The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1884-02-23
CIR 1aire Bulletin.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1884.
The Dog Actor.
By WILSON BARRETT.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.

HIM Winning and barking lii the passage
Night after night this would happen, and
he would lie i'll the passage, with his nose to
the street-door, until his mistress returned.
At last the poor dog began to understand
that for some reason or other, he was no
longer required at the theatre, and then
change began to creep over him. He
seemed to lose his spirits took his food
with less relish day by day. If he cheered
up little in the morning, he would get
quieter, and more listless as the night came
on. Ills young mistress grievcd over the
change III her favorte, and veterinary sur
geons were consulted, and poor EELion''
was examined, drugged, and dieted but all
to no purpose. The surgeons could not
say @hat allied hin; could not understand
why he got weaker and thinner
Dear old 'Lion," who used to delight to
accompany his mistress in her morning
walks, and who would scamper backwards,
and forwards, hither and thither, doing in
dustriously and melTily ten miles to her one,
got gradually to feel one mile too much for
him; then his strength gave way at even
half that distance, and he would lie down
and whine, and look up with piteous APP
peal in his kind eyes, as much as to say, 81
cant go on, missile; do take me home.''
Shorter and shorter the walks became-no
running hither and thither now, no gam
boiling and joyous barking, only a weary
ploddmg along while his strength lasted.
then down he would sink, and pant and
wait until he recovered sufficiently to turn
back and get home again. Each day he
got weaker-the brightness of his coat was
gone, and here and there the black Was
tufted with grey He would scarcely touch
his food, and would lie for hours quite
qniet, with his head resting on his paws.
and his eyes following his beloved mistress
about the room. Sometimes he would rise
painfully, and put his head in his Gerty's
lap, and nose her hand up on to it, as if
her touch eased some ache or pain there.
From this attitude he never wanted to move
unless asked to do so.
At this time, the only thing that could
rouse him, was when she would ask him to
go through his part with her. Then his
eyes would light up for time, and he
would make an effort with a mixture of pain
and enjoyment, and act as much of his
scenes as he could, then with few feeble
wags of his tail he would lie painting down,
signing deeply, and looking up as much as
to say, ''Don't be angry with me, missile
| emit do any more
50 Lion was drifting away. Whittier
Of course there can be no hereafter for a
mere dog-can there, reader ? Even
murderer OF the human race, however
mhuman, may, and invariably does, hope to
meet his victim in heaven, when strangu-
laton has purified and perfected him; but
for dog, who has only been gentle, faith
ful and loving, what is there for him? All,
who knows? suppose we may reckon on
one thing, if there be no heaven for dogs,
there can be no hell. Therefore dog need
not be troubled with any doubts as to his
future state. There may be some advantage
in being dog, after all
Lion . was drifting away day by day,
hour by hour. One lovely morning in July,
while his mistress was absent, while the sun
was warm and bright, he was coaxed out.
For few yards he struggled on, then fell,
painting and gasping for breath. 1t was
his last walk. Gently and tendcrly he was
lifted up and carried homc-big, heavy
fellow that he had been-his form was light
enough now. Into the house they took
him, and laid him down in his favolite spot
in front Of the Fireplace where he had so
many times sat at the feet of his loved
Gerty. For IA little while he lay gaspne
for breath, with his eyes-thc dear, kind
eyes-now quickly glazing with the death
film, turned towards the door, in expectation
OF Gerty's return. With a great effort he
lifted one paw tremblingly towards those
who wear tealfully watching HIM, and, with
one deep, deep sigh and little SILVER,
Lion" the Dog Actor, had left tbs
worlds stage forever