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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer March 16, 2009- - No. 101 |
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Laddie the Cocker Spaniel lived on the farm over the span of years that the three boys were born. By the time the third son came along she was getting to be an old dog and didn't go on to live much longer. Three young boys on a farm without a dog; something needed to be done about that.
The dad knew a man south of the river that had a black-lab-girl-dog that needed a good home. She was not quite full grown, still had a lot of “puppy” in her; and had but one drawback as far as her owner was concerned. If she were allowed to come into the house there was only one way to get her out – “you'll have to drag her out”, the man remarked. And so the south-of-the-river-man had given her the name “Drag”. Well, that black dog was around for a long time, she grew up and got older right along with the boys there on Elmwood Farm. Drag roamed a lot of the countryside with the three of them in those days. She was a good hunter too. The dad and his sons could always count on a successful hunting season each fall with Drag out front to flush the pheasants, rabbits and grouse. The local priest from St. Michael’s often borrowed her when he went off on a hunt. Sometimes one of the boys would be invited to go along. That was a good deal cause Father Salatka had access to parishioners lands that were pretty much off limits to anyone else; especially Simon and Mary’s property down along the river. Drag knew that piece of ground well and could always stir up at least a rabbit or two on a trip to their place.
Like Laddie, Drag filled a bunch of years with dog life there on the family farm. You can easily get a feel of what she was like when you dig into the old photos that were taken during her time. It seems that she should come running across the yard when you pull into the drive over there on the old place. |
