Wichita eagle., 1888-04-08
A DOG STORY.

The battle had lasted all day, and night
had set in. The sound of firearms might
Still be heard in the distance The wood was
held by battalion of French marines who
had received orders to cover the retreat
The whole village was on fire, from one end
to the other. The heavy tread of the Prus-
sian columns, as they filed through the main
street, resounded with dull monotony on the
icy snow. The mounted officers were mufied
in long overcoats, and when the steeds snorted
the breath Of the horses nostrils seemed to
freeze in the air. The quiet. gloomy, starlit
sky, toward which fog cloud of smoke
scared upward in the distance. appeared to
rest on broad basement of riven flame.
Outside the village extended the large,
open courtyard of a farm which, although it
stood alone has also become prey to the
devouring element The confagration had
gained the roof, cock loft and cattle houses,
and formed steadily advancing sheet of
fire. A thousand lambert tongues of fame
shot beyond the charred walls toward the
orchard fruit trees and the tall poplars along
the road. A corpse was stretched full length
in front of the courtyard door; but, beyond
the Kissing and cracking Of the iames every
Suddenly the mad howl of a powerful
watch dog broke the stiffness Of the gloom.
In vain did the poor beast wrench on the
chain that throttled him and howl at his APP
preaching fate The Prussian soldiery, who
had left house and home, wife and children,
TO fight their hereditary foe, were deaf even
to the cries of mercy which fell from the lips
Of human being. How, then, could such
men be expected to stop in their victorious
career to unbiHd the leash of SO Insignificant
an object as a wretched dogs
The battalion had already marched by, and
only few straugglers remained behind. One
of them stopped, shouldered his rifle strap,
and peered into the yard. He saw the dog
and pitied the poor brute. The man was a
Pole and had some heart. He remembered
the dear old mastif which had left home to
follow him in the pressed campaign and had
died in a ditch by the roadside. He cautiously
entered the blazing courtyard and approached
the kennel. The watch dog came out and
took confidence at the light blue eyes and
open countenance Of the stalwart deiverer
The Pole unstrapped the leather collar, and
the poor animal was freel
1t was a large white dog, with woolly coat,
long tail and pointed ears. 1t started to fol-
low the stranger; but, on reaching the dead
man at the farmyard door, it drew near
slowly, timidly scented the lifeless body, and
began to whine The faithful creature had
recognized its MASTER and began licking his
brown and callous hand. Vainly the soldier
beckoned called and whistled; he had to drag
the animal away from the corpse after pass
ing round its neck a rope which had served
the purpose of girdle TO the dogs dead
master.
One day, fearful battle was fought. When
the struggle WAS over and the soldiers were
gathered round their camp kettles, the dog
crouched at his friends feet and looked up at
him The Pole offered the now well nigh
famished animal the rind of piece of cheese
which had long been slowed away in tho
depths of his pocket. The dog for long time
scented the food, as if TO make sure that it
belonged to his master and nobody else. The
Door creature this time accepted the proffered
pittance: it began to eat slowly, and with q
sort of dignity, like one who does thing
merely to oblige another From that day the
Pole got the dogs food from the country
stores which he came across in the long
marches over French soil
One evening, the sergeant Of his squad said
to the landwehrmau:
"What are you going to do with that
beast'7
Take it home with me-" replied the Pole;
81 need a watch dog and cannot hope to meet
with better one"
At last the armisJice was concluded and
peace proclaimed. The landwehrmen looked
at each other with joyful eyes and clasped
their hands in silent token of better days At
the first town they reached, the whole bat
TALON was bundled into a train which
steamed of IN the direction of Fatherland.
They had no sooner passed the frontier than
the soldiers were received at every station
with endless cheering, and music and flowers.
The Pole who had been called out to fight
he knew not why, was specially at loss to
explain why, having fought, he was brought
home amid such outburstS Of popular favor.
He looked as silly as the dog at his feet, per-
laps little more so, for the dog scored TO
have an inkling that he was surrounded by
enemies, while the "Polakn had grown to be
Indifferent
Once only the dog rose from the dark cor
ner in which he crouched sulkily. Ii was at
a station in the north of Germany. A con-
WOW of French prisoners arrived just as the
landwehrmenS train entered the place. /
The brave hound rushed TO the window and
barked and howled at the cheers and songs
which rose from the dense throng of men .
with blue coats and red trousers, as they filed I
of into captivity, closely guarded by the .
Pr7ISSian sentinelS.
AT Poseu the landwehrmen Were disbanded
and sent home to their villages. Nolnizkl set .
out with his bag at his side, stick in his .
hand and followed by his dog. He left the /
high road and took short cut across the
country. For two days he travelled through
an undulating region intersected by pretty
streams and fertile hills; the lark sang mer-
rily above, and the ploWnan drove his fur
row through the hardened gehe. On every
side sprouted fair and green the promise of
germs which had been sown in tie winter
season.
The Polak's heart beat high when he caught
sight of the church Spire which rose above
his native place. Already those he met by
the way greeted hum with the usual saluta-
ton, Jesus Christ be praised!' As soon as
Re reached the moss grown cross Just outside
his village ne knelt before il and uttered
short, heartfelt PRAYER. He thanked his
Savior, not for any victory or any glory, bu,
for allowing him TO get back through all biz
trials without loss of health or limfS.
He hurried forward and began 10 sing fo
tae first time since he had left his wife and
children.
Not far off could be seen the little cottage
with its roof of matched straw blackened by
the smoke of the chimney, and its granary,
wherein the stork nestled.
Soon, from the other side of hedge, he
was greeted by his young wife, and two
Young children came running toward him.
IA took his son up in his arms and kissed