Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-03
OUR YOUNG FOLK.
The True story of "A Dog.


In the year 1877 the steamship Swallow
left the Cape of Good Hope, bound for Eng
land-"for home" the passengers, all Eng
lish, called it, 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 shining down bright
" on the sparkling waters. \ large and
gay company of the passengers were assem-
bled on the deck; merry groups of young
men and girls had clustered together; now
and then a laugh rang out. or some one
sang gay little snatch of song, when sud
denly the mirth of all was slenced 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 woman, in her despair, would have
flung herself 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, holding the child in his mouth
The engines were stopped as soon as pos
sible, but by that time the dog was far be-
hind in the wake of the vessel. \ boat
was quickly lowered, and the ships sur
geon, taking his place in it, ordered the
sailors to pull for their lives One could
just make out on the leapng, dancing
waves the dogs black head, holding some
thing scarlet in his mouth. The child had
on little jacket of scarlet cloth, and it
cleaned like a 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.
Some times a billow higher than its fell
lows hides for moment dog and child from
the anxious, straining eyes. One can al
most hear the watchers hearts then throb
with fear lest the waters may have swal-
lowed them up. But the boat comes near
er 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.' a
"thank God!' breaks from every heart
Then the boat comes up to the ships
side. \ hundred hands are stretched out
to help the brave dog on board, and "Good
Nero "Brave dog Good fellow" re-
sound on every side. But Nero ignores the
praise showered so profusely on him: he
trOts sedately up to the child's mother. and
with a 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:
l 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 herface in streams
There is indeed not a 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, how
ever, 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 per-
son in whose arms she was, his eyes watch
ing every movement she made Some
times she would be laid on the deck with
only Nero to watch her, and if inclined 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 a watery
grave, but as | may not be so lucky again.
l shall take care you don't run any unnec-
essary risks in the future"
When the steamer reached her destina-
ton, Nero received a regular ovation as he
was leaving the vessel. Some one cried.
"Three cheers for Nero 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 a pat on the head as he trotted
down the gang-plank. To all these dem
onstrations he could, of course, only reply
with 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 arrival on dry land.
He was taken to the home of his little
mistress, where he lived loved and hon
ored, until he died of old age, with his
shaggy, gray head resting on the knee of
the child "a 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,
FAITHFULEsT OF Docs.
His portrait hangs over the chmney-pece
of an English drawing-room beneath which
sits, in low armchair, a fair-haired girl,
who often looks up at Neros 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.
Hdrper'S Young People.
Ned IIoyt,s IucL