The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-05-16
THE PLEASURES OF GRATITUDE.
Being the Sequel of Several Pleasing An.
ecdotes, as Supplied by Mark Twain.

lrfoI1 tne Atlantlc IOf May.
All my life, from boyhood up, I have
had the habit of reading a certain set of
anecdotes, written in the quaint vein of
the Worlds ingenious Fabulist, for the
lesson they taught me and the pleasure
they gave me. They lay always con-
venient to my hand, and whenever I
thought meanly of my kind turned to
them, and they banished that sentiment;
whenever felt myself to be selfish, sor-
did, and ignoble, I turned to them, and
they told me what to do to win back my
self-respect. Many times l wished that
the charming anecdotes had not stopped
with their happy climaxes, but had con-
tinued the pleasing history of the sever
al benefactors and benefciaries. This
wish rose in my breast so persistently
that at last determined to satisfy it by
seeking out the sequels of those anee-
dotes myself. So set about it, and af-
ter great labor and tedious research ac-
complished my task. / will lay the re-
suit before you, giving you each anec-
dote in its turn, and following it with
its sequel as gathered it through my
Investigations. l7''+ ~
THE GRATEFUL POODLE.
One day benevolent physician (who
had read the books), having found a
stray poodle suffering from broken
leg, conveyed the poor creature home,
and, after setting and bandaging the in
jured limb, gave the little outcast his
liberty again, and thought no more
about the matter. But how great was
his surprise, upon opening his door one
morning, some days later, to find the
grateful poodle patiently waiting there,
and in It's company another stray dog,
one of whose legs, by some accident, had
been broken; The kind physician at
ence relieved, the distressed animal, nor.
did he forget to admire the inscrutable
goodness and mercy of God, who had
been willing to use SO humble an instru-
ment as the poor outcast poodle for the
intoxicating of, etc, .ete, etc. - asa
SeQueI.-The next morning the be- |
nevoient physician found the two dogs,
heaming with gratitude, waiting at his
door, and with them two other dogs
TTcrlpples. The cripples were speedily
healed, and the four went their way,
leaving the benevolent physician more
overcome by pious wonder than ever.
The day passed; the morning came.
There at the doorlsat now the four re-
constructed dogs, andl with them four
others, requiring reconstruction. This
day also passed, and another morning
came. and now sixteen dogs, eight Of
them newly crippled, occupied the side
walk, and the people were going around.
By noon the broken legs were all set,
but the pious wonder IN the good ply
stefan g breast was beginning to get,
mixed with involuntary profanity. The |
sun rose once more, and exhibited thir- |
ty-two dogs, sixteen of them with brok-
en- legs, occupying the sidewalk and
half of the street; the human spectators
took up the rest of the room. The cries !
OF the wounded, the songs of the healed /
brutes,i and the comments of 1.-THE ON.
looking citizens made great. and inspir-
ing cheer, but traffic was interrupted in
that street. The good physician hired
a couple OF assistant surgeons and got
trough his benevolent work before
dark. first taking the precautien to can
Gel his church membership, so that he
might express himself with the latitude
which the case required. M 81
But some things have their limits.
w hen once more the morning dawned.
and the good physician looked out up
On a massed and far-reaching multitude
Of :clamorous and beseeching dogs, he
said, Z" / might as well acknowledge it.
have been fooled by the books;s they
only tell the pretty part of the story,
and, then stop. Fetch me the shot
gun; this hi thing hing has. gone along far
He issued forth. with his weapon, and
Glanced to step upon the tail of the
original poodle, who promptly bit him
n the leg. Now the great and good !
work which this poodle had been en-
gagged In had engendered in him such a
mighty and augmenting enthusiasm as
o turn his weak head at last and drive
lim mad. A month later, when the be.
levolent physician lay in the death
hroes OF hydrophobia, he called his
weeping friends about him, and said:
" Beware of the books. They tell but
half of the story. Whenever a poor
wretch asks you for help, and YOU feel Z
doubt as to what result may flow from
'our benevolence, give yourself the
benefit OF the doubt and Kill the appli-
ant" f'8fTff
And SO saying he turned his face, to
ne wall and gave up the ghost. ~. "a.
THE GRATEFUL HUSBAND. laehtI'
One day a lady was driving through |;
ne principal street of great city with
Ter little boy, when the horses. tool.
right and dashed madly away, hurting.
ne coachman from his box and leaving
ne occupants Of the carriage paralyzed /.