The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-08-05

from our Office, would watch for Hunter,
that they might fndj US. A feeling had
sprung up between us, and We had lea,n-
ed even to check each others faults
He undoubtedly had the most to do; or,
at least. the most 10 suffer, in that respect,
but still he tried, and sometimes succe ed
ed.
The poor dog had become member
of the family when it was small; and the
flock that had risen up like olive branches
around our table, were affec,ionately guar
ded, and tenderIy foIdled, by Hunter
But he never confessed the right of mas
tership in them, He took his place on
The hearth rug before them, with as
much independence as if they had been
his offspring, instead of ours; and when
business or pleasure called US from the
city, he took upon the guardianship of the
domestic circle, and declined his daily
visit TO the office, as much as if he had
a pecuniary investment in the dwelling,
or was morally and legally responsible
for the welfare of its inmates.
Hunter had been in pesils. He was
bitten, with one other canine friend, by a
mag dog. His friend died with hydro
phobla-klnd attention saved Hunter. He
remembered i! to the last; and when the
sickness came from which he was not re-
iieYed, the beseeching look, and the par
tlcular emphasis of his moan, showed that
he remembered with gratitude favors past,
and desired re-applica,oE of the reme--
dies.--But he asked in vain. He pinned
away, and faculty after faculty departed,
until voice failed, the hearing ceased, the
eye was lifted up slowly, but dim, and
the tail slightly moved, to intimate his re-
cognltlon Of him who had so long been
his companion, and his last effort was to
lick the delicate hand of child; who had
come to take his leave of one that seemed
twined with his earliest love, and whose
name was the fsst word he had ar.icul al
| ed
Old Samson took the dog in his barrow
and went forth with measured step. 10
find aplace where he might give him the
decency o! a burial, without, iulrudiEg IL
pom the repose of human beings who
made in better image, justly claim a
sanctity for their dust.
The little procession, as it went forth,
had with II something of touching air
he body OF Hunter was decenlly cover
Ell, not os!enta!iously, lest ridicule
shoa.d attach to the scene; aud Samson
had put on his best clothes, avowedIy
less for funeral purposes, than that he
might appear decen,ly before the m>,res
Little Willy, the only follower ol IT, lain.
had drawn his cap over his e. e~, ., moe
lew hasty tears, AID was regulating his
step by the solemn and measured move
ment OF Samson. Few tel, an interest to
inquire what was h.ddcn beLcath the
white pail. and the UNIV onied melauchol,
Of the child was suffered to pass withou.
| inquiry.
When the procession had reached the
place Of sepul'ure, the body was lowered,
moi thrown, into The grave, and Samson
remarked that the collar was still about
Hunters neck.
"l'll take it off, said he; ''il will do for
another dog.''
Little Willy leaned over, and looked
down into the grave, and then lifting his
streaming eye 10 his sable companion, he
said
mo, let i. be, Samson, let it be, don't
wan, any more dogs; and if | do have one,
! don't want TO see Hunters collar on his
neck"
Samson sodded up the grave, and turn
ed towards him.
"Will you ride in the barrow2" said he
to Willy.
The child turned, and looked at the
carriage with a shudder, and walked on
wards.
When Willy reached home, he went
and sat down alone beside "Hunter's
\ house," and wept flood of tears; and it
was ohl when the memorials of his
faithful friend, more than twice his own
age, had been removed, that he could
dry up his tears. And ven now the men,
ton of the dog makes the ''c!ouds return
after the rain," and cast gloom over the
sunny spirit of the child.
While bending over the resting place of
the faithful animal, it was natural that we
should think of his merits; and what we
had los. in him, SO selfish is even human
grief; and half of what cons tituted our
painful feelings while thus musing, re-
suited from the certainty that we should
no more benefit by lis services.
Who would weep in this world, If VIVA,
was taken away diminished nothing of his
enjoyment? We mounted the horse to
return, but yet fingered; reflection had
come, and with it came fancy. Imagina-
ton was busy to people space with OBJ
jects that we once had loved, and now
mourned; and for moment, it seemed as