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February 10, 1994 - Farewell to a True and Faithful Friend4A • The Suffolk Times • February 10, 1994 Farewell to a True and Faithful Friend By Paul Stoutenburgh At age 15 our dog, Hickory, had to be put to sleep. Any of you who have gone through this traumatic period can under- stand our anguish and loss. The house seems empty now for part of our family is gone. It all started Focus on years ago when my father -in -law Nature gave us a golden retriever puppy to take the place of a dog we had lost. What joy that pup has given us. We named him after all the hickory trees around our house that he soon got to know full well. In time his name was shortened to "Hick" and everyone knew him as such. The first pictures we have of Hick were taken when he was just a pup walking through the snow up to his belly. I unconsciously look around when I put my coat and boots on now for Hick was always there. No matter how sound asleep he might appear, when he heard the coat or boots go on, he was up and ready to go. He'd stand by the door, head half - cocked, waiting for his chance to move. Most of the time he was wel- come to travel along while I worked out- side or fed the animals. When I didn't want him along, I'd try to sneak out of the house without him knowing it. That usually failed. Somewhere along the way a sound or movement would alert him and he'd be up standing by the door. It will be a long time before I stop look- ing over my shoulder for my cheerful and always ready -to -go companion. A Happy Traveler Hick loved to ride in our car or truck and he had an uncanny sense of knowing when he would be invited to go along. All you'd have to say was, "Let's go, Hick," and he'd be off and running to the car, wagging his tail in great enthusi- asm. He had to be the- first to get in. His excitement was so great that as soon as the vehicle started to move, he'd bark with the sheer joy of being part of the adventure. Once the initial excitement was over, he'd calm down and sit beside you. If on a long trip, he'd be content to ■_wVala i imimLo nwwiL 82 Years Ago Feb. 10, 1912 Manhanset% New Casino: The active work of construction of the new casino to be built at Manhanset Manor, Shelter Island, will begin as soon as the weather is favorable. The casino and the adjacent cottages that are to be built will altogether contain some 40 or 50 rooms. In the casino itself will be reading rooms, dining rooms, a large hall for dances and amateur theatricals, and the like. Connected with the colony will be a swimming pool, tennis courts and all the equipment of a select country and yacht club. The property contains some 180 or more acres, with near- ly a mile of as beautiful shorefront as can be found any- where. A part of it will be sold for the erection of private homes, which will add to the establishing of a restricted and very exclusive summer colony. 50 Years Ago Feb. 11, 1944 4-H Club Sells $22,750 in Bonds: The Victory Girls 4 -H Club of Fast Marion are credited with the collec- tion of $22,750 in war bonds in this Fourth War Loan Drive. These girls have made house -to -house canvass of East Marion and are still on the job. Miss Ann Schafer has Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh HICKORY —They say, "A dog is man's best friend" and so it was with Hickory, a friend for more than 15 years. sudden he'd be up standing by the door wanting to go out. We'd let him out and he'd bolt into the darkness. Nine times out of 10, he'd soon have Mr. Raccoon up a tree. Proof of this was when I'd go out and shine-a flashlight up in the tree and see two shining eyes looking down at me. I trained him (to a certain extent) to heel for when we'd walk along a busy highway I'd want him right at my side for his safety. This obedi- ence came in handy when we'd go down our long dri- veway to get the mail. The road was heavily traveled and I was always afraid of him going out and getting hit. All I'd have to say was, "Heel!" and he'd stay at my side while I gathered the mail from the box. Hick always wanted to be part of what was going on so I would give him a piece of mail to carry back up to the house. How proud he'd walk carrying his prize. The reward was `It will be a long time before I stop looking over my shoulder for my companion.' $1,125 to her credit and has the highest score. Others are Nancy Preston, Marilyn Brown, Carol Edgar and Grace Rackett. 25 Years Ago Feb. 14, 1969 Teens Snowbound for 36 Hours: Twelve local teenagers and their adult counselor were among the group from the North Fork Teen Center at Mattituck who spent a harrowing 36 hours during the recent snowstorm getting home from a weekend retreat at Jack Wyrtzen's "Word of Life" Camp at Schroon Lake, N.Y. Leaving camp Sunday noon in a caravan of six cars, they became separated at Newburgh; three carloads spending the night in the Baptist Church at Nanuet, N.Y., while the odl- ers spent the night in their snowbound• cars on tli� Crosstown Expressway with only two English muffins for food. Despite the impassable highways, one group finally arrived in Greenport at 8 p.m. Monday night and the other group at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Among those in the group from this area were Mr. Roland Young, Jeff, Jerri and Jennifer Sherwood, Colin VanTuyl, Lois DeLong, David and Terri Young, Walter Peterson, Theresa Gagen, Patty Kart, David Cook and Dolly Pollock. a biscuit by Barbara at the back door that always brought renewed tail wagging when the gift was given. Golden retrievers are naturally known to be devoted dogs and Hickory was no excep- tion. He had to be close to me no matter where I was in the house. My office is small and rather crowded with books and desks taking most of the room, yet when I'd go over to work he'd have to come and lie down in the nar- row passageway that meant stepping over him if I wanted to get out. In the living room if I was in one chair or on the couch and moved to another, Hick would have to get up and, like a shadow, follow me until I sat down and then he'd curl up as close as possible. It was unbelievable how clean Hickory was throughout his life in the house. He would bark at the door if he wanted to go out and bark again to come in. He had only one bad habit and that was minor. If you left him alone in the house for long, he'd climb up on the couch, which he knew was wrong, and sleep away the day. Left alone he was king and so I guess took that privilege. When we'd come back he'd sheepishly give up his throne and look embarrassed as we mildly scolded him. Most of the time though he would just stay sprawled out on the floor awaiting our return with no hard feelings, just a wagging tail which told us he was glad to have us back. A Festive Friend Each Christmas Hick became part of the festivities. His huge, sweeping tail did its part to rearrange the lower branches of the Christmas tree. Christmas balls would go flying, strings of lights would blink on and off and as he walked away he'd be trimmed with a collection of sparkling tinsel over his back and tail. But no matter, his reward for the day was always a big, red ribbon that he wore proudly, showing his part in the Christmas festivities. Each night most of us have certain events that seem to put an official end to the day. Ours was when we went to bed and waited for Hick to come down the hall and flop on his rug at the foot of our bed where he would stay until dawn. It was a comforting thing for it meant all was well and now we could go. to sleep in peace. How we miss those padded footsteps that we looked forward to hearing each night. For a while he did not come until half the night was over and then toward the end he didn't come at all. We knew then Hickory's days were numbered. Those of you who have had pets close to you know how devastating it can be when that part of your family is gone. For those who have never had a pet to pam- per and take care of, you have missed one of the great joys animals can bring. There is no truer friend than a dog. They ask nothing but a little love and an occa- sional pat and yet they give a lifetime of enjoyment.