St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-10-12
I re.

| 1t happened good many years ago, said
grandfather to Harry and me, as we sat
around the fire. place one December even
ing, that father bought piece of timber,
several miles from our house, and he had
some men there cutting it. One day he
wanted me to go and carry message to
| them
| was never afraid to go anywhere with
| Tige, our dog. He was such big, strong
| fellow, and so brave. So we set Off, happy
as could be, both of us.
The sun was shining as we started, but
| rs we reached the wood lot the sky began
to cloud over. | didn't think anything
about it, though hardly noticed it till |
had delivered my message and turned
| around to go back.
Then the boss" said to me: 81 don't
know, little chap, but you'd better stay
here. | guess there's heavy snow storm
coming, and you've got quite piece to &C. :"
ooh, amt afraid n' I said, standing up
straight. Ididn't like to be called little
chap" and meant to show them that felt
big enough to take care of myself.
F'Well, you'd better walk lively, then,
or you will be showed under before you
get home,' the man said, rightly laughing
at me for the airs had put on.
| walked off as coolly as could be, to
show them | wasn't afraid. But before |
had gone far the fakes began to come
down closer together.
Tige acted as if he knew what was COM
ing, and trotted on at lively rate, look
ing back every now and then and whining
for me to keep up.
hurried on now as fast as | could, and
all the while the snow was coming down
thicker and the wind was rising higher.
1t seemed to blow right through my over
coat and muller, and the fine flakes stung
as they came against my cheek.
By and by began to grow tired. The
wind was blowing straight against me, the
snow was binding me so | could not see,
and all the while Tige was running on
ahead so fast that l feared | should lose
sight of him. But he did not propose to
leave me. Every little while he stopped
and whined for me to cons up.
At last | grew SO tired that | could only
SIT. able on, and then Tige came back and
walked at my side, or just n front of me,
as if anxious to help me. And | was think
ing if l should stop and rest few mo-
ments | would be sll right. But when |
tried it Tige caught hold Of my coat and
pulled me along.
Then grew so sleepy | could hardly
keep on my feet. | did not feel the cold
now, and | was ready to lie down in the
snow and go to sleep. Twice tried it,
but each time Tige pulled me up, and
barked so loud thaC it woke me, and |
stumbled on.
At last we came to fence, and had not
strength enough left to climb over It. |
Just rolled down in the snow, and Tige
couldn't get me to move.
did not know what happened next, but
| was told afterwari. The fence where |
had stopped was only about a mile away
from home, and Tige at once ran there as
fast as he could go.
My people were all looking out anxiously
for me. and father was talking of starting
to meet me, when they saw the dog COM
ing. They opened the door and the minute
he saw them he began to bark and whine,
and started back.
They knew at once what he meant, and.
hurrying on their coats, my father and
brothers followed him as fast as they
could.
was sound asleep when they found me,
almost covered with snow. Tige began to
paw off he snow and lick me, they said,
and barked furiously as they came up and
while they were carrying me home, kept
jumping up against me as if anxious to see
me wake up.
The first thing did see when l opened
my eyes, was Tige's head thrust in between
my father and mother, who were rubbing
me on one side, while my brothers rubbed
on the other.
Eyes, old fellow, you saved him. It's
all on your account that he is here, }"
mother said, hugging his great shaggy
neck, after | had told them how he had
dragged me against my will.
You may be sure that nothing was too
good for Tige after that He was cared
| for as kindly as if he had been one of the
| family-which he was to our way of think
ing-and we kept him until he died of old
age.-The Fountain.