Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-31

"And thus they found him, poor Prince
At last there was a race that promised
more excitement than any other, and Grace
was in it. Faster and faster flew the flying
figures farther and farther they sped from
the laughing company. Even the melan-
choly Prince was carried away by the en-
thusiasm of the moment He got up, shook
his ungainly old body into shape and fol
lowed them down the river at gait that,
for speed, astonished his own legs
Suddenly the tall boy who led IN the race
whirled round and shouted to the others to
stop. 1t was too late. The next was Grace.
Before she could comprehend his signal she
had passed him like fash. There were
few quick, sharp, ominous cracks, horrible
crumbling crash, a sharp, awful cry Of
fright, and she went down
The alarm spread and rescuers rushed to
the spot on the wings of haste and horror.
But the seconds were flying away, and few,
OH so few of them could carry off the life of
the child now under the ice
One faithful friend, whom no one thought
of, reached her almost as soon as she went
down That was Prince. How he had done
it none could tell, for all were too terrified
to see; but when the human helpers neared
the scene of the accident they found the ice
broken over broad space, and the dog, wet
and shivering, holding the head and shoul-
ders of the unconscious girl out of the water,
on the unbroken ice upon which his own
light body rested His dripping hair was
freezing in the bitter breath of the night,
and so were the brown locks of the child he
was trying to save. With his teeth, his
paws, and all the strength that remained in
his poor old frame he held on to her, moan
ing pitifullY because he could do no mora.
And thus they found him, poor Prince.
Aye, prince indeed, worthy of royal robes
and royal honorS
Scarcely less tenderly than the half dead
child was he cared for One home was open
to him as to king. Yes, any home in the
place would have gladly received him then
No carpet was too fine for him to walk
upon now; no couch too good for him
Never in his hard life had he rested
on such a soft bed as was now his in Dr..
Merton's handsome house. And how they
wept over him and tried to do something for
him His life, hitherto despised had suddenly
become precious. The value Of the heart so
long hidden behind his mark of ugliness was
known at last.
And he understood and was grateful He
beat his tired tail upon his rug slowly and
painfully-for he was very weak-to express
his appreciation OF their kindness; and his
faded old eyes lighted up with pleasure.
He looked so lovingly toward the door Of
Grace's room that at last they moved him In
there and placed him where he could look at
her. 1t is doubtful if he had ever been so
happy before, but it was not to last
Grace had youth and health, and she re-
covered from the shock and exposure in
few days But Prince was old and infirm,
and the dreadful accident had been too severe
a strain upon his already exhausted vitality.
His soul-''only dogs soul" but a noble
soul all the same-parted company with its
worn-out body in the morning of the New
Year As the child awoke ne fell asleep-the
sleep of death As he went out of life he
left to his idol message more beautiful and
precious than pen can translate. 1t was con-
veyed by a lSok, without sound or speech,
but it bore a burden OF love unutterable
and-shal not say itl-everlasting.