The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-09-26
STORY OF A DOG.

How He Rescued a Child from Drowning
and Kept at BAY Its Mother and Friends
-Paurs Ingenious Plan.
On the margins of the beautiful wind
ing streams and rivers of France wash
erwomen may often be seen at their
work. presenting, under the leafy shade
of the grand old trees, very pictur-
esque effect. No doubt you have seen
pictures OF these watering-places. They
are furnished with a 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 a smooth board
slants downward, and the washerwom-
an, kneeling in the box, holds her
piece of washing upon this slanting
board with her left hand. while in her
right she grasps a kind of paddle, with
which she beats the linen, turning it
again and again, until with the beating
and the force of the running water il
becomes entirely clean and white
One summer day, many years ago, a
washerwoman who was too fond a moth
er to leave her baby in any one else $
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 oc-
caSonally 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
in 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 ahoat by its cloth
ing.
"A dog. it is a dog!' 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 agonized
mother, with words OF cheer.
He has her by the frock," they
cried. "See how he keeps the darling's
head above the water! She is saved
yes, nearly saved!'
For moment the strong animal buff
feted with the strong current and then
struck out bravely for the opposite
shore. Then a new fear assaulted the
watchers, for that opposite shore was
solitary and uninhabited; there were
reports every season of providing wolves
that were seen there What if this great
creature were no dog, but ferocious
wolf that had saved the child only to
devour it? And the dismayed women
stepped before the weeping mother, so
that she might not see the other shore.
The four-foo,ed swimmer reached
the land; he 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 relief 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 ferryman
sitting in his boat, mending a row-lock.
and chatting with his nine-year-old
grandson, little Paul Dericker, who was
on visit to his grandfather from his
home near Peaolo, on the Rhine. As
soon RS he 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, for
he had seen it move its arms and 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
a pair of fiery eyeballs and snarling
savagely at the intruders when they at
tempted to approach. In the intervals,
he would lick the face and hands of
the in ant, now cooling contentedly,
and would give it the most affectonate
attention. But let one of the party adj
vance a step, and it was the signal for
him to turn on them and drive them
back. No coaXing had the least effect;
and when one of the women, remem-
bering lunch Of bread ana meat in
her pocket, tried to win him with food,
he scorned TO look at it. Losing pa
thence, the ferryman provided himself
with a club, and thought to try what a
snow Of force could DO. This merely
onraged the dog, who was more than o
match even for an armed man Very