Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-10-16
Marrying for the Sake or a Dog.

My friend Cabassol used to say that a
family, to be complete, should consist of q
father and mother, q son and q daughter,
and dog. There was q time, indeed,
when he never would have said it, but
that was when he was bachelor for he
was the crustiest, most growing old bach
elor that ever knew. He lived by himself
in the country, where he smoked his pipes
and read his books, and took care of his
garden, or walked over the fields with his
dog. Yes, he had dog, a perfect one,
named Medor, and in those days he thought
a perfect family consisted OF man and his
dog, Indeed, he said once, when was
there, too, that Medor was his best friend
and yet it was l that gave him the dog.
Medor had belonged to widow lady liv-
ing atSt. Germain-en-L Laye, who thought
the world of him, but was in constant fear
lest he should be shot, for Medor was
born hunter, and the forest park at st.
German was an inviting field for four
footed as well as two-footed hunters The
keepers Of the park said they would shoot
Medor if they caught him there again, so
his mistress begged me to save his life by
finding for him a new master. thought
at once of Cabassol, and could not have
found better master He and Medor be-
came at once fast friends and understood
each other perfectly. They were made
for one another, and were always togeth-
er. If Cabassol went to walk, Medor
went with him. If the master ate dinner,
his dog had ii at the same time; and it
seemed as if Cabassol was right, and that
they made perfect family.
But one day, when Medor's nose was in
| his plate, and he seemed to be thinking OF
nothing but his dinner, he suddenly raised
his head and, trembling from head to foot,
began to howl and whine in the most
piteous and unaccountable manner. The
door-bell rang; Medor sprang forward,
and when Cabassol Joined him he found
him rolling in an ecstasy OF joy at the
feet of stranger, and leaping up and
down as if beside himself II was, as you
have guessed, his old mistress, who had
moved from st. German to Paris, and had
taken this journey for the sake Of
seeing her old friend Medor. She
cried at the welcome her dog had given
her. She had come, she said, to ask him
back again, for now that she lived in Paris
there was no longer any danger of his
! life from the foresters. Would not
Monsieur Cabassol permit her TO have
Medor againY She would gladly pay
whatever he chose to ask for Medors board
during the three years he had been absent
from her, and a round sum besides
Cabassol lookeda at her in furious man.
ner. Give up his dog Never 81 will
not sell my friend at any price" and gave
a rude shrug of his shoulders, which said
as plainly as words, GO about your busi
ness, madame" The lady bitterly re
preached him, and grew very angry moi
because he had treated her so rudely, which
was reason enough-she did not mind
that--but because he was likely to make
Medor die of grief by refusing TO give him
'"Seel" she cried, ahe has never ceased
to regret me. He still loves me, and nc
one else"
These last words enraged Cabassol
they aroused his pride, and, determined tc
show her that Medor loved him best, hi
saidi
"Come / have plan which will sooI
show you whether Medor loves you more
than me. We will go together to yondel
hill which lies between my house and
Paris. There we VIII separate. You
shall 60 down the southern path and
will take the northern that comes back tC
any house. Med0r shall belong TO which
ever one of us he chooses to follow"
Medor did not quite understand thu
agreement, but he saw that the two peo
pie whom he loved best had shaken hands
and stopped. qpsrreling, and were nov
talking politely together He was full o
delight, gamholing about them, and pettet
by both. Cabassol, though a crust,
bachelor, as said, was, after all, pleasan
companion when he chose and now, feel
ing some pity foT the lady, who must b
/ disappointed, he began 70 talk, and {
make hiReelf qnite agreeable, for she wa
, bis ami .Medor's guest and the widol
lady, borTy for the loss which Ehe WAS I
cause HIN, and feeling happy st rooovegln