Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-08-13

of scarlet cloth. an. it cleaned ike 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.
Sometimes billow higher than it's
fellows hides for moment dog and
child from the anxious, straining eyes.
One can almost hear the watchers
| hearts throb with fca-' 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, "Aliven' thank Cod 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
showered so profusely on him: he trots
sedately up to the childs mother, and
with a wag of his dripping tail, looks
up into her face with his big, faithful
| brown ewes Itwas 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 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. 1t
| was curious. however, to see how from
that time on he made himself the senti-
mel 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 the child was, his eyes
watching every movement she made.
Sometimes 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
her frocl<, promptly drew her back. 1t
was as though he thought: II have
been lucky enough, Miss Baby. to save
you once from watery grave, but as
may not be so lucky again, l shall take
|
risks"
When the steamer reached her deStl-
nation Nero received a regular ovation
as he was leaving the vessel. Some one
cried: Three cheers for Nero and
they were given with Il will. And
s'Good-bv. 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 demonstrations he
could, of course, only reply with wag
of his plumy tail and Il twinkle OF his
faithful brown eyes. He kept close tc
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
honored, until he died of old age
: with his shaggy, gray head resting
t on the knee of the child Ia woman
1 now that he had saved. His grave
&: is in an English church-yard, in conse
Grated ground. He lies in the buria
plot of the family to which he be
longed. His grave is mar led by fan
r white stone, on which is engraved
Sacred to the memory of Nero. faith
| fullest of dogs
t His portrait hangs over the chimney
4 piece of an English drawing-room, be
: meath which sits, in a low arm-chair, {
:. fair-haircd girl, who often looks up a
t Nero's portrait as she tells the tale o
: how he sprang into the waters OF tht
+ Atlantic ocean after her, and held he1
up until help came.-Emma w. Phelps
= in Harpcr'S Young People.