|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Story of the Old Farmer's Dog |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
When I was a boy, 8 maybe 9, it was a great time in my life. The other boys and I would go fishing in the creek, north of town. It was a nice walk, we used the railroad tracks and ALWAYS hurried when we got to a trussel, don't wanta get run over by the train! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Well, as we would leave town, there was an old farm that the tracks passed. We would see the farmer working the fields of corn or setting the cows loose after morning milking. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Now this is the 1950's and a popular show on TV was "Rin-Tin-Tin". Rin-Tin-Tin was a German Shepard. He was a hero in the eyes of every kid.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I remember walking past the farm one day and out from the bushes walks this huge shepard. He is snarling at us...I just can't believe this! Well, the other boys take off running but not me. I stand my ground, after all, its RIN-TIN-TIN, RIGHT???
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well he strides toward me, his lips curled up, showing off his sharp teeth. I am thinking now that MAYBE this standing my ground thing wasn't such a good idea. Then a deep voice...RINNY!!! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The dog stopped, turned and went back the way he came.
The farmer stepped out from behind the bushes and laughed. "Did the dog scare ya?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I nodded, maybe a little. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He called the dog over and then me. I want you to meet him. I stood there looking at this dog. The farmer handed me a kibble-treat of some kind and said, "Feed it to him." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I looked at the farmer, then the dog and with a fairly steady hand held out the treat. Well, Rinny started for the treat, and the farmer stopped him. He looked at me and said, "Make him work for it, tell him to sit."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I looked at them both and spoke the word "Sit." The dog sat!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was very proud. As I smiled I held the treat close and Rinny ate it. The farmer smiled and turned away, leaving to go about his chores calling the dog as he walked away. Rinny glanced at me then ran off after his master. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
From then on I would carry a treat with me for that dog. And my friends would still be afraid when he would come to the tracks, but not me....I had a friend!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So, there you have it. The website built around a fifty year old lesson and a friendship that still lives inside me. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
