved Reward.

The writer of “Field Sports in Minnesota” describes his first night’s camping out, and the preparations for supper, which, on account of the lateness of the hour, was to only of tea, bread and*butter and a mutton chop. The five men who made up the party had marched all day, and were anxious for the evening meal. It devolved upon W to prepare it. He placed a well-filled tea-kettle on the roaring camp-stove, and followed by his constant and faithful attendant, Prince, sought a convenient spot to carve the mutton. This he soon discovered in a short log, which he immediately bestrode, first putting the meat in front of him and the frying-pan directly behind him.

His dog had made at least thirty miles that day on a slim breakfast of bpratt’B biscuit and skim-milk, and was in just the condition to allow his feelings to get the better of his judgment. So when his master dropped a slice of meat into the pan behind his back, Prince gulped it down immediately. Again and again was the poor dog tempted, and as often did he yield. My companions and I saw all this, and though very well aware that our supply of mutton was limited to the piece our friend was carving, we enjoyed the joke too well to spoil the fun by warning him. “Let’s'see, boys,” said W- , whose ba:k was toward us, “we are just five, and 1 have cut six pieces of mutton. Five will he enough for supper, and if you have no objections Pd like to give the piece I have left to poor Prince, who seems very tired and hungry.” With difficulty retaining our composure, we assured him that we had no objections. He called up the dog in the most endtaring manner and gave him the bit of meat, meanwhile assuring him that he was “a good dog, y-e-s, he was.” Still unaware of his loss, he very deliberately wiped the blade of his knife on the grass, turned, and took up the pan! A startled glancd at the empty utensil, another at us, now convulsed with laughter, and a third at Prince, who had swallowed the last piece and stood regarding his kind master with'a thankful look, and W——- took in the situation. A torch enabled us to find the pan, that pursued the dog when he fled fromnis master's natural indignation.