Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-03-20
Devon, Dog.

Greenfield, Mass, once boasted of a dog
whose church going proolivities might we'll
| make him an example to his brother men In
these degenerate days. The writer as child,
enjoyed the high privilege of this remarkable
dogs acquaintance. He was a regular atten.
dant upon the ministrations Of the venerable
and venersted Dr.. Chandler, pastor Of the
North Parish church, whose memory is still
green in many hearts.
After the death OF his FIRST master, who was
member Of DR.. OhRndlers church, the dog
became the property Of well-knowu Baptist
deacon. OF course the family attended the
Baptist church Ia the village, but the dog
With faithful consistency worthy Of the old
martyrs, refused to change creeds with mas
ters. Regularly, every Sunday mornng, he
started for church with the family but when
they reached the road that turned of toward
DR.. Chandler's, leaving the family to pursue
their way without him, the dog invariably
trotted of alone down this road to the church
of his preference.
He was an object OF great interest TO the
children Of the congregation, and helped be-
guile the way for them through many q long
sermon little above their heads, as sermons
are wont to be- He was a large yellow dog,
with the dignifsd bearing of one who respects
himself. One could hardly imagine even the
traditional bad boy Of the Sunday school
possession Of but one ear added to the pecu-
liar sagacity OF his aspect, especially when the
one ear was, az often, cooked with a wise air
of interest In the proceedings.
The pulpit, In those days was reached by a
long flight Of steps, with landing at the
top. When DR.. Chandler entered the church
and mounted these steps, the dog always fol-
lowed him and stationed himself on the land
ing, where he remained during the service,
and propriety-s shining example to all the
children Of the congregation. II he we're oc.
otslonally guilty OF a stolen nap. he was not
without company in the pews. THE spirit
10 willing, but the flesh is weak" in many q
we'll. meaning church. goer.
As most Of the congregation lived q long
was from the church, they usually brought
lunches with them, which we're eaten, with
much friendly visiting OF subdued and quiet
sort, appropriate TO the day, during the snort
incoming between the two services. The dog
mingled affably with the congregation during
this incoming, and was never suffered to go
hungry. Many q child cribbed his own lunch
for the pleasure OF tossing bits of cracker
down the wide, yawning jaws of his canine
friend, 10 the afternoon he resumed his post
on the pulpit landing, where he remained till
the close Of the service, when he trotted
homewards, apparently as full of edi6cation
as any Of the congregation.
By some mysterious dog wisdom that our
dull human brains cannot fathom, he always
knew when Sunday came. On week. days he
accompanied the family to the village a. g
matter Of course; but on Sundays be invari-
ably forsook them for the road across the
meadows to the North Parish church.
How little we understand these dumb kins-
men Of ours-how narrow the dividing line
between the soul and what we call instinct
Interesting indeed would it have been to look
inside this dogs brain and read his thoughts,
for thoughts he evidently had to see what
ideas he associated with the church services
why he enjoyed them and felt determined
TO attend them regularly. For my own part,
seeing the vast superiority in real moral worth,
mental ability aud practical usefulness of GER
tain cats, dogs and horses OF my acquaintance
over many human beings one encounters,
first and last, am full believer in heaven
for animals, where nought that molests or
| makes afraid shall enter, and where their
great and unmerited suffering in this world
shall be recompensed by full measure of hap
piness and comfort.
Possibly this animal heaven Is on the bor-
der, perhaps even in some corner of the out
| ermost court of the heaven we all hope for.
So many good people know could hardly be
happy, even in heaven, without their tenderly
cherished pets. At all events, heaven or no
heaven for them, it is safe to treat animals
kindly. Harsh abuse of them not only marks
a man or boy as a coarse brute, but it reacts
on the petty tyrant himself, making him con-
stantly more brutal and domineering, not
only to animals, but toward all helpless beings
that come into his power. When see men
lashing and kicking their horses, sigh for
their wives and children at home-yea, and
for their sons wives, too. Like father, like
son, never comes truer than in tho fathers
treatment Of his wife and q brute in one
thing il sure to be brute all through. p
ThOrne in Christian Register