The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31
The Blind Man and the Talking Dog.

-COusi, Jeanie, in New York Iribu~e, Jr.
The Blind Man and the Talking Dog.
There was once an old man whom for
tune (whose own eyes are bandaged) had
deprived of his sight. She had taken
his hearing also, so that he was deaf.
Poor he had always been, and as time
had stolen his youth and strength from
him, they had only left light burden
for death to carry when he should come
the old mans way.
But love (who is blind aisol had Civ
en- the blind man a dog, who led him out
in the morning to seat in the sun un-
der the crab tree, and held his hat for
wayside aims, and brought him safely
home at sunset.
The dog was wise and faithful-as
dogs often are-but the wonder of him
was that he could talk. In which will
be seen the difference between dogs and
men, most of whom can talk whilst it
is matter for admiration if they are wise
and faithful.
One day the Mayors little son came
down the road, and by the hand he held
his playmate Aldegunda.
"Give the poor blind man penny"
said she.
You are always wanting me to give
away my money!" replied the boy,
peevishly. "It is well that my father is
the richest man in the town, and that /
have whole silver crown yet in my
pocket"
But he put the penny into the hat
which the dog held out, and the dog
gave it to his master.
Haoun,, h1aoo Won coiH tho Hind
man.
"Amen!" said the dog.
Aldegunda Aldegunda % cried the
boy, dancing with delight. Here is a
dog who can talk / would give my
silver crown for him Old man l say,
old man Will you sell me your dog for
a silver crown 2"
envy master is deaf as well as blind"
said the dog.
"What a miserable old cre1,-re he
must bel" said the boy, compassion
ately.
"Men do not smile when they are
miserable, do they?" said the dog ); Fl" and
my master smiles sometimes-when the
sun warns right through our coats to
our bones when he feels the hat shake
against his knee as the pennies drop in I;
and when lick his hand"
"But, for all that, he is a poor,
wretched, old beggar, in want of every
thing" persisted the boy. Now, am
the Mayors only son, and he is the rich
est man in town. Come and live with
me, and I will give the blind man my
silver crown. / should be perfectly
happy if l had talking dog of my
own"
cit is worth thinking Of" said the
dog. 81 should certainly like a master.
who was perfectly happy. You are sure
that there is nothing else that you wish
for?"
"I wish / were a man," replied the
boy, "to do exactly as chose, and have
plenty of money to spend, and holidays
all the year round.
"That sounds we'll" said the dog.
perhaps 1 had better wait till you grow
up. There is nothing else that you want,
suppose 2"
81 want horse,' said the boy, ga
real black charger. My father ought
to know that / am too old for a
hobby-horse. Itvexes me to look at it. +"
CT must wait for the charger, see, ="
said the dog, Nothing vexes you but
the hobby horse, / hopea"
"Aldegunda vexes me more than any
thing" answered the boy, with an ag-
grieved air "and it's very hard when /
am so fond of her. She always tumbles
down when we run races, her legs are so
short. It's her birthday to-day; but she
toddles as badly as she did yesterday,
though she's year older"
"She will have learned to run by
the time you are man," said
the dog. $50 nice little lady can
give you no other cause of annoyance,
am sure r.
The boy frowned.
"She is always wanting something.
She wants something now, bee. What
DO you want, Aldegundal"
CT WISH" said Aldegunda, timidly,
CT should ike-the blind man to
have the silver crown, and for us to keep
the penny, if we can get it back out Of
the hat"
"That's just the way you go on 2" said
the boy, angrily. You always think
differently from me. Now, remember,
Aldegunda, I won't marry you when
you grow big, unless you agree with
what do, like the wife in the story
of What the Goodman does is sure to
be Right.
On hearing this, Aldegunda sobbed
till she burst the strings of her hat, and
the boy had to tie them afresh.
81 won't marry you at all if you cry, >
said he.
But at this she only cried the mcfe,
and they went away pickering into the
green lanes.
As to the old man, he had heard moth
ing and when the dog licked his with
cred hand, he smiled.
Many time did the boy return will
his playmate to try and get the talking
dog. But the dog always asked if he
had yet got all that he wanted, and being
an honorable child, the boy was toe
truthful to say that he was content wher
he was not.
"The day that you want nothing NOR,