Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson

Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson, is the source of the classic tear-jerker movie of the same name. And it’s a good book, even though I was guarding myself all the way through so I wouldn’t have a breakdown at the end. I liked the authentic portrayal of pioneer life in Texas—dangers and delights. The lead character, Travis, is left with his mom and little brother while his dad goes off on a cattle drive. His jobs on the farm at the edge of the frontier are fraught with danger and drama—and rightly so. He had to round up the hogs for cutting (marking) and castration without getting attacked by the deadly adult pigs. He has to hunt for food for the family. And he needs a dog. Along comes rascally Old Yeller (Old Marigold?). Travis and Old Yeller have a hate/love relationship until Yeller proves his great value.

Marigold, Mountain Cur

I have a special interest in this book because of my dog Marigold. I was told that her breed is mountain cur--a dog bred to suit the needs of small farmers and settlers in rugged terrain. Old Yeller was also a mountain cur, according to the breed's afficianados (although he was played by a yellow lab in the movie--for shame). I can testify on the intelligence and loyalty of Marigold, which makes Old Yeller's story entirely believable.

Any person who really gets to know a dog--any dog--will have marvelous tales to tell--not maybe of deadly contests with wild animals, but still tales of the dog's sensitivity and skill. Marigold has a special strategy for catching baby bunnies. (Rabbits are plentiful in my area, so don't go all weepy on me!) She will lay down (sphinx-like) a few feet from the hole and go still as stone. Over the next few minutes she will creep forward an inch or so at a time until she is frozen over the hole like an innocuous rock. Then--pow!--all of her coiled and compressed energy flows out into a dive right into the center of the hole. Tiny rabbits fly out in all directions like a bunny explosion. Marigold is not greedy. She'll end up with just one bunny--enough for a snack. And, let me tell you about my old dog Candy and the field mice...just kidding.

Go to http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Mountain_Cur for more information on this breed. The site http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/mountaincur.htm describes the Old Yeller connection.

This movie still looks pretty authentic, but the dog is all
wrong--way too chunky and square-nosed to be the dog
described in the book.

Old Yeller is a tribute to great dogs, working dogs, partner dogs. Their courage and loyalty is unmatched in any species, I think. And their intelligence is greatly underestimated. The book's ending is heartbreaking, and is related to a looming threat introduced early in the book. Old Yeller is a fully developed character and his death is a supreme sacrificial moment--as important as any other sacrifice and not diminished because it was made by a dog. And as I so often observe, the presence of an animal can often ennoble us as humans. Travis's whole family is changed and strengthened because of their relationship to Old Yeller.

This is a good book. It holds up across time. The first-person narrative was great. The use of“frontier-speak” was light-handed, but enough to give Travis an authentic voice. Even people who don’t like dogs will identify with the friendship that develops between Yeller and Travis as they face great danger with great courage. All kids, I think, face great dangers and have great courage. This book is for them.