The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-09-19
A True Story of Florence Nightingale

When tne celebrated. ph1lanthr0pist
Florence Nightingale was little girl liv.
ing in Derbyshire, England, everybody
was struck with her tboughtfulness for
people and animals. She even made
friends with the shy squirrels. When
persons were i'll she would help nurse
them, saving nice things from her own
meals for them.
There lived near the village an old
shepherd name Roger, who had a favorite
sheep-dog called Cap. This dog was the
old mans only companion, aud helped in
looking after the flock by day and kept
him company at night. Cap was very
sensible dog, and kept the sheep in such
order that he saved his master deal of
trouble.
One day Florence was riding out with
friend, and saw the shepherd giving the
sheep their night feed; but Cap was not
there, and the sheep knew it, for they
we're scampering about in all directions.
Florence and her friend stopped to ask
Roger why he was so sad, and what had
become of his dog.
co." he replied, Can will never be of
any more use to me; I'll have to hang
him, poor fellow, as soon as l go home
tonight"
"Hang him |" said Florence. go
Roger how wicked of you. What has
old Cap done ?"
"He has done nothing" replied Roger,
"but he will never be of any more use to
me, and cannot afford to keep him. One
of the mischievous schoolboys threw
stone at him yesterday and broke one of
his legs" And the old shepherd wiped
awav the tears that filled his eyes. " Poor
| Cap p he said. che was as knowing as
human being"
"But are you sure his leg is broken ?"
asked Florence.
go yes, miss, it is broken, sure enough |;
he has not put his foot to the ground
since"
"We will go and see poor Cap" said
the gentleman. al don't believe the leg
is really broken. 1t would take a big
stone and hard blow to break the leg of
a great dog like Cap"
go if you could but cure him. how glad
Roger would be p exclaimed florence.
When they got in the cottage the poor
dog lay there on the bare, brick floor, his
hair dsheveled, and his eyes sparkling
with anger at the intruders. But when
the little girl called him "poor Cap" he
grew pacifed, and began to wag his short
tail then he crept from under the table
and lay down at her feet. She took hold
of his paws, patted his head, and talked
to him while the gentleman examined his
injured leg. 1t was badly swollen, and
hurt him very much to have it examined /;
but the dog knew it was meant kindly,
and though he moaned and WINGED with
| pain, he licked the hands that were hurt
ing him.
ats only bad bruise no bones are
broken" said the gentleman; 4" rest is all
Cap needs he will soon be well again"
al am so gladl exclaimed Florence.
I" But can we do nothing for him? He
seems in such pain"
"Plenty of hot water to foment the part
would both ease and help to cure him."
"Well, them" said the little girl, 81
will foment Caps leg"
Florence lighted the fire, tore up an
old flannel petticoat into strips, which she
wrung ont in hot water and laid on the
poor dogs bruise. 1t was not long before
he began to feel the benefit of the appli-
cation, and to show his gratitude in looks
and wagging his tail. On their way
home they met the shepherd coming slow
ly along with piece of rope in his hands.
30 Roger" cried Florence, "you are
not to hang poor old Cap. We have found
that his leg is not broken after all"
"No, he will serve you yet" said the
gentleman.
DWELL, am most glad to hear it," said
the old man, "and many thanks to you
for going to see him."
The next morning Florence was up
early to battle Cap. On visiting the dog
she found the swelling much gone down
She bathed it again, and Cap was as
grateful as before.
Two or three days later, when Florence
and her friend were riding together, they
came up to Roger and his sheep. Cap
was there, too, watching the sheep. When
he heard the voice of the little girl his
tail wagged and his eyes sparkled.
"Do look at the dog, miss said the
shepherd, he's so pleased to hear your
voice. But for you 1 would have hanged
the best dog ever had in my life"
This is quite true story. 1t happened
many years ago, and is now told with
pleasure of that lady who in later years
grew up to be the kind, brave woman
who nursed so many soldiers through the
Crimean war, and has done so many Other
things for the poor and suffering wherever
she could.-Y Youths Temperance Banner.