Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-02-11
0bc Dailp nirsinian.
lhc IsrOkcn Heart.

Ehe Broken Heart.
A few days before tho fall of Robespierre, a
revolutionary tribunal in one Of tho depart
ments of the North of France condemned TO
death Nj. des R#"s# an ancient magistrate, and
a most estimabe man, as guilty of a conspira-
cy. Nj. des Il. had water spaniel, ten or
twelve years old, oftho small breed which
had been brought up by him. and had never
quilted him Des r. saw his family dispersed
by system oil terror; some had taken fight
others were arrested and carried into distant
lails; his domestcs were dismissed, his friends
had either abandoned him, or concealed them
selves; he was himself in prison, and every
thing in the world was silent to him, except
his dog This faithful animal had been relus
ed admittance into the prison He had re-
turned to his masters house. and found it shut
he took refuge with neighbor " ho received
him.; but that posterity may judge rightly of
the times in which we have existed, it must be
added, that this man received him with tremb-
ling, and in secret, dreading lest his humanity
for an animal should conduct him to the scaf-
fold. Every day at the same hour the dog
let the house, aud went to the door Of the pris-
on He was refused admttance, but he con.
stanty passed an hour before lt,and then he
returned. Ills fidelity at length won upon the
porter, and he was one day allowed to enter.
The dog saw his master, and clung to him. 1t
was difficult to separate them, but the .jailer
forced him away. and the dog returned to his
retreat. He came back tho next morning and
every day, once each day, he was admitted
lie licked the hand of his friend, looked him
In the face, again licked his hand, and went
way of himself.
When the day ot scntetc CO arrived, notWith-
standing the crowd Notwithstanding the guard,
the dog penetrated INTO the hall, and crouched
himself between tho legs OF the unhappy man.
whom he was about to lose forever. The nd.
ges condemned him, he wasreconducted to the
prison, and the dog from that time did not quit
tho door. The fatal hour arrives; the prison o.
pens; the unfortunate man passes out; it is his
dog that receives him at tho threshold. He
clings upon his hand, TINT hand which so soon
must cease to pat his caressing head. He fol-
lows him; the axe falls; tho master dies; but
the tenderness of the dog cannot cease. The
body is carried away; the dog walks at its side
the earth receives il; he lays himself upon the
grave.
There he passed the first night the next
and the second night. The neighbor in the
meantime, unhappy at not seeing him, risks
himself in searching for tho dog, guesses, from
the extent of his fidelity the asylum he had
chosen, finds him, caresses him, and makes him
eat. An hour afterwards the dog escaped and
regained his favorite place. Three months
passed away each morning Of which he came
TO seek his food and then returned to the grave
of his master, but each day he was more sad,
more meagre, more languishing, and it was cv-
ident that he as gradually reaching his end
An endeavor was made, by claiming him up,
to wean MIN, but nature will triumph. He
broke his fetters; escaped; returned to the
grave and never Quilted it more. 1t was in
vain that they tried to bring him back. They
carried him food, but he ate no longer. For
four and twenty hours he was seen employing
his weakened limbs in digging up tho oartl
that separated him from the remains Of the be-
ing he had so much loved. Passion gave him
strength, and he gradually approached the bod
y; his labors Of affection vehelnently increased;
his efforts became convulsive; he shriekcd in
his struggles; his faithful heart gave way, and
he hreathed out his last gasp, as if he knew
that he had found his master.