The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-04-10
MY DOG AND MY SHADOW.

ln solitary excursion through wood,
Major Halden fell in with man, whose
singular appearance attracted his aiten-
lion. lie was sitting on the ground at
The loot oil beech tree, eatIag a crust
of bread. which he shared bit by bit with
his dog. His dress betrayed the utmost
poverty; but his countenance EXHIBITED
every symptom Of cheerfulness. The
Major saluted him as he rode past, aud
the man pulled off his hat Do you seel
said ne TO bis dog, laughing. What
should the dog seei asked the, Major.
whose curiosity was much excited by
the mans happy looks. The stranger
laughed. Ay, said the man in humor
Gus tone, wish to make the dog take
notice ofyeur civiIity; it is so uncOm-
mon for we'll dressed person on horse-
back, and an officer besides, to lift his
cap or hat to tattered foot passenger
like me.
Who are you thenl said the Major to
the man, looking at him attentively.
A child offertune.
A child offortune2 you mistake with
out doubt, for your coat seems 10 speak
herwise.
My coat is in the right cir. But as
can joke in this coat, tho only one
have, it is of as much value to me as Q
new one, even if it had star upon it.
If what youtay do not proceed from
a disorderly mind, you are in the right,
countrymap.
A disordered mind, or light mind, il
sometimes the glft Of God, al least fol
= children of my east. My fate once
hung heavy on my mind like lead; bu
care now passes through it, as the vino
does through my coat, and if that be a
, fault, ii makes up for great deal Of mis-
fortune.
; But, says the Major, whence did yol
come and whittier are you goingl
Tba, question is not difficult to be an
, swered, sir, a came from my cladle,an'
| am now going straight forward to
my grave. With these two stages o
my life am well acquainted. In
word, | am sndeavorlng to soften m,
!. fate, but | must have something YER,
y engaging, for my dog and destiny re-
y nam faithful to me; end my shadow al
so-but like alalse friend, only when tn
y sun shines. You shake your head,sir
as you meAe. to say, have mad
cho'cs Of bad company. thought 9
at first, but there is nothing 60 bad a
not to be useful sometimes. My des
tiny mas made me humble, AMI iaugl
me what l did not before know, tina, on
a cannot unhinge the world. My dog ha
,, taught me, that there is still love an
Fidelity in it, and-- You cannot imagln
J whst fine things one can talk with, an
e respecting one'e shadow
> Respecting ones shsdowl that | d
l. not understand.
You shall hear, sir--At SUNRISE, whe
}, lam walking behind my long towerin
of shadow, what conversation hold wiz
= it on philosophical subjects. Look, ,sa
s dear shadow,art thou not like a youti
!, when the sun Of life is rising, the earr
. seems too small! just when lift lep
ol ihou lIllesl another, as If thou would,
s step over ten acres at once; aud VI
}. when thou pu,tes, down thy leg, III
II step is scarcely a span long. So fare
II It with youth. He seems as If he wouI
d destroy, or create world, and yet
c The end he does none of those thing.
n which might have been expected froI
& his discourse. Let the sun now ris
lie higher and thou wilt become smaller, q
}, The youth boasts less, the older
(. grows.
l. Thus | compare, you see, the NOR
] ming, noon and evening shadow with
d hundred things; and the longer we wal
10 together, the better we get acquainted
to At present forego many things, whic
m | formerly considered Indispensable ne
ii essaries. The shadow is my wa,c
=, and my pedometer-and sometimes m
le servant and sometimes my footmrn.
,e ls only a pity, that man cannot exi
o. in his shadow, as his shadow does
90 him,
is Well, ,and what do you say in the ev,
ming 10 your shadow
10 the evening mans shadow the
'. is a very serious thing -Ihe best mora
= ist.-a real hour glass--a true memen
8, mori. When the shadow runs befol
" one, still becoming longer and less viz
h ible, as ifalready hiding ts head in II
ID darkness of eternity, while behind Or
l. is the setting sun, and before one a r
ID sing star-.ths shadow then seems
IN say, thou art on the brink ofelernily, Ii
l. sun is gong down; but lose not cou
III age; like me, thou wilt become alway
is greater; and before thee is already SUI
III pended better star, the first ray Of