The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-08-05
STORY OF A FAITHFUL DOG.
How He Rescued a Child From a Watery
Grave in Mid Ocean.

In the year 1877. the steamship
Swallow left the Cape of Good Hope,
bound for England-'for home" the
passengers, all English, called it.
Among them was lady with child
of two years and a nurse. The lady
had also brought with her huge, hand
some Newfoundland dog.
The voyage had lasted about six
days. No land was visible, and the
island of st. Helena would be the near
est point. The day was a beautiful
one, with soft breeze blowing, and
the sun shining down brightly on the
sparkling waters. A large and gay
company of the passengers were as
sembled ON deck; merry groups of
young men and girls had clustered to-
gether; now and then laugh rang out,
or some one sang gay little snatch of
song, when suddenly the mirth of all
was silenced by the loud and piercing
scream of woman.
A nurse who had been holding a
child in her arms at the side of the
vessel had lost her hold of the leaping,
restless little one, and it had fallen
overheard into the sea-into the great,
wide Atlantic Ocean. The poor, r,woman,
in her despair, would have flung her.
self after her charge had not strong
arms held her back. But sooner than
it can be written down, something
rushed swiftly past her; there was
leap over the vessels side, a splash into
the waters, and then Nero's black head
appeared above the waves, holding the
child in his mouth.
The engines were stopped as soon as
possible, but by that time the dog was
far behind in the wake of the vessel.
A boat was quickly lowered, and the
ships surgeon. taking his place in it,
ordered the sailors to pull for their
lives. One conld just make out on
the leaping, dancing waves the dogs
black head, holding something scarlet
in his mouth. The child had on little
jacket of scarlet cloth. and it cleaned
like spark of fire on the dark blue
waves.
The mother of the child stands on
the deck, her eyes straining anxiously
after the boat. and the black spot upon
the waves still holding firmly to the
tiny scarlet point. How long the time
seems! The boat seems fairly to creep,
though it speeds over the waves as it
never sped before.
Sometimes billow higher than its
fellows hides for a moment dog and
child from the anxious, straining eyes.
One can almost hear the watchers
hearts then throb with fear lest the
waters may have swallowed them up.
But the boat comes nearer and nearer,
near enough at last to allow of the
surgeons reaching over and lifting the
child out of the dogs mouth, then a
sailors strong arm pulls Nero into the
boat, and the men row swiftly back to
the ship.
"Alive?" is shouted from every lip
as the boat comes within hail Of the
steamer; and as the answer comes
back, 'Alive!" ''thank Godi" breaks
from every heart. Then the boat comes
up to the ships side. A hundred hands
are stretched out to help the brave dog
on board, and Good Nero" Brave
dog" Good fellow" resounded on
every side. But Nero ignores the
praise showered so profusely on him;
he trots sedately up to the child's
mother, and with wag of his dripping
tail. looks up into her face with his big,
faithful brown eyes. 1t was as if he
said. 1T is all right; have brought
her back quite safe"
The mother drops on her knees on
the deck, and taking his shaggy head
in both hands, kisses his wet face again
and again, the tears pouring down her
face in streams. There is indeed not
dry eye on board. One old sailor
stands near with the tears running
down his weather-beaten brown face,
all the while unconscious that he is
weeping.
Well, as one can imagine, Nero was
for the rest of the voyage the pet and
hero of the whole ship. He bore his
honors with quiet, modest dignity. It
was curious, however, to see how from
;hat time on he made himself the
sentinel and body-guard of the child he
1ad saved. He always placed himself
1T the side of the chair of any person
| n whose arms she was, his eyes watch
ing every movement she made. Some
lines she would be laid on the deck,
with Nero only to watch her, and if
inclined to creep out of bounds, Nero's
teeth, fastened firmly in the skirt of
aer frock, promptly drew her back. 1t
was as though he thought, Il have
oeen lucky enough. Miss Baby, to save
you once from watery grave, but as
nay not be so lucky again. shall take
care you don't run any unnecessary
risks in future"
When the steamer reached her des-
:ination, Nero received regular ova-
lion as he was leaving the vessel.
Some one cried, Three cheers for
| Neror' and they were given with
will. And ''Good-by, Nero" Good
by, good dog" resounded from every
Io1
| give him pat on the head as he trotted
| down the gang-plank. To all these
| demonstrations he could, of course, only
reply with wag of his plumy tail and
| twinkle of his faithful brown eyes.
He kept close to the nurses side, and
watched anXiously his little charges
arrival on dry land.
| He was taken to the home of his lit
| tie mistress, where he lived, loved and
honored, until he died of old age, with
his shaggy, gray head resting on the
knee of the child Ga woman now) that
he had saved. His grave is in an
English church-yard. in consecrated
ground. He lies in the burial plot of
the family to which he belonged. His
grave is marked by fair white stone,
on which is engraved
! Sacred TO the memory OF Nero, tdathtatteSt
Of dogs.
His portrait hangs over the chimney
piece of an English drawing-room, be-
meath which sits, in low armchair, a
fair-haired girl, who often looks up at
Nero's portrait as she tells the tale of
how he sprang into the waters of the
Atlantic Ocean after her, and held her
up until help came.-EnaneG MGWde
Phelps, IN Harper's Young People.
Giant steed and Riders Footprints
There is a fiat rock near the ole
Echols mill at Crawford that covers ar
acre of ground. One of the strange
features of the rock is the track of some
huge beast of burden; also the track O.
the rider of this queer antediluviar
monster. 1t seems that the rider anG
his steed made tour across the rock
leaving their tracks impressed in the
solid granite.
About middleway of the story sur
| Il NJ no ri,.tL