Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-29
Concluded from fist rage.l

oazea wistfully at us. We smiled and
said. ayes, Hero. you may go; run ana
catch her $, and he gave one glad park
and bounded off like lightning go.
His pIavmate once got into great dllii-
emily A small duck pond was situated IN
ono of the holows of our farm; and we
Srenuently, towards evening, strolled
down to the edge, generally followed by
the whole family. A little board lay, one
evening, on the shore, and Kitty stepped
upon it. Her weight pushed it off; and
before we could attempt to rescue her she
was twenty feet away. The water just
,ouehed her toes. With the cat hatred of
the element, she first lifted and Tapped
one paw and then the other, giving them
that singularly swift shake which cannot
be initiated.
As she still drifted, she became very
much alarmed and soon sent forth pteous
meaws for help, which were enough to
silence our amused laughter and set Hero
10 thinking it was not SO good iun AFTER
ALL He had been watching her with an
evident appreciation of the practical JOKE
Int soon her cries touched the chivarous
corner of his great heart. He plunged
in oe his own accord; and swimming
slowly to avoid frightening her worse
than ever. he quietly turned around, and
putting his nose against the lmpromp'u
ship. lowed Kitty TO her anxiously waiting
friends in perfect safety.
We had taught him to bring small
basket of chips or wood upstairs into our
sewing-room. The fire got low one day
and Hero lay by the stove asleep, we
spoke to him exactly as we would to
child, saying, "IIero, take the basket down
stairs. and bring up some chips. The
children will fill it for YOU He rose
sleepily, stretching himself, and, upon our
repeating the command in the same tone,
he took up the basket and startet on three
legs, as usual, for the woodshed. we
sprang to the window, told the children
to fill the basket: and when he got
down, he carried it to them. stood
waiting for them to fill it and then brought
it quietly upstairs.
On breaking up our home and removing
to the city, we were obliged to part with
our trusty friend We sent him by eX-
press to dear friends living five-hundred
miles away. We bid him goodbye with
tears, and it was not until a year that we
saw him again.
After that length of time had passed we
visited them aud were surprised TO find
that Hero had in no wise forgotten us.
They told us that he was four days on his
way. and presented very woe-begone
appearance when he arrived. but almost
ate up our friend with JOY when he saw
his face, as he had seen him once before,
and recognized him as friend OF the fam
ilv. His demonstrations of delight and
satisfied way of showing us the beauties
of his new residence, were wonderfully
pleasing. He led the way to almost every
part of their homestead looking or COM
ing back to as if we seemed inclined to
90 another way, and pleading with bis
large brown eyes for US to visit the barn,
kennel and shed under his lead. We
found in the barn token of his bravery
and proves which made US long to hear
Hero speak We could not but pity the
poor fellow that he could not tell us in
words, as be tried to do with barks.
wags of his tail and gestures, that the
four coon skins hanging to dry were from
coons which he had killed all at one bat
tie, and for whom he shed his honorable
blood in an attack which was planned and
executed with sagacity and power
The pride and pleasure he exhibited
when we praised the large skins, and told
Nun WUdl u STdUu Oiu IclloN HC W as, lAi.tUO
another and striking proof of how every
intelligent being is made happy By com
plimentary appreciation. We could add
many incidents Of the splendid creatures
life which would as clearly show how
much of character and goodness there
was in him. He well knew what cour-
teous treatment was, and had rather be
kicked than be laughed Or sneered at. He
was faithful, generous and above even
frightening little dog. He ate his food
neatly. and in every respect proved him.
self canine gentleman.-Golden Rule.