Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-20
From the Brooklyn Advertiser.
A FAITHFUL DOG.


Some years since, a family residing in one of
the southern States, possessed Newfoundland
dog, which conceived strong friendship for the
little daughter ofits owner. This child he used
to escort regularly to school, carrying her satchel
in his mouth, and was generally at the door when
the hours of her penance were over, to trot along
by her side homeward.
One day, the girl, having strayed away with
out the knowledge of her parents, sauntered
along to the water, and was amusing herself by
walking upon the string pieces of pier, The
dog, as usual, was her only attendant, and seem
ed to watch her pranks with much attention and
considerable uneasiness. Frequently warned by
various persons upon the wharf to keep father
from the edge she nevertheless, with juvenile
waywardness, continued her dangerous pastime
until finally missing her footing, she fell into the
water. Instantly the neighborhood was in an
uproar some ran to loosen a boat, others flung
boards into the stream, and sailor present strip
ped off his Jacket g. shoes for plunge after the
little cast away.
But Towser fully comprehended the matter at
glance, and before it was fairly known that she
was in peril was by the side Of his young mis-
tress, had seized her by her floating dress, and
was padding back with his precious burden to
the wharf The generous Jack tar had now only
ioleap into ships yawl hard by, and pull both
ofthe dripping creatures into it, and deposit them
upon the deck in safety
Towser, ofcourse, became more than ever a
favorte with the family, and held very enva-
bic rank above others of his species. AS his
mistress increased in strength and stature, she
was never allowed to forget the debt of gratitude
due her canine companion, although she had
outgrown the necessity Of calling upon him for
farther services, so that he slept and grew fat
upon his laurels like some old soldier, whose
Youthful privations and evidences Of valor have
procured him pension for the remainder of his
pilgrimage.
Some five years after this occurrence, the fam
lily had resolved upon changing their place Of
residence for the city Of St. Augustine The
morning of their departure had arrived; the
, schooner which was to convey them to their new
home was casting off from the pier, the very one
which had been the scene OF Towser's exploit
but he was no where to be found They wills
tied and called but no dog appeared; the captain
became FESTIVE, swore he would wait no longer
gave the order, and the craft swept along the
waters with a spanking breeze, and was soon ;
quarter of mile from the shore.
The girl and her father were standing at the
stern of the vessel, looking back upon the city
which they had probably left forever, when sud
denly Iowser was seen running down to the
edge of The wharf with something in his mouth
With glass they discovered that it was his mas
j ter's pocket handkerchief which had been drop
ped somewhere upon the road down to the vessel
and which he recolIected, with some compunc
tons Of conscience, that he had sent his shagg.
u servant back to look after.
Il The dog looked piteously around upon the by
ISLANDERS, then at the retreatng vessel, and leapet
boldly into the water. His master immediael,
= pointed out the noble brute to the captain, ant
= requested him to throw his vessel into the wine
7 until the animal could near them; he also Offered
large sum if he would drop his boat and picl
i him up, told him Of the manner in which he hac
> preserved the life of his daughter, and again OF
, fered him the price of passage if he would saw
the faithful creature. The girl joined her en-
treaties with those of her father, wept and i'm
a plored that her early friend might be rescued
but the captain was a savage he was deaf tt
every appeal of humanty---kept obstinatey OIL
6 his course and the better animal of the two fol
9 lowed the vessel until his strength exhausted, anc
> his generous heart chilled by despair, he sank a
a mong the more merciful pillows.
!, BY Heaven! we would have thrown the cap
tain overboard asa su
We cannot go quite so far as that To b.
sure The fellow was not fit to liye---but then h,
was much more unfit to die.