Litchfield enquirer., 1880-01-22

} oppressive, and the multitude tha talways re- mains captive when town is called empty were lettering about the piazzas or lying on the stone benches, hot, weary, and feverlsh.
 But the little children were merry and Drummer was joyous, and the old soldier felt at peace with the world, though it did send him law -summonses that he could not under stand, and made it hard trouble for him to get ], his daily bread and beans. a.....f ..u-s ' They had gone up on to the new public drive that passes by grand old San Miniato and has so sadly spoiled the once wild hill } side, scarring it with white seam as you look upward at it from bridge or road below But Gualdro was not much concerned about beau- ty or sweetness; the bench he sat on rested him, the air was fresher on the fight, the children were toddling about with Drummer, there was some music sounding from the cafe hard by, gay waltz music that set the babies feet dancing. a 4t aF A lemon-seller went by with his gilded pag- oda-like truck; and knowing Gualdro, gave the babies drink for love and good will, which did Gualdro as much good as if anybody had brought him draught of wine. After all,' he thought, there is always some one that is kind.n Il The sun went down, and the glow from it's setting made the mountains beyond Vallom- brosa rosy red; little stars began to shine the gray dusty hues of long hot day changed to the blue shadesof evening He thought it was time to take hls way homeward, for the chil- dren were fatigued with play and grew sleepy. He took one up on each arm, and began to stroll home, the dog at his heels.
 When he got down from the comparatively fresh air of the hillside into the stifling heat of the town about the Porta Romano, there ) were some people shouting, scufling, scream lng-there were cries of mad dog.
 One of the dogs from the country-dogs } there pass their poor lives too often strainng at the end of short chain, and are starved and beaten, and even thirsty all day long, since no one thinks of their wants and their shal- } low water-pan is quickly dried by the sun and made nOissome by dead insects-had : strayed down into the city, driven by the pangs of hunger to seek for something to devour, and } there, from long ill-usage and long torment of all times, had snapped at man who had kicked him aside, and had fallen writhing in j an epileptic f1t-the harmless canine epilepsy which soon passes if the animal be left alone
 But instead of leaving him alone, or even lnQuiring what was the matter with him, the populace, (always and everywhere, coward, as well as bully had raised the cry of mad dog, and two street scavengers were knocking the dog to pieces with their iron hoes, while the guards looked on in approval These spetacles are considered improving for. the people,
 The poor animal in his epilepsy was hardly conscious, though his body struggled under the agony, the street was flooded with blood, the street boys capered and howled with delight and the man at whom the dog had flown, though only his trousers had been touched, was yelling like mad creature himself, and crying: ".Son' naorto Son. aaorto! Gesu De' diattG /"
 Gualdro who looked away from the horri- ble sight, for he liked all dumb beasts, was hurrying by, not to let his grandchildren see the blood. Drummer, with ears pricked, and all his body quivering was standing still, and staring at the still writhing body of his mang- led brother. One of the guards threw looped cord over his head and choked him.
 ''Let my dog go!" cried Gualdro ''He has done nothing. It is not him they are cly- ing out against"
 The guard drew the rope tighter. and held Drummer motionless and powerless to utter a sound.
 Your brute was by when the mad dog passed" he said. ''He may have been bitten. Fl He must go under observation
 ''Under observation !" stammered Gualdro ''what has he done? Let him go-pray let him | go-you will choke him Look how his eyes are startingw --ssaa1f .4- -., l ''Hold your tongue, or will arrest you for impeding me in my duty" said the guard, and he flung Drummer on his back by haul at the rope One of the dog stranglers that are employed all Summer by the civic .giu7st0 was near at hand, and the guard beckoned him and gave him the rope. ''Throw him in the cart and take him to the slaughter-house," 7" he said, attending in no way to the master of
 The old man with the child on each arm was as helpless as the dog with the moose round his neck He implored, he wept, he even fell on his knees on the stones and made the terrified little children kneei too. But it was of DO use. The guard was immovable, and the populace was for once on the side of the law, because it's own precious safety, it thought, was imperiled. Gualdro, who had | stood the brunt of so much smoke and the blaze of so much steel in battle, was trembling like leaf. All the instincts of the old soldier i were toward obedience, and he was bewilder- ed, dazed, agonlzed, but he was patient still.
 ''What does it all mean! :" he said, stupidly turning his dim eyes on the faces of the crowd faces that had no sympathyin them-for the people were all afraid for themselves, though the poor, mangled sleep-dog lay dead in the midst of his blood, and Drummer had been hurled into the dog-cart of the dog strangler.
 ''lt means municipal regulation, my friend" said the voice of an E:.s,.,:shman with good influx of irony in it. Municipal reg ulations arc among the blessings for which you good fellows fought"
 But Gualdro did net understand. Eat :. My dog did no harm" he said piteously as low howl came from the covered cart.
 ''You can get him in forty days, if you pay what is wanted" said the guard coldy, and then turned away to collar an urchin who was throwing wooden ball about. The cart mov- ed on; Gualdro was left standing, the two little babies clinging to his knees.
 Then suddenly he caught them up and ran | with them in his arms after the cart.
 '.Stop. stop! Pray stopi Do have pityi" he cried to them. II am au old soldier have fought in every battle, little and big yes, have; my poor Drummer is the matter with him Give him to me-give him tome!"
 But the dog-takers only laughed, and the cart was pushed on the men with the lassoes following, looking about the empty streets for dogs; ., m , .a , :. :. beggarman who was limping by They will not give him to you-no, not if it were l ever so you go,to.the slaughter-house in the morning; they will not have killed him; not SO soOn."
 e .sKilled him p echoed Gualdro. It hurt him as when at Custozza he had heard them say, 'tWe are beaten [" and it bewlldered him as that had done. .a5I. 4
 Sit will be all right in the morning." said l the beggar, trying to console him. Do not make these men angry. or they will knock him On the head ay, that they will." tles
 '.But the lady pays the tax for me! !"..
 ''What has that gotto do with it? Every body pays taxes, but taxes don't give you any right at all except to pay more ofthem. am glad they cannot get them out of me-" said the beggar with grin.
 Gualdro did not even hear. He ran panting after the cart, calling the man every bad name with which long years in barracks and in tent life could have stored his memory. But they went on out of his sight, throwing back to him as a last greeting a jeer and curse He was old and not very quick of foot and they, out of sport and spite, or both, had gone for ward at a trot, jolting the poor living burdens in their cart over the stones, regardless of the moans and howls within. L Gualdra had the two little children to carru {.