The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-17

But to come back to Brave. lie burnt
all the hair off that side. as we said, and
when it grew out, what do you think ? ii
,caS gray! lie carried this spot very
much as old soldiers do their sears. and
was proud of it, no doubt.
AS Joe grew older, he took full charge
Of the drug store. Brave seemed to
know that his young master was oicner
there, now, and would often keep store"
while Joe ran in next door to "make
change" for customer.
On one such occasion as this, Joe's
younger brother came to the store in a
great hurry for some money for his moth.
er, Finding Joe gone, he went around
to the money drawer. Brave followed.
The boy put out his hand to pull it open,
and up came the dogs foot, and was plac-
ed decidedly upon it The quiet detes.
mination of Brave made the little fellow
angry, and he dragged so hard at it that
the dog was overcome. At this he assum-
ed great fierceness, growled and showed
his teeth, and the boy jumped upon the
counter, not daring to stir till Joe came
in. Then Brave left his place by the
drawer, and lay down behind the stove
while Joe gave his brother the money,
Very often a crowd of young men would
gather in the store, smoking aud talking
together. Sometimes the thoughtless fel.
lows would throw down the tip Of cigar,
still burning upon the floor. Brave
would eye it a moment. as If thinking.
Then, given the offender look which
said, ,"Don't you know any better than
that ?' he would rise, walk gravely to it,
and place his paw over the end Of the ci.
gar, or spark, till it went out
lie lived to be fourteen years old, and
then met with violent death.
1t was the middle Of August. The
weather was very warm. The only
breeze that was blowing came from the
river. Joe was not feeling very well, so,
asking his father to stay in the store. he
and Brave started out for stroll. Joe
wandered down the river for some dis.
tance, then feeling very weak and tired
he climbed upon one Of the stone walls
built close to the waters edge to enjoy
the evening breeze. He had not beer
seated many minutes, when a strange
blindness came over him, and the mex,
moment he was lying, pale as death, a
the foot of the wall, almost in the water
Brave ran to him, rubbed his nose oyel
the motionless hands, and, getting no an
swcr. rushed oft up the river. Turning {
bend he came upon several young mel
(Joc's friends), who were just going ou
into skiff
81 say Fred, just look at that dog
said one Of them. al believe he is mad =
for the dog, running in straight line
had reached them and begun the most uu
usual actions. lie would grab at thei
clothes, run little way down the river
and whine pitiiully.
Seeing that they did not follow him, b.
would rush back to them, almost fercely
repeating the same actions.
81 tell you he is mad ~ said the sam
young man again, while the others stoo'
looking at the dog. "Sucn dangerou
brutes should not be allowed to run a
large I don't want to bo bitten by mat
dog Just look there, how he rms in
straight line and hangs his tail there i
law against such things, and I'll eniorc
it ,"
With this, Jim Brady began to clicl
his pistol. (CO'csrds always carry pistols
boys y
oh, don't shoot him , Don't Jim
cried several voices together, "somethin!
must be the matter Where's Joe !?
Before they could prevent him tn
fellow had shot.
Poor Brave. lie gave one long moaI
OF Pain. theu started down the river
, marking his path in blood.
Several of the young men became yer.
angry when they saw what was done. an
Jim was in serious danger from thei
hasty tempers. However, the interes
now wns to see where the dog would &C
and to explain his strange conduct 3
Jim escaped, while they hurried aite
Brave
The dog was far ahead, hut his motto
became slower and slower, ill, a. last,
seemed as II he should have to give it uI
The young men gained on him. and reach
ed the spot Just us be sank down bleedin
beside his master.
/ They understood it all ia 4 moment
, One Of them raised Joe up, another cal
| ried water in hi. hat to third one. VIII
, bathed his face and hands. After lin
they had him entirely restored.
} During al the efforts to revive Jo'
: good, kind Brave lay stretched out b
, his side. slowly dying. A red strear
: WAS flowing from his side into the rivel
, aud his body vas growing stiff. Lii
great. aiieetionate eyes were steadily fix
} cd upon Joe, and when, at last, he say
, him move the poor dog made one boun
forward. licked the white face pitilully
5 and sank DOM de0d
1t was very hard for the young men
keep back some honest teats over the oil
fellows devotion, as they stood by hi
dead body. lie had been such a friend
; Many have been mourned who were lei
true, less worthy than he
Just then there came the clear, s!,ri
: whistle OF Johns boat, but never moT
would good, trusty Brave raise his eal
and run toward the river All no II
lay perfectly still, with the large wave
rushing over bis feet-those feet th,
were always SO ready to run at his ma
ter's bidding.
. And Joe, it was too hard When !
saw what had happened, and heard th
las, moan of his dog, he sank down agai
), upon the sand. Tho boys thought b
> had tainted, and so he lei them believ
q His hcad was in his hands and his ia.
: very white. Why mW boys hide the
:, best feelings? You are so afraM OF b,