Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-26

Emmons, ard they both concluded he was
not so bad looking dog. after all
mo, l know he isn't handsome, papa, but
think he ia good; and l love him, don't I,
doggie? Then, again, papa was you going
TO buy me anything for Christmasw
yes, Harry; what do you wantY
dont want anything now, papa | will
take doggie for my Christmas, only he does
look so funny, doesen't he? Just as if he had
| never been used to be where there was
good fire, and more to eat than he wanted.
| | suppose he has been drove from one house
to another, just like Hannah drove the poor
old cat away that was trying to get some
scraps In the yard, and just cried. Itlooked
| back so sorry off the kitchen fence and I
wanted to pinch Hannah for 1t. And you,
poor doggte, you have been driven off from
| houses, know, anu had stones thrown at
you, and-where do you suppose dogs sleep,
paps" u.s.
| nice little house made for him if you wish"
THAT will be nice, and tonight, doggie
you will sleep right here" making a soft he'd
out OF Mrs. Perkins shawl for the dog to
| sleep on.
She would have given her best black silk
dress, which she set great store by had Harry
| wished it. When they were about to leave
the room for the night the little dog got up
and limped along after them, and looked at
Harry SO piteously when told to go back, that
he begged to have him at the foot Of his crib
aud from that time no one disputed his right
and he slept there unmolested.
Harry seemed to rally and feel better for
the next few days, and his father would look
at him and say: 1T is impossible that the
child is in any danger; he looks so well there
is mistake; will see another Doctor" and
he would almost believe that there was no
cause for alarm.
1t was beautiful sight to see the fragile
boy sit, or recline, on the floor, and to see the
intense devotion expressed for him in the eyes
OF the little dog, which was now well. He
would crouch for hours beside tie dog, mo-
tionless, except to once in while raise one
paw and lay 1t tenderly on the sleeve of his
jacket or to put his cold little nose softly
against the thin, bloodless hand; and nothing,
not even hunger, would draw him away. The
boy grew more and more fond of him, and
rarely laid down unless he drew the little dog
close and let the little shaggy yellow head rest
on his breast while the bright, intelligent
eyes were always fastened on Harry's face,
with look of more thon human attachment
and love. Very precious to little Harry was
the love, silent and so deep, of his dog, and
the father used to look upon them until his
eyes grew misty and dim with tears that he
would turn away his head to hide.
Every indulgence that could be given to
Harry he had, and every within was gratified,
and they were many; but he never, for one
moment swerved from the protecting love of
his ugly little dog, and at last it had come to
be that even the father loved him for the sake
of the afectlonate devotion to his child that
showed in every look and motion. 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 off the sofa all day: for
when he made the slightest exertion the cruel
spasms at the heart seemed to almost divorce
soul and body.
And the father aud loving old nurse were
powerless to relieve him, and the day was
fast approaching that would release the in
tense pam that racked the little heart to agony
At such times the eyes of the poor little dog
would be raised piteously to each in turn, as if
in entreaty that some thing should be done
for Harry, who he knew suffered SO. At
length the last hOu. came-the fine silver cord
was almost lOosened, and the little heart so
long tortured with suffOcating pain was about
to be relieved in the calm Of death.
For hours he had lain silent, the rich, gold
en- hair tossed back on the pillow. and one
clasped in that of his father, the other around
poor "doggie," whose pitiful eyes seemed al
most human, as he would look into the white
tie face, so fast chilling to death, and now
and then giving a sigh as deep and full of
agony as the human ones that loved the boy
could have felt.
Silent and sorrowful faded the light of the
day before Christmas in that house. The rain
fell steadily and fast, and there was little
chill in the air outside, that made it hard to
those, who unprotected, walked along the al
most deserted streets.
Presently Harry Enclosed mis- eyes, and said:
Papa, where Is Aunty Mary! | thought
saw her, just now, come in at the hall door,
and you told her to go out You wouldn't do
that papaw
mo, Harry. hope she will come. one of
these days, aud live with US. Do you feel bet
ter, Harryw
Yes, papa; but I feel very tired-dfferent
from, ofh trad 7
you here? Of course, you are. Papa, amt you
glad took him? Pm glad you let me, and
he loves me. | always sleep so good when
he is with me. am sleepy now, and guess
I'll go to sleep. Papa, you love me? You
love doggie, too You won't let ANYBODY
hurt him, and tomorrow we will have nice
Christmas-a nice Christmas" and here the
blue veined lids fell, and dreamy smile be-
gan to settle on the little pinched lips, and the
face to grow more placid and peaceful, the
Mr.. Emmons had been taken from the room
by the Doctor. He gave way utterly, and
father watching it till, when the clock struck
l, he puts his hand on the fair, high brow,
and found it icy cold In the chill of death
No wonder, then, that the strong man cried
aloud in his agony, nor that the winds walled
| outside, or that the clouds dropped tears up
| on that desolate house, or that a poor little
ugly dog shivered and moaned on the bed
| from whence the waXen form had been borne
| for the fulfllment of those last sad ties for
| the dead-the dead that lay so still and peace
| full amid the agOniZed grOans of the father
| and the louder cries of his fond nurse, and the
| servants of the hOuse-unnIindful for once of
the little dog that licked the cold hand, often
raising his head to look upon the calm face.
| aud then, meeting no response, turning it
with mute agony of appeal to the faces of
| those around.
| threw himself on the floor, while great sobs
shook his frame. He had consolation in but
/ 4I1k C
| need of him there as you here" 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 no
| soul had left its tenement-no home desolated;
and rain-drOps glittered on every tree and
shrub, flashing back the warm sunshine
At noon they bore the body of the boy to
| his grave beside his mother, and covered him
up with the sodden earth. The heavy thuds
with which they struck the coffin were sharp
| blows of agony to the des0late father, who
| tried hard to control his grief, but he broke
| down utterly and sobbed like babe, when he
| felt feeble scratching on his leg, and looked
down to see poor ''doggie," with his pitec Us
look of entreaty and grief almost human, and
his eyes actually full of tears, as he whined
in vain, turning toward the fast-flling
grave. They took dogge home and
tried by every means to induce him to
eat and drink, but it was of no avail, his little
heart, although only dogs, was broken, and
he would sigh and whine. while tears were in
his pleading eyes as be looked from one to
the other, as If seeking an explanation as to
where Harry had gone. Mr.. Emmons sat
long in his study that night in sad loneliness
| when even the company of the little dog
would have comforted hm; and finally he
rose, thinking he would take him into his lap
for his mute sympathy.
He called, but received no answer, and
finally concluded he would perhaps find him
in the empty crib where Harry had slept He