Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-10
PLAToNIc.


 joys being a property-holder? He is per- feetly sure that all his master has is his own, and will sally forth from his kennel, or his favorite mat in the morning and survey the premises with unsounded sat isfaction, looking at fower-bed here, the stable or the fowl-yard there, and It always seems pity that nature has denied him on these occasions the privilege of put ting his hands in his pockets and smok- ing. Perhaps his compensation is that he can enjoy his property just as we'll whether it is mortgaged or not. Some dogs have not the least idea that they are dogs, and when they meet one of their own species, and the fact is abruptly thrust upon them. they highly resent it. They love our race so much they nearly abandon their own, and why they cannot be one of the folks is mystery to them.
 We had grave old fox hound once. the sweetest tempered and most loving of his kind, but We never could take him with us into the street, because whenever he met mere dog, he told him that he was one and that he led dogs life, and if the stranger resented his superciliousness a fight took place at once. This hound was four years old when he came to us, sedate and wise lookiug. and we determined he should have Q name beftting his dignity The mistress said Zeno; the master, Plato, and the latter carried his point despite the protestations of Madame who averred that everybody who saw the dog would say, "Plato, thou reasonest we'll" Her fears were more than realized.
 A convocation of ministers shortly af- terwards met in town, and many of them called and were invited to tea at different times. All went through the quotation with due clerical unction. Some said it before grace. and others afterwards. A little blushing parson postponed his say uutil after muffins, and they, or his theol- ogy, agreed with him 80 badly that he mutllated the English classic shockingly, and burly brother had to come to his rescue with the remark that '.Plato some times did not reason well.'' . r This varieds life little for us, but whether the learned brother referred to the Philosopher or to the dog who was staring at him with too much 'specula- tions in his eyes" never knew.
 Dear old Plato lived to great age, and died suddenly one night. coiled up in hls box, apparetly without struggle. for not straw was displaced about him. He lived up to all the higher instincts God had given him and who among us can say that!
 I The eidog is naturally much more re. ligions animal than man. He must wor ship something that he thinks is higher and better than himself and 80 he makes a God of his master This idol is often toniy stock, or stone. or some horrld Dagon or other in mans form, still this adoration lifts the worshiper out of hlm. self into kindred sphere where the::high. est human aspirations reach, and where I the angels of God love to dwell.
 I Just think. too, how delightful it IS te have one creature accept you so thorough | ly as dog does! I do not believe the doctrine that love is bind. It serves fol a heathen to think so, but not for a Christ. ian who should De able to uee the faults 1 or those we ought to love. and approxi 1 mate the divine nature enough to forgive them. Butt it Is restful sometimes to loot into dogs soft brown eyes devoid of any troublesome human prescience. who only sees us ataour best. or rather who believes l thaeeverything in nsis best. Think oi