The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-03-25
ONLY A DOG.

The following pathetic story from the New York
Independent IL from the pen OF Alice Bacon, daugh-
ter OF Rev. DR.. Leonard Bacon whose death has been
heretofore notsd.l
1t was case Of love at first sight. |
met him one Sunday afternoon while [
was strollng about the fields, and from
that moment L vowed [ would make him
nine, If by any vile or guile that result
could be brought about. He was a
beautiful shepherd dog, Of no breed that
have ever encountered, either before
or ST. &c. His color was bu1f, shading
9 wh. tie underneath, and set off by two
log, pointed collars upon his shoulders
OF dark gray hair. His tail was long,
aud as he waved it ever his back it re-
minded me OF the white plume of King
Henry of Navarro. But the browning
glory Of the dog was his face. The color
Of his face was the lightest and most Bs-
thetic shade of {" old gold" and was set
off by q black nose tip, two little black
eyebrows, pair of sensitive and inquisi-
tive yellow ears, and the most human,
Intelligent, loving brown eyes that it has
ever been my lot to meet. His face,
when | first met him, was lighted up
with a smile OF Joy at seeing a party OF
friendly people approaching HIM, and
across the field, with his pIumy tail
waving, his brown eyes shining, and such
an expression OF good will to men that
then and there the conquest was made,
and l became his abiect slave and
ad0rer.
That was all / saw of him for about
month, though during that time | was
negotiating with his master to see on
what terms he would give up ali claims
to the dog What those negotiations
We're | will not tell here; but suffice it
to say that ut the end of the month, after
had returned to my home IN the city,
my Establishments prevailed, and the
dog was s1nt down by express. [ re-
ceiyed q telegram saying that the dog,
Brant, had started; and soon afterward
an express wagon drove up to the door,
and there, sitting on the seat beside the
driver and beaminR as if he ogned the
whole town and was returning to his pos-
sessions after long absence, was dog
Brant. He came IN, sure that he was
among f ends, and from the moment of
his arrival ne never expressed a desire
for any other home than the one to
which he had come. That he was nv
exclusive property he fully understood
ne accepted the rest Of the family as near
and dear relations, he never for one mo
ment doubted In his royal little heart to
whom he owed the most devoted love
and allegiance. Except when [ was
away from home (when he generally
chose some one of the family to attach
himself to in my absence), he followed
me from room to room about the house,
-
my room at night, and was never for one
moment separated from me by an act of
his own will His whole being was
swallowed up In devotion to me. | do
not think there was an expression of my
face or a movement of my hand that he
did not notice and comprehend by that
subtle sense with which love for human
being endoWs a dog. 4 dog with no SUI
preme object for his affections is a con-
temptible, miserable animal, A dog
who knows and loves a master is of all
animals the most happy and intelligent.
To tell Of all Brant's loving and intel
hgent ways would require more time
than any che but a real lover of dogs
would care to give to the subject; but
some things about him must be told In
order to rightly show his character, for
will, perhaps, be profitable even to
Christians living in the full light of this
nineteenth century. His obedience, was,
perhaps, the most noticeable Of his vir-
tues to a casual observer, for that was
remarkable and rather unusual in a dog
that is simply pet He seldom had to
be told thing more than once. The
night OF his arrival among us, when the
a +ha i o,k
ting room were thrown open and the
family went into tea, Brant showed a
wish to accompany them. He was told
that he must not, and from that time,
though he would lie In the next room,
and look wistfuQy toward the dining
table, nothing but the warmest invita-
ton from some person whom he consid-
cred in authority would induce him to
pass the threshold; and then, so soon as
he saw that the business for which he
was called In was accomplished, hewOuid
retire to his original place IN the sitting
room. So it was IN regard to anything
he was told 70 do. If he understood the
order he did as ne was told If he did
not understand the order, he did every
thing he could think until he found out
what was right.
Another of his virtues was his innate
politeness. He never willingly hurt any
ones feelings. He always shook hands
when he was introduced to a stranger,
not because he was told to, bat from a
natural sense of the fitness of things. Ii
any caller was obliged to wait few
moments in the parlor, Brant always felt
it his duty 10 go in and make himself
agreeable until some one relieved him.
If he had been particularly atfectionate
or caressing toward any one member OF
the family. he would often go around
and shake hands with every one else IN
the room. so as to show that he didn't
mean to slight any one.
There was something almost pathetlc
IN Brant's desire to do the very best that
he knew how, under all circumstances,
He tried so hard to do right. de not
only did what he was told, but he
Thought out what was the right thing &c
do. and did it. As an illustration, when
be first came, Brant was shut up IN tnt
front vestibule at the time OF family
PRAYERS. but he had proved SO good ano
obedient every way that 1t was decided
to let him stay in the room one time. 81
ba was told that he might stay II ht