Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-23
AS True as Amusing.
Editors indicator

1t was eventide in winter, and the shad-
ually fading from the sky, the season of
toll was over the tasks were laid aside,
and the various members of the family
were assembled in the common sitting
room, discussing the events Of the day or
enjoying tie ''good news'' which the even
ing mail had brought from the absent
loved ones. All, these letters Well and
truly has the poet said, they are golden
links that bind our hearts together. In
the midst of the group, sat a fair and
lovely widow, and as several letters
were thrown into her lap, she glanced at
the superscription Of one after another,
and finally tore open the seal of one with
great eagerness and delight. She had read
only few lines. when an exclamation OF
surprise and sorrow escaped her lips. Her
face grew suddenly pale, tears bedimmed
her bright eyes and coursed adown her fair
cheek. A friend sitting near looked up
from her own letter and in evident alarm,
exclaimed: 80, Bette; what is the matter2
What have you heard f?
With a strong and touching effort at
self-control, but still sobbing between
each word, she said s'My precious darling
little Fatlma is dead"
s'Dear me, Bettie,'' said her friend, lis
it possible that you are crying over dog
that has died of old age? gave you cred
it for more sense"
''And L." retorted Mrs. K. thought that
you had more feeling. Your heart must
be of adamant. not to sympathise with me
in such a sorroW."
Just at this moment another member of
the household entered the room and see
ing such evident signs of distress in Mrs.
KS face, asked with genuine interest and
good feeling for some explanation. Mrs.
for sympathy, replied Immediately 90,
Mrs. c., know You can understand and
appreciate my sorrow when [ tell you that
ny dear little Fatima is dead
Some one in the room whispered, sHer
little dcggie,'' but Mrs. G. not hearing the
last WORD distinctly, and understanding it
to be OZARK ie," said, with increased inter
est and sympathy as she took her seat by
Mrs. K: You must have been very much
attached to her. How old was she? What
caused her death ? Do tell me all about
warmly given, Mrs. K. replied: so. yes
indeed, did love her very dearly. She
was my constant companion and she had
so many winning ways. She was ever the
first to meet me us | entered the house
with il joy and delight that knew no
bounds. 1 know size grieved herself to
death on account Of my absence" Here
the non-sentimental friend interposed ::
LA, Bette" how absurd! It was GER
tainly not very rapid decline, since you
have been away from her for more than
six months.
Mrs. K, without noticing the inter-
ruption reads from her letter: eve missed
Fatima about an hour before sunset on
Friday evening, and the whole family i'm
mediately began the search for her.-Ihe
house, yard, clubhouse, neighbor's pre-
| mises-all, were thoroughly searched, but,
alas! all in vain. Saturday and Sunday
passed and still no tidings of our lost
ire sure reached US. Just as we had given
up all hope OF finding any trace of her, one
of the neighbors came in bringing the poor
little lifeless body. He had found it in a
fence corner, two miles from home"
How dreadful = exclaimed Mrs. c.
''Three days in a fence corner, without
being seen. Poor little thing How old
did you say she was, Mrs. K" 'sTwelve
years, three months and five days" "And
what color was she-very darl?" asked
Mrs. G. "White as the driven snow" re-
joined the lovely widow. Here Mrs. q.
was completely bewildered, and exclaimed:
IVY ell, CflaC IS Inc mOSC remaTKaDlo lining
[ ever heard of. A darkie white as snow!"
The other members of the family present,
who had been enjoying the whole scene be-
yond expression, at last, amid col vulsions
of laughter, made Mrs. c. understand that
it was little ''doggie," and not a little
ssdarkie,'' on which she had been expend-
ing her sympathy. The sudden change in
Mrs. C.'s countenance and manner, the
transition from the deepest sympathy to
Indignant surprise as she exclaimed: Dear
me |! all this fuss about dead dog" it
would be imposs BILE to describe. The whole
scene was worthy Of the pen of Dickens.