The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-27
"PooR OLD CAP"


"POOR OLD CAP"
a True story of Florence Nightingale
When : Little Girl.
When Florence Nightingale was 4
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 near the village an old
shepherd named Roger. who had 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 ut night. Cap
was very sensible dog, and kept the
sheep in such good order that he saved
his master deal Of trouble.
One day Florence was riding out with
a friend, and saw the shepherd giving
tie 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.
ION, he replied. Gap will never be
of any more use to me. / shall have to
hang him. poor fellow, as soon as ! go
home tonight.
Hang him. said Florence. %,
Roger. how wicked OF you! What has
poor old Cap done?"
lilo has not done any thing" replied
Roger, .but lie will never be of any
more use to mc, and can not afford to
keep him. One of the miscellaneous
school-boys threw a stone at him yes
terlay. and broke ono Of his legs And
the old shepherd wiped away the tears
which filled his eyes. Poor Cap" he
said, The was as knowing as 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.
I'VE will go and see poor Cap" said
the gentleman. Il don't believe the leg
is really broken. 1t would take big
stone and hard blow to break the leg
Of great dog like Cap
oh, 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
sparkled with anger at the intruders.
Tut when the little girl called him
poor Cap" he grew pacified, and
began to wag his short tail. Then
he crept from under tho table. and
lay 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.
It was badly swollen, and to have 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.
Its only bad bruise. no bones bro
KEN" said the gentleman. REST is all
Cap needs; he will soon be we'll again. =
Il am SO glad.' exclaimed Florence.
''But can we do nothing for him? He
seems in such pain"
"Plenty of hot water to foment the
part would both ease and help cure
him.
well. then" 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 and
laid Jon the dogs bruise. 1t was NOT
ong before he began to feel the benefit OF
he application, and to show his graft.
tude in looks and by wagging his tail. On
their way home they met the old shep'
nerd coming slowly along with . piece
Of rope in his hands.
20 Roger!" cried Florence, ''you are
not to hang poor old Cap. We have
found that his leg is not broken, after
ALL
No. he will serve you yet" said the
gentleman.
well, am glad to hear it," said the
,ld man, land many thanks to you fol
going to see him."
The next morning Florence was VI
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, when Flor
ance and her friend were riding togeth
or. they came up to Roger and his sheep
Cap was there, too, watching the sheep
When he heard the voice Of tho little
girl, his tail wagged and his eye.
sparklcd.
do look at the dog. miss" said thu
shepherd. hes SD pleased to hear YOU
voice. But for you. / should hav.
hanged the best dog ever had in m,
life"
| This is true story. 1t happened
many years ago, and is now told witt
pleasure OF that lady who, in later years
grew up to be the kind, brave womal
who nursed so many soldiers through tn
Crimcan war, and has done SO man
other things for the poor and sufferin
wherever she could.-Youth's Temper
ouexa kanuo