The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-19
THE DEATH OF A DOG.


To die "the death of a dog" is said
to be the fate ofanv untortune who has
been disconnected by misfortune or
misconduct from the sympathy and
charity OF his kin. The phrase is ia
miliarin every ear, and Its signllicatlon
is well understood. That dogs do gen.
orally die wretchedly is most true; and
even the hound of high degree, when
his day is over, may 60 to the dust as
miscraby as any "bob-taiI tyke or trun-
die tail" of the canine fraternity. Dogs
are generally supposed to die in the gut
ter; 'sheaded," rs we see them in the
dog-days, or pelted to death with stones
by mischievous boys. Books tell us
that dogs, Of al. the brute creation,
manifest clearcst intelligence & closest
attachment to man; while at the same
time, it is received opinion that the
death of dog is the most despicable
exit from being that can be made by
biped and quadruped. AT some future
time perhaps philosophy may find out
how far these facts 90 to the disgrace
of the dog, and how far in favor OF the
magnanimity Of man. The mastif, the
hound, the spaniel, the shepard's dog
the barrier, the terrier, the greyhound.
the bloodhound, &C., &C., all have their
friends and masters during their day Of
utility; but togrow sick or old are sins
always to be visited withthe vengeance
ofnegIect. Such being the unhappy fate
Of the genus CAMS, there is, perhaps,
no sadder image to be called before the
mind than '.the death of a dog"
On the ls' Of January, 1897, Col.
VIM. j.. Sublette, accompanied by
famous mountaneer called Black Har-
ris, started on foot from the valley OF
the Big Salt Lake, on an express ex-
petition from the Mountains to 81.
Louis. The story of the whole trip
is too long to be told now, and we on
ly propose to mention one remarkable
incident of the Journey. The two men
took with them no horses, but pushed
forward with snow-shoes upon their
feet. An Indian dog, trained and bro
ken for service, with Il pack of ncces-
saries weighing fifty pounds strapped
upon its back, was their only friend,
assistant and companion upon this per-
Illus, dcsnlate, and unpreccnted adven.
ture. After encountering suffering,
hunger and hardship, in every shape
that winter could Inhict upon them in
Il savage region, they stopped one eve
ming, sick and starving, under three
elm trees, by the side off frozen stream
let, still two hundred miles outside Of
the settlements. The dog was weak
and ore-footcd, and out OF sight behind
rs it fo lowed faithfully and YEARLY
on. Sublette had barely strength to
scrape the snow from a spot, gather his
blanket around him and fail exhausted; !;
While Black Harris broke dead branch
es from the trees and kindied a fire.
If the condition of the two desolate
travellers at the moment may be mag
ined, it must present picture worthy
Of attention. Sublette lay coiled up
in his blanket by the side of the little
camp fire, while Black Harris setting
cross legged opposite, bent for warmth
over the miserable blaze, lis eyes gleam-
ing with strange earnestness upon the
poor dog that came crawling in just as
the heaviest shadows of night were
gathering around. Harris did not move
as was his usual custom, 10 relieve the
dog from his load. The animal crawl
ed near the fire, cruched and closed its
eyes, with the burthen still bound upon
his back, while Black Harris ''did rest
his chin upon his clenched hands and
smiled" as his eyes roved back and
forth from the poor starved dog, to a
little axe or lomahawk that lay near.
"Captain," said Harris, addressing
Sublette.
| "Um?" muttered the worn out man.
"The dog"
"Um?"
81 say, the dog"
| "Well|
"We'l! well, then you amt hungry, l
suppose! | won't say dog to you again,
and Black Harris made a miserable at
tempt to whistle, his wild eye still fixed
upon the poor beast that lay near him.
"He can't travel any more, any how,"
said Harris.
| "Um?n
80, go to sleep. if you've had your
supper; I'm just talking to my friend
here with four legs"
"Are you hungry, Harris?" asked
SuLette iaintly.
"HungrS! o, Lord, no! have eaten
three full meals in only fortnight!
Hungry, Captain! why, you're Joking