The Yarmouth News-Dog

From the East Suffolk Gazette And Beccles And Bungay Weekly News 6 April 1869 (Page 4, column 6) comes a story that is rather lighter than the rest of the content.

In the middle of Yarmouth Market-place, on six mornings of the week, a fine dog may be seen entering the shop of Mr OVEREND, the grocer and tea-dealer, with the 'Daily Telegraph' in his mouth. This sagacious animal has been so well trained by Mr OVEREND that he has become one of his most useful servants. 

Every weekday the dog marches off to the newsman's shop for the paper. This he carefully conveys to his master.

His daily mission, however, is not yet done. Mr OVEREND has a friend in the town who takes in the 'Morning Star', with whom he has agreed to exchange papers. When Mr OVEREND, therefore, has read all he desires in the Telegraph, he calls his dog and desires him to "go with this and get the 'Star'." 

Off bounds the noble animal - never loitering in the street - to the friend's house, where he delivers the paper, and will not return without the other in exchange! 

"Noble dog! how useful thou art!" - 'British Workman', April 1st, 1869 (with illustration).

In case you were wondering whether an April Fools joke was printed five days late, a quick search of  the 1869 Post Office Directory of Norfolk lists a John Gartside OVEREND as a grocer of 23 Market place and Hall Quay, Yarmouth].