HE KNEW THE OLD ORGAN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XXII, 1 December 1894, Page 523

HE KNEW THE OLD ORGAN.

A CURIOUS story of a canine musical ear is told of a London organ-grinder’s dog. The organ-grinder was blind and aged, and the dog led him about. One night, after a hard day’s work, the old man and his faithful companion lay down to sleep with the organ beside them. They slept soundly, and when they awoke the organ was gone. They were in despair. Their means of earning a living was gone. But the dog led the old man through the streets where he had been accustomed to play, and persons who had given him alms before continued to befriend him, so that the loss of the organ proved not so bad, after all. Weeks went by. One day the old man heard a handorgan played a few feet from him. It reminded him of his lost instrument, but he paid no special attention to it. Hand-organs were common in London, and he heard them often.

Not so the dog. He showed signs of great excitement, barked violently, and led his master in the direction of the organ. He sprang at the robber’s throat, dragged him away from the stolen organ, and led his master eagerly up to it with expressions of delight.