The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-10
STORY or A Doo.

EFsoi's Ingenious Plan.
On the ffiafgins OF the beautiful wind
ing streams and rivers Of France wash
erwomen may often be seen al their
work, presenting, Under the leafy shade
II this grand old trees, very picturs
esaue effect. No doubt you have seen
pictures of these wateriag-pfaces. They
are furnished with row OF shallow,
three-sided boxes, open toward the
shore, and with the back resting on
posts set In the water. just below the
surface Of the water smooth board
giants downward, and the washerwom-
an. knee1ing in the box, holds her
piece of washing upon this slanting
board with her left hand, while In her
right she grasps kind of paddle. with
which she beats the linen, turning II
again and again, until with the beating
and the force of the running water ii
becomes entirely clean and white.
One summer day, many years ago, a
washerwoman who was too fond moth
err to leave her baby in any one else's
care, brought it with her, and while at
work, placed the child in the box where
she was half kneeling. half sitting at
her Washing, and where she could &C.
casionally bend down to fondle her
darling baby. Suddenly, and without
any warning. the child sprang from the
mothers lap and slipped over the side
of the Washington into the bubbling
river. The mothers shrek was echoed
by the startled cries Of the other wash
erwomen as the child was borne off by
the current and the poor mother was
with difficulty restrained from leaping
Id after her child. At that moment,
some one watching the tiny form per-
ceived dark object making its way
from shore straight toward the drown
ing baby, still kept afoat by It's cloth
ing.
IA dogl 1t is a dogr' they cried.
..See! he is swimming for the baby"
The few seconds Of suspense that fol-
lowed seemed almost like hours. Then
| the watchers embraced the agopized
mother, with words of cheer.
HE has her by the frockH they
cried. "See how he keeps the darling $
head above the wateri She is saved /;
yes, nearly savedn'
For a moment the strong animal buff
feted with the strong current and the1
struck out bravely for the opposite
shore. Then q new fear assailed the
watchers, for that opposite shore was
solitary and uninhabited; there we're
reports every season OF providing wolves
that were seen there. Whist il this great
creature were no dog, but . ferocious
wolf that had saved the child only to
devour itp And the dismayed women
stepped before the weeping mother, so
that she might not see the other shore;
The f5ur-footed swimmer reached
the land; be laid the rescued child on
the ground, shook the water from his
heavy coat and then-calmly stretched
himself painting and watchful by the
| silent form.
A cry of felief came from the watch
ers, and with swift feet they hurried to
| the ferryman's hut, not far up the
stream. They found the old ferryf1an
sitting in his boat, tnendiig row-l0ck,
and chatting with his nihe-year-old
grandson, little Paul Dericker, who was
on visit to his grandfather from his
home near Peaolo, on the Rhine. As
soon rs be heard the story, the ferry
man united his boat and quickly landed
the excited washerwomen on the oppo-
site bank. First to spring ashore, little
Paul darted to the spot where the baby
lay, but was speedily back with the In
formation that the child was alive, fol
he had seen it move its arms end kick
up its little feet, but that the dog would
not let him come near
Here was dilemma. The dog
guarded his prize determinedly, rolling
pair of fiery eyeballs and snarline
savagely at the intruders when they at
tempted to approach. In the intervals,
he would lick the face and hands ol
the infant now cooling contentedly
and would give it the most affectionate
attention. But let one of the party adj
vance a step, and it was the signal fol
him to turn on them and drive then
back. No coaxing had the least effect
and when one of the women, remem
bering lunch of bread and meat il
her pocket, tried to win him with food
he scorned to look at it. Losing pa
tience, the ferryman provided himself
with a club, and thought to try what ,
show of force could do. This merely
enraged the dog, who was more than |
match even for an armed man. Yer,
much in earnest. then, PauPs grand
father sent the boy to bring from thu
boat his duck gun, declaring that tn
dog must be shot
| Away flew Paul, while the womel
set up such lamentation because o
the necessity of killing the dog that ha'
saved the baby from drowning, that tn
ferryman made them go some distance
away, lest the dog, if only wounded
should spring upon them indiscrim
inately. at time when he would hav
all he could do to defend himself Blu
the gun, too. was failure. 1t wa
evident the dog understood gun. bu
supposed that they intended to shoe
the child; for he protected its body 81
closely with his own, that to fire at ont
would be to tire at 10th. Completed
baffled. the old man threw the weapon
on the ground.
Hold! Grandpa!'' cried Paul. a
his elbow. Il know what can dol
And the swift feet were off toward tn
/ ferry once more.
He Ia going to try lass0 on tn
beast the way he caught the pig tina
hroka o,1k ri tho rasn vastqrdav " sal