Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-16
BRAN AND HIS MASTER.

The autumn gale had shaken the windows
and roared along the roof in gushes, and
sometimes made the house tremble; now the
only noise was the Fastening, intermittent
laundering roar Of the breakers, with inter
ludes Of seething, infinite murmur. Ii seem
ed as ii | had awakened 80 .tealthily a. not
to distuT, the ecchantment, and with my
ewes fixed on the alternately fading ana in
creasing ladder of shrOuded moonlight that
stretched from my window to a great distance
on the sea, | moved not. but breathed low,
striving to believe that this was a scene for
hidden mortal eyes, and after a few minutes
OF such romantic Indulgence, l really feared
that TO betrav any sign OF waketulness would
bring upon me sorrow and pain, as the sweet
heroine of one OF Tieck's charming legends for
feted peace and prosperity by mentioning in
a moment of impusiyeness, the fairy country
into which her feet had been permitted TO
stray in childhood. But suddenly-av, in
simultaneously a. a fash OF lightning-mv
fancy and calmuess were supplanted BY ter
ror and amazemennt; l saw in the light that
filed the window, in q frame, the living,
moving reality OF a young man-fear and
agony of strife IN his handsome face-battling
for life, his arms dashIng out a. if swimming
heavy, wet-hangIng locks falling over his
forehead. That vision must have been before
me for fully a minute, and so distinct, so real.
Il.
sion of the ewes ImplOring help, that I shrek
ed out, and the cry came from the very core
of my terrified heart, :. . God save him
save him. save him. and l sprang from my
bed in agony. In a moment nv father and
Margaret had come 10 my room: ! had faint
ed then, and could only answer their anxious
inquiries, when | reEaiued consciousness, by
the talSehOod. = It was only hOrrid dream
At breakfast my tatLer, alarmed at my pale
IL /
would not assent. Then he said - Wen, Al
He come and take walk on the beach with
me; the gale : trying 10 blow away and the
breakers are tremendous | was delighted
TO do so, and IN q few minutes we were on the
shore The noise Of the waves entirely drown
Ell all attempt al conversation, and the spray
washed over Us in shower Numerous sea
gulls were lowering over tie raging waters,
screaming shrilly: sometimes battling iutter-
ing by against heavy gusts of the remaining
gale. sometimes swOopInZ with wonderful
grace and swittless down TO the foaming
cresls that lasted but a second. InlcScrba-
oily wild and magnificent was the scene: deaf
enIng and terrible It's roar.
" here We had reached the beach, We had
stood motionless until my father pulled at NV
plaid, for II was useless 10 attempt speaking.
and pointed with excitement 10 where an inn
mense dog Law, apparently E!ele>s Just above
the strong bullets of the surf, but NOT beyond
-he whirIIug eddies that were churued III
ripples OF foam about his BODY. In q moment
| rushed ~ where he was ANA w5-u the water
to my knees, and almost taking me of ms
feet 1t every descending sweep. | bent over
him and put my warm hands through the
heavy, curling coat. Poor, noble OLD teI-
low-dead ~ But as | said 50, / saw the
great soft ewes open thankfully and the
splendid bush Of a tail rise about an inch
3
of the eyeld and rhe mite OF wag that was
left, being all the expression OF life remain
ing 10 hlu. When my father, coming to-
wards me- saw mv delight, he hurried to the
rescue. Together we managed. after many
rests, 10 get nina GA the rug before our kitch-
en- FIRE. Yes, We had to stop several times
and lay on, burden down, because il was am
enormous Newfoundland, weighing, my father
thought. over one hundred pounds IL WAS a
long time before the poor fellow fully got the
use OF his limbs, or strength enough 10 eat
the meal had prepared tor him He was
very handsome, and has gratitude and deyo-
ton which increased and expressed them
selves day by day, in the most courtly grace
and Difference TO every look or movement of
mine. were touching To see At the time the
waves had thrown him an offering at my feet
he lad On a heavy, black leather collar. with
a silver plate, m5rhad .'The0 M4uton." OF
course my father made inquiries, and aGver-
tlsed IN the ; = HarbOr journals for an own
er, nut what probability was there thar q dog.
50 strangely cast upon the scl-sAore bv
storm would be justly claimed As II was,
there WAS never any information gained by
inquiries or advertisements. In every Storm
through the winter that was then setting In,
would my great dog ana friend 90 down to-
wards l.. -ht TO tine beach. and look seward.
neutrality-suspicious., for the master he had lost.
For weeks | tried every name applied 10
dogs / could remember, 70 see II | could tinC
his Own | ran through the Ponies, BTgltrS,
and Watches-the Smiths Jones and Rob
iuSonS Of the do--8jrecJory, and then tried
the ElossarIes of history and romauce-hIr-
mer. Gclert, Ho8lIu, and more. The dog
would lie OF walk beside me, and turn
his head towards me as l called each
name but drop his ear aud ewes as
If il disappointment, and give gentle
wag TO his tail in thanks for my attempt.
But one day, about the middle OF Noveu-
Der, in . walk through the viLa-g-auG
never went out without my new Ir.eua-I
stopped at the windmill 10 talk with Israel
Grayson, one Of the old oTaeles OF our neigh
borhood NJ dog stood with his head Just
within the door Nine OF ten bags OF iced,
ground and sitlej. stood ranged along the
wall. and | tried 70 name correctly 70 the
miller the contents of each bag a. / gathered
some IN my hands About the last | was il
some doubt l hesItated moment looked
inquiringly AZ old Grayson, VINO was smiling
al nv perplexity, ana exclaimed. Now l
know2Brau . As l spoke that word. my
dog gave a loud bark, actually 3 dog-lau.h.
aud bounced into the mill, put his fore feet
on the bag. was standing by, and kissed me
on the chin. Why, Bran-Bran-old fellow
Is that your name Bran Brann How de-
lighted the great beauty was He twisted
has body Ike vhalebone, from side 70 side,
jumping ana careering IN delight, ana wag-
ginS MS tai with tremendous velocity bark
ing al the while IN rapid tremors Of 10Y. l,
too was 50 pleased 70 ind his name, that Bran
and | ran races across the fields all the way
home | not firing of calling Bran Bran
and he barking fUriously at every call and
jumping TO kiss my hands At length he
caught the parcel l was carrying and dashed
ahead, throwing il up once or twice TO catch
it again in his mouth, trying to incite me 70
get il from him but he got home first, aud
carried my new, thick shoes 70 my father.
followed in a few moments. laughing and
excited. Why, father, | have found his
name; did you ever hear OF dog named
Bran - Bran : Why of course, Allie Bran
was celebrated dog; second to none of the