Look Back: Waggin’ Tails
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Waggin' Tails – by Ruth Hornbeck, columnist for the Parkersburg News. The item that follows appeared in the May 14, 1967, issue. Ms. Hornbeck played a major role in the local Humane Society.
Jean Brady had a Great Dane called Jupiter, named for the big planet, then -- because she loved him, he became Jupey. When Jean went through a door and closed it all the light went out of the room for Jupey. When she returned the light was there again. When Jupey died she buried him out in the grove under the oaks. I know very little about heaven, but this I know: If Jean makes it to that place, Jupey will be there, waiting. The pearly gates will mean when he sees her, his eyes will shine, with the old eagerness. And then he will know where he is - in heaven.
From the living room of Jean's home, you look out to where the grove slopes downward, and there flowers grow, marking Jupey's place.
But, this is not sad, because life is here, too, Sammy abounds. Jean, with the snares and sharp ways known to men could easily have caught this whimsical little squirrel and turned it into a forlorn captive, endlessly spinning a wheel. She had instead given him the greatest gift a human being can give a wild animal, his freedom and self-respect. Sammy is convinced that he owns these three acres and that Jean lives on them with his consent. He accepts the five nuts she lays out each morning as the rent she pays.
Sammy is different from people in several ways. For one thing he has a tail. For another, he knows when to quit eating. Also he does not worry as people do, about getting his yellow vegetable, his green vegetable, his red vegetable, and all the other colors. Still, when he does find a red vegetable, he knows what to do with it.
One hot day last summer there hung a ripe tomato within reach. It had started to split down the middle. Sammy plucked it and completed the split. Then he buried his face in it. He sat there, happily immersed in fresh tomato juice. Cool, Man, Cool! When he pulled out of it, His bright little countenance was covered with seeds and juice. Sammy then ate the tomato. By making everything count this way, Sammy beats the high cost of living.
But there was the rest of Sammy. The day was hot, so he went and sat in the bird bath. The birds flapped, but Sammy sat there 20 minutes enjoying the cool. Before jumping off, he licked the edge of it and made a discovery. Jean figures that what he discovered was salt. Often now, he does a trot around the rim of the bath, enjoying the taste of the stone. Another source of salt is the brick pavement that leads to the house. He often flips up and down the walk, lapping as he goes, and leaving small wet dapples where his tongue has been.
Sammy never joins in the talk about tranquillizers because he doesn't worry about his image. He doesn't even know if he is a grey or a brown squirrel.
And he doesn't try to keep up with anybody. While Americans stream overseas on splendid tours, Sammy leads his wife and kids out each morning on a tour of the tree-tops.
From this vantage he looks down on the place where Jupey sleeps and on Jean, his tenant. She reports he is a gentle landlord who brings pertness and purpose to the three acres he owns.
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.