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

corher, and, though | spoke to him as |
entered, he did not appear to notice me.
| approached him, still calling his name
affectionately; and when | had come close
to the spot where he lay, ] put forth a
piece of the meat. He looked up at me
and growled. l was upon the point Of
Gliding him for his i'll manners, when he
gave another growl, and CRASHED his
teeth at me. At this started back, for
I now noticed that his eyes had strange
glare, and that his breathing was short
and heavy; and hardly had made the
movement when he sprang up and took a
step towards me; but he did not touch
me-he rushed by ne-uut at the door,
where he stood trembling for moment,
as though he were panied and dizzy, and
then he.crawled under the stable, through
an aperture in the under pinning. did
not try to call him out. for did not dare;
nor did l dare to look in after him, for
was now assured that he was mad, or, at
least that he soon would be, and l has
tened back to the house and shut my
self in. suppose ought to have got
help, and, at least, have had the aper-
ture beneath the stable stopped up; but
did not think Of i'll only thought of
giving the charge into my husband
hands when he got homej aAd supposed,
if supposed anything, that the animal
would remain where he was until that
time; and, if had any uneasiness, it was
in sympathy for poor Fido's sufferlngs.
| AT five o'clock Freddy and Kate came
home from school; but as one of the neigh.
bors was with me OF the time, | simply
sert them up stairs to put away their
books and change their clothes, intending
to warn them OF the danger at the stable
when they came down. I went with my
visitor to the front door, and while there
my two children came down and went
out by the back way. I reached the
kitchen as soon as could, where Clara
was at play, and just then Freddy and
Kate came running in.
., mamma, mamma" the boy cried
just come out and look at Fidot He
acts SO funny, and his mouth is all white ~
Hardly had the words been spoken
when the dog came bounding into the
house-through the poreh--into the kitch
en-his eyes glaring like fire, his teeth
gnashing, and the thick. white foam driv
cling from his lips. He hesitated mo-
ment, and then, as though he had selected
the loveliest lamb Of the flock, he started
towards my darling, my little Clara!
There was no time for reason then, nor
should | have been capable of reason had
there been hours to spare. Nj instincts
guided me-they led me to see with
clear, sure vision just what was transpi.
ring, and they led me to act There was
no reaection-no will of my own-bat,
with the rapidity Of thonght-with spirit
power put forth my strength. / saw
the dog start for my loved one, and with
wild cry, leaped upon him. 1 caught
him by the collar which be wore around
his neck, eaegkt him with boah my hands
land bore him down to the floor; and
then babe Freddy run for help, but the
Little fellow was too much frightened to
quickly comprehend me, and it was some
time ere he started. / told him to- call
upon the first man he found.
In the meantime was struggling with
the infugiabed dog and trying to persuade
ksate and Clara to run away up stairs
/ might die might not be able to es.
e@pe-~but I would save them. The beast
might bite me, and then get free-and
fasten his deadly fangs upon them.
begged urged-I commanded; but in
vain. The poor, frightened things dared
not moVe-could not. They we're fixed
with terror, and could only crouch in the
corner, and cry out Mamma mamma p
Many minutes-it seemed to me lin.
itless time-I lay there and held the dog.
He struggled furiously-he CRASHED his
teeth with fiery rage-great drops Of
white foam flew from his mouth, and he
ploughed the painted floor with his claws.
And still he could not bite me :. for
crushed his belly upon the floor, and held
bis necx-held by the collar, and by the
thick curling hair-with the might of a
giant. But | could not have held there
much longer, for the strength of the rab.
Id animal seemed to- be increasing, while
mine was surely leaving me. [ knew
that Twas growing weak, and that only
the instinct which was kept alive by that
ott.repeabed cry of Mamma mamma !o1
gave me the strength which supported
NE; but even that cry was failing Of its
magic power, and it was becoming indis.
tlnct to my senses, when a sudden change
In Its burden revived me. ct now said
/" Papa papal"
! did not see what followed. I heard
sound--a deep fatal sound it was to
something-then struggle-and then |
was lifted up and borne away.
Hannah Hannah! are you bitten p"
was the question that aroused me. 1t
was spoken in such tones Of eager, agoni.
sing suspense, that started up at once.
NO! moi" | cried. "But, O, my
children !"
And my husband told me they were
safe-they had not been touched. They
came to mc-they kissed me, and cried,
Oh, mamma, amt you glad papa Gamer"
and then | sank away again. [ was i'll
many days, but recovered at length, and
became strong once more.
l cherish the memory Of Fido's kind,
ness and faithfulness, and when | think
OF him as he once was, sometimes feel
how 'easant it might be to witness the
pranks and receive the caresses of anoth-
er like him. But cannot forget the ter.
rlble drama which ended his life. and
while that memory lasts want not an
other dog in my household.