The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-12-21
NUMBER 81

the winds walled outside. or that tbe
| clouds dropped tears upon the desolated
mouse, or that poor little uqIv doo
snlvered and moaned on the bed from
shieh the waxen form had been borne
tor the tulhllment of those last sad rites
iof the dead-the dead that Law so still
ana peaceful amid the agonized oroan,
OF the father and the louder cries ~
ms fond old nurse, and the servants oi
tne house-unmindful for once Of the
niue dog that licked the cold hand
olten raising its head to look up into the
calm face, and then, meeting no re-
sponse, turning with a mute agony Of
appeal to the faces of those around.
Mr., Emmons had been taken from
TIE room by the Doctor. He gave way
utterly, and threw himself upon the
moor, while great sobs shook his frame
lie had consolation in but one thing.
and that was: ".Ste has as much need
Of him there as you here" He Law there
llil daylight came through the windows.
and the sun shone over the landscape
as brightly as though between his set
'lhg and rising no soul had left its tene-
ment-no home desolated: and rain
drops glittered ON every tree and shrub,
flashing back the warm sunshine.
The little form lay in the coffin, and
the little dog lay on it, piteously whin-
ing when any one attempted to move
HIM, until they let him lay there with
out disturbance. They brought him
milk and water, but he turned his look
upon them, as much rs to say: my
heart Is broken, and / cannot eat or
drink any more. He was all the friend
l had, and loved him." and so, with
the dumb entreaty in his eyes, he was
left to lie above the lifeless breast.
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 desolate 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 "dog-
gle, with his piteous 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 doggie home and
tried by every means to induce him to
eat or drink, but it was of no avail
his little heart, although only a dogs,
was broken, and he would sigh and
whine, while tears were in his pleading
eyes as he looked from one to the other,
as if seeking an explanation as to where
Harry had gone. Mr.. Emmons sat
Ong in his study that night in sad lone
liness, when even the company of the
little dog would have comforted him;
and finally he rose, thinking he would
take him into his lap for his mute sym
pathy.
He called, but received no answer,
and finally concluded he would perhaps
find him in the empty crib where Harry
had slept. He went into the bedroom
with his heart filled with acute pain at
entering again the place where little
Harry died. There was no "doggie"
in the crib, and he called again, and
was answered by faint whine in cor
ner of the room, and there he found
"doggie," who had dragged little vel
vet cap, pair of red-topped boots, and
a tiny boat that Harry had loved to
play with, and was lying on the heap.
A moaning cry-the despairing cry of
the bitterness of desolation-broke
from the set lips, and tears gushed
forth at this pitiful proof of devotion, and
rained down on the poor dogs head as
the trembling hand tenderly stroked it.
Tho little dneeish face turned upward
for q moment with a look of affection,
and then fell back, "doggie" was dead /!
Flowers bloomed afterwards, and the
sun shone on, day after day, Just as
ever; but that father is lonely still
with the dread loneliness of childless-
ness, and his steps are oftenest traced
to the little grave where Harry lies, and
whose white tombstone, below his name,
bears strange device-a dog dying be-
side a cap and q toy.