Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-01
From the Brooklyn Advertiser.

n
otsthesSouthern States possessed Newfound-
land dog, which conceived strong friendship
for the little daughter of its owner. This L
cnild he used to escort regularly to school, car
rylng her satchel in his mouth. and was gem n
orally at the door when the hours of her PEN
ance were over, to trot along by her side home &
ward.
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 a pier.
The dog, as usual, was her only attendant.
and seemed to watch her pranks with much
attention and considerable uneasiness. FIRE.
qnentIy warned by various persons upon the
wharf. TO keep farther from the edge, she new
erthe!ess, with juvenile waywardness. contin-
ned her dangerous pastime, until finally mis-
sing her footing, she fell into the water. In
stanty the neighborhood was in an uproar.
some ran 10 loosen boat, others flung boards
into the stream, and sailor present stripped
Oft his jacket and 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 mistress, had seized her by her floating
dress, ard was padding back with his pre-
cious burden to the wharf. The generous Jack
tar, had now only to leap into ships yawl
hard by, and pal both Of the dripping crea-
lures into it, and deposite them upon the deck
in safety.
! TowSer, of course, became more than ever
a favorite with the family, and held very en-
vable 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 to her canine companion, al
though she had outgrown the necessity of cal
ling upon him for further services, so that he
slept and grew fat upon his laureIs, like some
old soldier whose youthful prvations and evil
dences of valor have procured him pension
for the remainder of his pilgrimage.
Some five years after the occurrence, the
family 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 Tow
J ser's exploit, bnt he was nowhere to be found.
, They whistled and called, but no dog appear
ed; the captain became FESTIVE, sWore he would
wait no longer, gave the order, and the craft
, swept along the waters with a spanking
t breeze, and was soon quarter of mile from
=! the shore.
n The girl and her father were standing at the
c stern of the vessel, looking back upon the CT.
d ty which they had probably left forever, when
e suddenly Towser was seen running down to
e the edge of the wharf with something in his
r mouth. With glass they discovered it was
y his masters pocket handkerchief. which had
e been dropped somewhere upon the road down
{ to the vessel, and which he recollected, with
It some compunctions of conscience. that he had
: sent his shaggy servant back to look after.
! The dog looked piteously around upon the
= bystanders, then on the retreatlng vessel, and
: eaped boldly into the water. His master i'm
:, medately pointed ont the NOBLE brute TO the
= captain, and requested him to throw his yes
~ sci into the wind until the animal could nea
n them; he also offered large sum if he wonlt
" drop his boat and pick him up, told him Of thu
te manner in which he had preserved the life o
= his daughter, and again offered him the price
" of a passage if he would save the faithful crea
is ture. The girl Joined her entreaties with thos'
m of her father, wept and implored that her ear
r. ly friend might be rescued; but the captain
" was a savage; he was deaf to every appeal o
Id hnmanity-kept obsinately on his course, ant
fe the better animal of the two, followed the yes
,ir sci, until his strength exhausted; and his gen
ed erous heart chilled by despair, he sank among
ne the more mercifu pillows.
,r- Byheaven! we would have thrown the cap
i'd tain overheard.
nd We cannot go so far as that. To be sur
1g the fellow was not itto ive-but then he wa
much more unfit to die. ....