CHAPTER IV.
THE FAITHFUL DOGS.
"O, cousin Minnie," cried Ida, "here are some beautiful stories. Let meread them to you."
"An English terrier was brought up in a family where there was a littlegirl, with whom he was a great favorite. For hours together they amusedeach other, the dog readily yielding obedience to every wish of hislittle friend. One day, however, when they were at play in the nursery,the mother was startled by a quick snarl from the terrier, expressive oftemper and violence.
"Alarmed for her child, she rushed to the dog and drove him angrilyaway; but after the closest examination, she could find no trace ofinjury inflicted on the little girl, and she soon, forgot both theoutcry and alarm.
"Meantime poor Fido had not ventured from the corner where he had beendriven in disgrace, but remained for a long time pensive and quiet inhis retreat. At last, when his little playmate began to look round forhim, he came slowly forward to the mother of his companion, and sittingdirectly before her, with a touch of his paw solicited her attention.
"'What is it, Fido?' she asked.
"He rose gently, and placed something on the carpet at her feet.
"It was a pin, which she lifted up and examined, every motion closelywatched by the dog. His pleading eye was too obvious to bemisunderstood, and by questioning the child, the whole was soonexplained. The pin had come in her way, and, in the fun of childhood,she had tried to make a pin-cushion of Fido's nose. The snarl wascaused by pain, and the snap following removed the dangerous weapon fromunsafe hands.
"The lady patted the dog, calling him 'good Fido,' when he at onceturned to his favorite, to assure her of his forgiveness, and to askthat they might be friends again. And so they were ever after."
"That is a very good story," said Minnie, smiling. "I wish you wouldread another one as good."
"Here is one," responded Ida, having cast her eye over it, "which israther sad."
"A gentleman named Llewelyn had a fine hunter, which he called Gelert.One day, the dog refused to accompany his master to the chase, whichmade him very angry.
"Gelert always kept sentinel at night at the door of his bedchamber,and, on his return from the chase, Llewelyn met the dog coming from theroom, covered with blood. He entered in great haste, alarmed for thesafety of his child, when he found the bed overturned, and the coverletstained with gore. In an agony of apprehension, he called aloud to hisboy, but received no answer, and rashly concluded that the babe had beenkilled by Gelert.
"Without stopping to reflect upon the fondness the animal had alwaysmanifested for the child, he ran his sword through the poor creature'sbody.
"Roused from his slumber by Gelert's dying yell, the infant awoke, whenthe father, advancing, found to his heart-rending remorse, a gaunt wolf,torn and bleeding, tremendous even in death, lying on the floor near thetender nursling. The faithful dog had seen the wolf prowling about,and, refusing to accompany his master to the chase, of which he wasextremely fond, placed himself near the couch of the boy, and in the endsaved his life, though, as it proved, at the sacrifice of his own.
"Llewelyn, who never could forgive himself, afterwards built a chapel,and raised a tomb to the memory of his faithful dog, who fell a victimto a momentary passion. This tomb is still called Beth-Gelert, or thetomb of Gelert; multitudes have there heard the account of his braveryand his untimely death."
"How very sorry he must have been!" exclaimed Minnie, tears filling hereyes.
"Read that account of the Stockholm dog," said Mrs. Lee.
"Yes, aunt; but first here is a story of the fidelity of a dog, which isvery affecting."
"A French merchant, having some money due from a correspondent, set outon horseback, accompanied by his dog, on purpose to receive it. Havingsettled the business to his satisfaction, he tied the bag of moneybefore him, and began to return home. His faithful dog, as if he enteredinto his master's feelings, frisked round the horse, barked, and jumped,and seemed to participate in his joy.
"After riding some miles, the merchant alighted to repose himself underan agreeable shade, taking the bag of money in his hand, and laying itdown by his side under a hedge, when, upon remounting, he unfortunatelyforgot it.
"The dog perceived his want of recollection, and wishing to rectify it,ran to fetch the bag; but it was too heavy for him to drag along. Hethen ran to his master, and by crying, barking, and howling, tried toremind him of his mistake.
"Unfortunately, the merchant did not understand his language; but theassiduous creature persevered in his efforts, and after trying to stopthe horse in vain, at last began to bite his heels.
"The gentleman, absorbed in some reverie, wholly misunderstood hisanimal's expostulations, and entertained the alarming apprehension thathe had suddenly gone mad. Full of this suspicion, in crossing a brook,he turned back to see whether the dog stopped to drink. The faithfulcreature was too anxious concerning his master's business to think ofit, but continued to bark and bite with greater violence than before.
"'Mercy!' cried the affrighted merchant, 'it must be so? My poor dog iscertainly mad. What shall I do? I must kill him, lest some greatermisfortune befall me; but with what regret! O, could I find any one toperform this cruel office for me! But there is no time to lose; I myselfmay become a victim if I spare him.'
"With these words he drew a pistol from his pocket; and with a tremblinghand took aim at his faithful servant. He turned away in agony as hefired; but his aim was too sure. The poor animal fell wounded, andweltering in his blood, still endeavored to crawl toward his master, asif to tax him with ingratitude. The merchant could not bear the sight:he spurred on his horse with a heart full of sorrow, and lamented thathe had taken a journey which had cost him so dear. Still the money neverentered his mind; he only thought of his poor dog, and tried to consolehimself with the reflection that he had prevented a greater evil than hehad suffered a calamity by despatching a mad animal. But even thisthought did not quiet him.
"'I am most unfortunate,' said he to himself; 'I had almost rather havelost my money than my dog.'
"Saying this, he put out his hand to grasp his treasure. It was missing;no bag was to be found. In one instant his eyes were opened to hisrashness and folly. 'Wretch that I am!' he cried; 'I alone am to blame.I could not understand the caution which my innocent and most faithfulfriend gave me; and I have sacrificed him for his zeal. He only wishedto inform me of my mistake; and he has paid for his fidelity with hislife!'
"Instantly he turned his horse, and went off at full gallop to theplace where he had stopped. He saw with half averted eyes the scenewhere the tragedy was acted; he perceived the traces of blood as heproceeded; he was oppressed and distracted; but in vain he looked forhis dog; he was not to be seen on the road.
"At last he arrived at the spot where he had alighted. But here hisheart bled afresh. He was entirely overcome. The poor dog, unable tofollow his dear but cruel master, had determined to consecrate his lastmoments to his service. He had crawled, all bloody as he was, to theforgotten bag, and in the agonies of death, he lay watching beside it.
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"As soon as he saw his master, he testified his joy by wagging his tail.He could do no more; he tried to rise, but his strength was gone. Thevital tide was ebbing fast; and even the caresses of his master couldnot prolong his life for a few moments. He stretched out his tongue tolick the hand that was now fondling him in the agonies of regret, as ifto seal forgiveness of the deed that had deprived him of life. He thencast a look of love on his master, and closed his eyes in death."