Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1909 — A Faithful Dog. [ARTICLE]

A Faithful Dog.

Many hundred years ago there lived at Athens a dog whose faithfulness has caused him to be mentioned in history, and in the Grecian city his story is often repeated. The dog guarded one of the heathen temples at Athens. One night a thief stole into this building and carried off some of the most valuable treasures. The dog vainly barked his loudest to frighten the thief and to rouse the keepers as the man went off with the Jewels. But the faithful dog did not mean to lose sight of the rascal, and all through the night he followed him. By daybreak the poor animal had become very weary, but still he kept the robber in sight. The latter tried to feed him, but as he made friends with the passersby he took it from them instead. Whenever the thief stopped to rest the dog remained near him, and soon a report went through the country of the animal’s strange behavior. The keepers of the temple, hearing the story, went in search of the dog, and. they found him still at the heels of the thief at a town called Cronyon. The robber was arrested, taken back to Athens and there punished. The Judges were so pleased with the dog’s sagacity and faithfulness that they ordered him to be fed every day for the rest of his life at the public expense.