The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-15
The True Story of a Dog.

Among them was lady with child of
two years and nurse. The lady had
also brought with her a huge, handsome
Newfoundland dog.
The voyage had lasted about six DAYS.
No land was visible, and the island of
st. Helena would be the nearest point.
The day was beautiful one. with a
soft breeze blowing, and the sun shin
ing down brightly on the sparkling
waters. A large and gay company of
the passengers were assembled on the
deck; merry groups of young mon and
girls had clustered together; now and
then a laugh rang out, or some one
sang gay little snatch of song, when
suddenly the mirth of all was sienced
by the loud and piercing scream of a
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 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, splash
into the waters, and then Nero's black
head appeared above the waves, hold
ing 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 could just make out on the
leaping, dancing waves the dogs black
head, holding something scarlet in his
mouth. The child had on a little
j lcket 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 it's
fellows hides for a moment dog and
child from the anxious, straining ewes.
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 sur
geon's reaching over and lifting the
child out of the dogs mouth, then a
sailors stout arm pulls Nero into he
boat, and the men row swiftly back 10
the ship.
"Alive?" is shouted from every lip,
as the boat comes within hail of the
steamer; and, as the answer comes
back, "Aliveln "Thank Godl" 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" resound on every side.
But Nero ignores the praise showerrd
so profusely on him; he trots Sc lately
up to the child's mother, and with a
wag of his dripping tail, looks up in'o
her face with his big, faithful brown
eyes. 1t was as if he said, at 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 MOI
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.
1t was curious, however, to see how
from that time on he made himself the
sentinel and body-guard of the child he
had saved. He always placed himself at
the side of the chair of any person in
whose arms she was, his eyes watching
every movement she made. Some
times she would be laid on the deck,
with only Nero to watch her, and if in
clined TO creep out of bounds, Nero's
teeth, fastened firmly in the skirt of her
frock, promptly drew her back 1t was
as though he thought, 81 have been
lucky enough, Miss Baby, to save you
once from watery grave, but as may
not be so lucky again, | shall take care
you don't run any unnecessary risks in
the future"
When the steamer reached her des-
tination, Nero received regular ova-
ton as he was leaving the vessel. Some
one cried, "Three cheers for Nerol"
and they were given with a will. And
Good-by, Nero" "Good-by, good
dog" resounded from every side. Every
one crowded around to give him pat
on the head, as he trotted down the
gang plank. To all these demonstra-
tions he could, of course, only reply
with a wag of his plumy tail and a
twinkle of his faithful brown eyes. He
kept close to the nurses side, and
watched anxiously his little charges ar
rival on dry land.
He was taken to the home of his little
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 "a woman now that