Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — A DOG WHO TALKED. [ARTICLE]

A DOG WHO TALKED.

Ifla Eye*, Hla Kara, Hia Tail, Hla Mouth, All Helped. When two years old Ben was noted for intelligence and industry. One of the herders remarked of him, one day, that he could do anything except talk. Moss become indignant. “Anything except talk!” he retorted. “He can talk. Why, we do a lot of talking on the prairie. He talks with his eyes, with his ears, with his tall sometimes with his mouth.” ...» The others laughed at this, but It was true. The man nnd the dog, In the hours of watching the sheep grazing, held lengthy conversations,. Moss sitting with his back against a big gray rock, Ben with bis head upon the man's knees. “Feeling all right to-day?” Moss would ask. “Yes!” Bep would answer. “Fine as silk.” “It’# nice weather now, and the sheep are doing well.” “You bet; this weather makes a fellow feel as if he could|dump out of his skin, and the sheep never did better.” “I think we’ll try a new grazing ground for them soon, though. The flock needs a change.” “Yep-ynp! That’s a good idea. In fact, everything you say is all right You are a great man—the greatest man in the world.” “Yonder goes a jack-rabbit, Ben, loafing along. S'pose you try him a whirl.”

“Not any for me. I got rid of the jack-rabbit habit when I was little.” “Down by Mustang Water-hole I saw wolf-tracks one day, Ben,” said Moss In a whisper. The muscles stiffened, the ears lifted slightly the tall became straight as an iron bar, the moist black lips curled upward, and a low, thunderous growl sounded In the dog's throat. It said as plainly ns words, and more strongly: “I know about ’em. I hear ’em cometlmes at night. I was afraid of ’em when I was a little chap, but I’ve got over that. They mean harm to ou£> sheep and if they come around I ’ll nail ’em sure.”

“Good boy. Ben! You Te not afraid of a wolf as big as a house, and you’ve got more sense than the ranch-boss.” This was praise that could be answered only by a series of rapid leaps, a dozen short barks, and a tremendous scurrying round and round Then Ben would make a complete circle of the flock, driving In the stragglers, and, returning to a dignified seat on the hill, cock his eye at the snn to estimate the time of day.—St. Nicholas.