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

tips, and his 4abored breath.
| ing very gravely; then, at last, be
turned a set, sorrowful face to the father
looked long and pitifully into his eyes,
and the father knew. He had been
buoyed up by more hope than he had
known, and now this solemn fat struck
him as if he had not expected it. Then
they went out into the library, and the
Doctor gave some directions for general
treatment; and, taking his friends hand,
said: Edward, this is going to be hard
but try and be brave. Think it is no
harder fer you to be without him here
than for his mother to miss him there.
God bless you, my boy, let me know
if any change takes place. He NAV
live months yet, or it may come any
day. Good-by" Harry awoke and
started up from the sofa, saying,
"Where is my doggie ?" and started to
go down; but his father said keep
quiet, Harry, love, and the little dog
shall be brought up here; and Mrs.
Perkins went down and brought him
into the room. He was adifferent look,
| ing dog in even the short time allowed
for improvement, but still nothing could
make beautiful the long, yellowish-
brown body, with its coarse, rough hair
and the short, Informed legs, or the
ugly head, with its cropped ears, though
the intelligent eyes, which now express
ed love and gratitude toward Harry,
redeemed MIN, at least in the opinion of
| Mrs. Perkins and Mr. Emmons, as they
both concluded he was not so bad a
looking dog, after all
''No, know he isn't handsome, papa,
but think he is good and love him,
don't l, doggie? Then, again, papa, was
you going to buy me anything for
Christmas ?"
''Yes, Harry; what did you want ?"
II don't want anything now, papa.
/ will take doggie for my Christmas,
only he does look so funny, doesn'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 that
poor old cat away that was trying to get
some scraps in the yard, and | just cried.
1t looked back so sorry off the kitchen
fence, and L wanted to pinch Hannah
for it. And you, poor doggie, you have
been driven off from houses, | know,
and had stones thrown at you, and
where do you suppose dogs sleep,
papa ?"
"Oh, almost anywhere, | guess. l
will get nice little house mAde for him
if you wish"
THAT will be nice, and tonight, dog
gle, you will sleep right here" making
soft bed 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, and
from that time on 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: cit is i'm
possible that the child is in any danger
he looks so we'll there is a 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 tI4e ;.+s->s~- dAza+ia,a- press
ed for him III the eyes of the little dog,
which was now well. He would crouch
for hours beside the boy, motionless,
except to once in a while raise one paw
and lay it tenderly on the sleeve of his
Jacket, or to put his cold little nose soft
ly against the thin, bloodless hand and
nothing, not even hunger, would draw
him away. The boy grew more and
more fond, 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 than human attach
ment and love. Very precious to little
Harry was the love, so silent and 50
deep, of his dog, and the father used to
look upon them until his eyes grew
misty and dim, with tears he would turn
away his head to hide.
Every indulgence that could be given
to Harry he had, and every whim was
gratifed, 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
the father loved him for the sake of the
affectionate devotion to his child that
showed in every look and motion. A
month had passed since the poor crea-
ture 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 little heart seemed to al
most divorce soul and body,
And the father and loving old nurse
were powerless to relieve him, and the
day was fast approaching that would re-
lease the tense pain that racked the lit
tie heart to agony. AT such times the
eyes of the poor little dog would be
raised piteously to each in turn, as II
ID entreaty tnaL something silouIu oI
done for Harry, who he knew suffered
so. At length the last hour came--the
fine silver cord was almost loosened,
and the little heart so long tortured
with sufocating pain was about to be
relieved in the calm of death.
For hours he had lain silent, the rich,
golden hair tossed back on the pillow,
and one hand clasped in that of his
father, the other around poor "doggie,"
whose pitiful eyes seemed almost hui
man, as he would look into the white
little face, SO fast chilling to death, and |
now and then heaving 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 a little chill in the air
outside, that made it hard to those who,
walked along the almost
deserted streets.
Presently Harry unclosed his eyes, and |
said: Papa, where is Aunty Mary! I |
Il. = L ..e.,.- Il