Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-22
family Girtlt.
MY DOG.

Inc following thrilling incident was
related to US by lady who is now res.
ident of Bath, and we give it very nearly
in her own words 8
was very fond of pets when 1 was a
girl, and the feeling grew with my growth.
Lambs and kittens were my constant
playfellows in childhood; I owned and
petted colt when | was older; nor did
I suffer my attention to be turned from
my dumb companions until God blessed
me with child Of my own. When nv
little Freddy was born q new fount oil
love was opened to me. for 1 had found
the true object of womans care and so.
licitude. And then, in the years follow.
ing, two daughters were given unto me.
whom l called Kate and Clara. While
Clara was still an infant, my husband
brought home a dog. 1t was beautiful
animal, of medium size, with long silky
hair, and colored brown and white. If |
remember rightly, Charles told me that
it was cross between the spaniel and
Newfoundland. At all events, the dog
was beauty, and was as kind and intel,
lgent as he was handsome. He very
soon became attached to my children,
and would spend whole hours at ulay
with them, bearing with all their torment
ing pranks, and really seeming to be best
satisfied while enduring the most Of their
annoyance. And then he would watch
| by the cradle of my darling, rocking her
gently when she was restless in her sleep.
and keeping all interlopers at a distance.
And so Fido-for thus we called the
dog-became not only member of our
household, bat an important member, and
we all loved him very much. He was
faithful as faith itself, and we taught him
many curious tricks. which he performed
to the edihcation and wonderment of Wis.
|itors, aud always to the delight of him.
self and my children.
Time passed On, and Glars was four
years old, Kate was six, and Master
Freddy had grown to be young lad Of
eight. 10 be sure he was only mere
boy; but he seemed very old to me-so
that called him my little man, and felt
quite proud of his genteel appearance
and precoeious attainments. One day
1T was in the forenoon--my husband
came in, and as he took a seat near the
table by which l was at work, | noticed
that something troubled him. I waited
awhile for him to speak, but as he did
not, | asked him what he was thinking Of
I'll tell you," he said, trying to
assume carelessness, which he did
not feel; 1 have been thinking that we
had better part with Fido."
" Part-with Fido ~ cried in amaze
ment.
Il mean sell him." continued my hus.
band.
Charles ~
No, Hannah. / am in earnest"
Then" said l. meaning to make q
very short matter Of it, for | was deter.
mined, we shall keep that dog inst so
long as he lives. 1t is my dog, and i
cannot part with him."
Charles made no reply to this. but sat
looking at his fingers which were dram
ming upon the table, and | asked him if
he was 10 earnest about selling the dog.
No., he said; to tell yep the plain
truth, / was not"
was about to chide him for having
startled me SO, but he stopped me and
resumed
" l was not in earnest about selling
him, but | am in earnest about gettin9
rid OF him. We must not keep him."
! sat down and asked nv husband To
explain.
p" Have you not noticed" he said. for
two OF three days, that Fido has appeared
different from his usual habits n
1 had noticed that the dog had been
unwilling to play-that he seemed frac
tious and lazy; and, now that thought
lof it more particularly, l remembered
that he had been dropping. with bis head
down, and his limbs weak.
Yes, think Fido must be sick" |
answered, after had thought.of all this.
Very siek-dangerously so, I am.
AFRAID" added nay husband. His tone
startled me. and ! asked him what be
meant"
Why" he replied" Il think the dog
rs going mad ? am confident that he
has hydrophobia p
Oh, no, no, could not believe that
1t was too terrible. The very love I had
for the dog would not let me be too cas-
lily convinced. But Charles assured me
that there was every probability Of the
truth OF has statement; and he said it was
Jour duty to kid the animal at once. He
had noticed the peculiar change in Fido's
habits some days before, and he felt sure
that the fatal malady was upon him.
But there have been no mad dogs inl
the town." I suggested.
/. There has been no human being bit
iby one that know of, my husband said:
h but he told me, there is no doubt
that Mr.. Sargent's dog diedsof that dis.
lease. He was found dead this morning,
under the barn, where he had scooped out
"a large hole in his struggles, and his
breast and legs wege covered, with the
foam that had dropped from his lips
His symptoms, for few DAYS previous
had been just like Fido's. There can be.
no mistake about the NATTER
Had | been governed by my reason. /
Should have let my husband kill the doc
at once; but my fondness for the poor
faithful animal was too, deep for calm
consideration, and I begged that he
might be spared.
i We ought not" said Charles.
Let him live till night" I urged
bet him live till you come home this,
evening; and then, if he is no better or
,f bic crro +o,,.1 -