The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-12-26


q look of more snan human attach
ment and love. Very precious Il
little Harry was the love, so silenl
and SO deep Of bis dog. ard the falbel
used to look upon them until hi:
eyes grew misty and dim with tesrE
tha; be would urn away his head tc
hide. Every indulgence that could
be given TO Harry, be had. and eTers
whim was sratiied, and they were
many, bus be never for o1e moment
swerved from the PROTECTING love o.
the ugly little dog, aud at last il bad
come TO be that even the father loved
him for the sake of the afTectionate
devotion TO his child that showed in
every awkward motion aud look
\ month had passed since The
poor creature had been taken by
Harry month that had made sad
havoc with the little vitality Of the
child, who now scarcely moved of
the sofa all day, for when be made
the slightest exertion the cruel spasms
az the liitle heart seemed to almost
divorce soul and body, and the father
and loving old nurse were po werless
10 relieve him, aud the day was fast
approaching thar would release the
tense pain that racked the little heart
to agony. AT such times the ewes OF
the poor little dog would be raised
piteously TO each in turn, as if in en-
treaty thas something should be done
for Harry, who he knew suffered so
At length the last hour came
he fine silver cord was almost lous-
ened, and the little heart so long
tortured with suffoeatiny pain was
about to be relieved in the calm of
Death
For hours be bad lain silent; the
rich. golden bair tossed hack on the
pillow and one hand ciasped in that
of bis father; the other around poor
doggie. whose pitiful ewes seem al
most human as be would look into
the the white face so fast chilling to
to death, and now aud then heaving
sigh as deep and full Of agony as
humans, who loved the boy, could
have felt.
Silent and sorrowful faded the
light Of the dsv before Christmas in
that house. The ram fell steadily
and fast There was little chill 10
the air outside that made it hard to
those who, unprotected, walked along
the almost deserted streets. Harry
ct last unelosed bis ewes aud said:
Papa, where is aunt Nary I
thought saw Der come in at the hall
door, aud you told her to 90 out; you
wouldn't do that papa. would you 2"
NO, Harry, l hope she viii come
one of these DAYS and live with US.
You feel better, don't you 2"
Yes papa. but l feel very tired
different from any other tired | ever
was. Oh, doggie. you here? Course
you arc! Papa, aren't you glad I
took him I'm glad you let me. |
am sleepy now and | guess III 60 to
sleep. Papa you love me /? You love
doggie, too? you won't let ANYBODY
hurt bin? and tomorrow well have a
nice Christmas nice Christmas" !"
aud here the blue veined lids fell
and a dreamy smile began to settle
on the little. pinched lips aud the face
to grow more placid and peaceful.
the father watching it till, when the
clock struck one. be put his band on
the fair, high brow and found it icy
cold in the chill of death
No wonder that the strong man
cried aloud in.his agony, nor that the
winds walled outside, or the clouds
dropped tears upon that desolste
house, or that poor. little ugly dog
shivered aHd mosned on the bed from
whence the wsxen form had been
borne. for the fnlfillment Of those last.
sad rites of the dead-the dead that
Law so still amidst the agoniZed groans
of the father, aud the louder cries
of his fond. old nurse, and the SER
wants of the house, unmindful for
once of the little dog that licked the
cold hand, often raising its head to
look upon the calm face; then meet
ing with no response, turning it with
q mute agony of appeal to the faces
of .hose around.
Mr.. Emmons had been taken from
the room by the doctor He gave
way utterly and threw himself upon
the floor while great sobs shook bis
frame. He had consolation in but
one thing, and that was "She has as
much need of him there as you bere"
He lay there till daylight came
through the windows and the sun
shone over the landscape as brightly
as though between his setting and
rising NJ soul had left its tenement
no home desolated, and rain drops
glittered on every tree and shrub,
flashing back the warm sunshine
The little form lay 10 the coffin,
and the dog lay on it. piieously whin-
ing when anyone attempted to move
him, until they let him lay there with
out disturbance. They brought him
milk and water. but heibe turned his
look upon them as much as to say.
''my heart is broken, and | cannot
eat any more. He was all the friend
| had and | loved him. aud so with
the dumb entreaty in bis eyes he was
left to lie above the lifeless breast
At morn they bore the body Of the
bov to his grave beside his mother.
and covered him up with the sodden
earth The heavy tbuds as they
struck The coffin were sharp blows of
agony TO the desolste father. who
tried hard to control his grief, but be
broke down utterly and sobbed like
babe when be felt feeble scratch
ing upon bis leg and looked down to
see poor "doggie" with his lock OF
entresty and grief almost human, aud
bis eyes actually full of tears as be
whined 10 vain, turning toward the
fast filing grave. They took "doggie"
home and tried by every means to in-
duce him TO eat or drink, but it was
ofno avail His little heart, although
only q dogs, was broken. and be
would sigh and whine, while tears
stood 10 his pleading eyes as he look
ed from one TO another, as if seeking
- ox1iana.i,n ~ - -Lo-o h.