Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-13
"POOR OLD CAP"
A True Story of Florence Nightingale
When a Little Girl.

NfAhN - A@tAhA1 49,
When Florence Nightingale was a
very little girl, and living in Derby
shire, England, every body was struck
with her thoughtfulness for people and
animals. She even made friends with
the shy squirrels. When persons were
i'll she would help nurse them, saving
nice things from her own meals for
them.
There lived neal the village IN old
shepherd named Roger, who had a favor
ite ~sheep-dog named Cap. This dog was
the old mans only companion, and
helped in looking after the flock by day,
and kept him company at night. Cap
was a very sensible dog, and kept the
sheep in such good order that he saved
his master a deal of trouble.
One day Florence was riding out with
a friend, and saw the shepherd giving
the sheep their night feed. But Cap
was not there, and the sheep knew it,
for they we're scampering about in all
directions. Florence and her friend
stopped to ask Roger what had become
of his dog.
"Oh, he replied, "Cap will never be
vi ANY mOIO uoO ~ liz Il GAlaAA htN0 W.
hang him, poor fellow, as soon as | go
home tonight.
'Hang himl' said Florence. 80,
Roger, how wicked of you! What has
poor old Cap done?"
HE has not done any thing" replied
Roger, "but he will never be of any
moro use to me, and / can not afford to
keep him. One of the mischievous
school-boys threw a stone at him yes
terday, and broke one of his legs" And
the old shepherd wiped away the tears
which filled his eyes,. Poor Cap" he
said, ''he was as knowing as a human
being"
but are you sure his leg is broken?"
asked Florence.
''Oh, yes, miss; it is broken, sure
enough. He has not put his foot to the
ground since"
Then Florence and her friend rode
on.
"We will go and see poor Cap" said
the gentleman. 81 don't believe the leg
is really broken. 1t would take a big
stone and a hard blow to break the leg
of a great dog like Cap"
'FOh, if you could only cure him, how
glad Roger would be!' exclaimed Flor
ence.
When they got to the cottage, the dog
lay on the bare brick floor. His eyes
eparkled with anger at the intruders.
But when the little girl called him
poor Cap" he grew pacifed, and
began to wag his short tail. Then
he crept from under the table, and
Law down at her feet. She took hold of
one of his paws, patted his rough
head and talked to him, while the
gentleman examined the injured leg.
1t was badly swollen, and to nave it ex-
amined hurt him very much, but the
dog knew it was meant kindly, and,
though he moaned and WINGED with
pain, he licked the hands that were
hurting him.
''It's only a bad bruise, no bones bro
KEN" said the gentleman. REST is all
Cap needs; he will soon be we'll again"
81 am so gladI" exclaimed Florence.
''But can we do nothing for himP He
seems in such pain"
''Plenty of hot water to foment the
part would both ease and help cure
him."
well, them" said the girl, Il will
foment poor Caps leg"
Florence lighted the fire, and tore up
an old flannel petticoat into strips,
which she wrung out in hot water n
laid oon the dogs bruise. 1t was not
long before he began to feel the benehtof
the application, and to show his graft
tude in looks and by wagging his tail. On
their way home they met the old shep-
herd coming slowly along with a piece
of rope in his hands.
80 Rogerl' cried Florence, 'you are
not to hang poor old Cap. We have
found that his leg is not broken, after
ALL"
mo, he will serve you yet" said the
gentleman.
well, 1 am glad to hear it." said the
old man, ''and many thanks to you for
going to see him."
The next morning Florence waAup
early to battle Cap. She found the
swelling much gone down. She bathed
it again, and Cap was as grateful as be-
fore.
Two or three days later, wheE Flor
ence and her friend were riding togeth-
er, they came up to Roger and his sheep
Cap was there, too, watching the sheep.
When he heard the voice of the little
girl, his tail wagged and his eyes
sparkled.
D. look at the dog, miss" said the
shepherd. hes so pleased to hear your
voice. But for you. l should have
hanged the best dog l ever had in my
life.m
This is a true story. 1t happened
many years ago, and is now told with
pleasure Of that lady who. in later years,
grew Up to be the kind, brave woman
who nursed SO many soldiers through the
>gimeaD war, snd has done &c many