The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-12-19

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fragile boy sit or recline on the floor,
ana to see the intense devotion expressed
for him in the eyes of the little dog,
which was now well. He would crouch
for hours beside the boy, motionless,
except to once in while raise one paw
and lay it tenderly on the sleeve OF his
jacket, or to PIT his cold little nose
softly against the thin, bloodless hand
and nothing, not even hunger, would
draw him away. The boy grew more and
more fond OF him and rarely laid down
unless he drew the little dog close and
let the little shaggy yellow head rest on
his breast, while the bright, intelligent
eyes were always fastened on his face,
with look of more than human attach
ment and love. Very precious to little
Harry was the love, so silent and so
deep, of his dog, and the father used to
look upon them until his eyes grew
misty and dim, with tears that he would
turn away his head to hide.
Every indulgence that could be given
to Harry he had, and every whim was
gratitied, and they were many; but he
never for one moment swerved from the
protecting love for his ugly little dog,
and at last it had come to be that even
the father loved him, for the sake of the
atiectionate devotion to his child that
showed in every look and motion. A
month had passed since the poor crea-
ture had been taken by Harry a month
that had made sad havoc with the little
vitality of the child, who now scarcely
moved OFF the sofa all day for when he
made the slightest eXertion the cruel
spasms mt the little heart seemed to al
most divorce soul and body. And the
father and loving old nurse were pow
erless to relieve him, and the day was
fast approaching that would stop the in
tense pain that racked the little heart to
agony. At such times the eyes of the
poor little dog would be raised piteously
to each III turn, as if in entreaty that
something should be done for Harry,
who he knew suffered so. At length the
last hour came-the fine silver cord was
almost loosened, and the little heart so
long tortured with sutiocating pain was
about to be relieved in the calm of
death. For hours he had lain silent,
the rich golden hair tossed back on the
pillow and one hand clasped in that OF
his father, the other around poor
" doggie, " whose pitiful eyes seemed
almost human as he would look into the
white little face so fast chilling to death,
and now and then heaving sigh as
deep and full of agony rs the human
ones that loved the boy could.
Silent and sorrowful faded the light
of the day before Christmas in that
house. The rain fell steadily and fast,
and there was little chill in the air
outside that made it hard TO those who,
unprotected, walked along the almost
deserted streets.
Presently Harry unciosed his eyes,
and said Papa, where is aunty
Mary? | thought | saw her just now
come in at the hall door, and you told
her to go out. You wouldn't do that,
papa"
"No, Harry, 1 hope she will come
one of these days and live with us. DC
you feel better, HarIy?"
" Yes, papa; but l feel very tired
different from any other tired | ever
was. Oh, doggie you here? OF course
you are. Papa, amt you glad / took
him? Tn glad youlet me and he love:
me. l always sleep so good when he il
with me. l am sleepy now, and / guess
III go to sleep. Papa, you love me
You love doggie, too? You won't le
anybody hurt him and tomorrow W,
will have nice Christmas mic,
Christmas" and here the blue-yeine(
lids fell, and dreamy smile began t.
settle on the little pinched lips, and tn,
face to grow more placid and peaceful
the father watching it till, when tn,
, clock struck one, he put his hand on tn,
fair high brow, and found it icy cold il
the chill of death
, No wonder, then, that the strong MAJ
cried aloud III his agony, or that tin
winds walled outside, or that the clouds
, dropped tears upon that desolated house
or that a poor little ugly dog shivere(
, and moaned on the bed from whenc
the waxen form had been borne for tn
fulfillment of those last sad rites for tn
dead-the dead that lay so still an,
/ peaceful amid the agonized groans o
the father and the louder cries of hi
fond old nurse, and the servants of TIL
house-unmindful for once of the it'll
, dog that licked the cold hand, oftel
raising its head to look upon the calr
face, and then, meeting no response
| turning 1T with mute agony OF appea
to the faces of those around.
2 Mr. Emmons had been taken fror
= the room by the doctor. He gave wa
5 utterly, and threw himself upon tn
floor, while great sobs shook his frame
He had consolation in but one thing
and that was She has rs much nee
of him there rs you here" He la
+ there till daylight came through tn
windows, and the sun shone over tn
landscape as brightly as though betwee
/ his setting and rising no soul had lei
Y its tenement-no home desolated; an
t rain-drops glittered on every tree an
e shrub, flashing back the warm SUI
{ shine.
a The little form lay in the coffin, an
t the little dog lay on it, piteously whinin
y when any one attempted to move him
e until they let him lie there without di!
o turbance. They brought him milk an
u water, but he turned his look upo
L them, as much as to say: my heal
n is broken, and cannot eat or drink an
n more. He was all the friend / had, an
S l loved him." and so, with the dun
entreaty in his eyes, he was left to i
L above the lifeless breast.
n At noon they bore the body of til
boy to his grave beside his mother, an