The aegis & intelligencer., 1893-10-13
miscellaneous.
SAVED BY HIS DOG.

1t was an ugly cur, OF the kind
which you see in alleys and waste lots
feeding on garbage. Wag did not
feed on garbage. The gate-keeper's
wife at the prison was kind-hearted
Irish woman, who fed him WELL
He's none of mine, zur," she said
to the warden. "He came one day
with the wife of one of the prisoners,
an he crept in with her an saw his
master just behind the bars and here
he's stayed ever since. She couldn't
get him away. He knows Johns
here she says to me, an he's waitin
for him to come out"
Hes an i'll conditioned cur" said
Mr.. Bolts. 'Such dogs ought to be
shot. They're no good to anybody
But he plays with the children,
zur.n
She did not tell the warden that
Wag tried to get into the prison when
ever the doors were opened. and howl
ed when kicked out. But his faithful
devotion to the poor wretch who own
ed him touched Mrs. Clancy's warm
Irish heart.
"Twas God made the baste. He
must have a use for him, she said, as
the warden went on to the prison.
| wild big sperrit in her." according to
Mrs. Clancy, came no more to the
prison. She sold the little house they
owned in Kensington, and going to
an obscure New Jersey village, bought
a patch of ground, cultivated it and
made a home for her husband when
| he should come out.
Nobody knows you here" she
! wrote. Nobody will know of the
slip you made. You can begin life
| afresh. A good carpenter is much
| needed, and have all your tools"
1t seemed the best course to her, but
| it would have been wiser if she had
stayed in town and kept up her in
fluence over him. He was in the COM
panionship of thieves and drul.kards,
worse men than himself. 1t was easy
| for them to persuade him that the
chance of a decent life was over for
him in the world. Their horizon in
cluded only guilt and misery, and he
| was living in it with them.
His term of Imprisonment was for
three years, but on account of his
good conduct he was discharged few
months earlier Mary, his wife did
not know this. But his comrades in
the prison knew it. Two of them,
who were discharged week earlier,
Iiarranged to meet him as soon as he
came out.
1t was in the evening when he laid
off his convict garb and resumed the
clothes he had worn outside. There
was society in the city for the care
of discharged prisoners. The agent
spoke to him few hopeful, kind
words, and gave him ticket to carry
him to the town where Mary lived.
you'll find your wife there, and a
new home," he said. "Begin a new
life, with Gods help"
John walked down the corridor and
across the prison yard, with no hope
in his heart. 1t was long since he had
seen his wife. She could not love a
miserable jail-bird He would not go
to this place where she was respected
to disgrace her! He would not bring
taint on his baby girl.
The men were waiting for him across
| the way. He had no mind to go to
stealing or any kind of crime, but a
few days of hard drinking, or plunge
in the river, would end it all, and take
him out of everybody's way!
The gate unclosed. He passed
| through and was free man again.
| In a street not far away was bright
| ly-lighted drinking shop. His COM
rades were there. He estopped, looked
at the ticket in his hand then-crossed
! the street to join them.
Just at this moment a dog rushed
out of the Jail gate, and jumped on
him, barking, licking his hand, fairly
mad with joy.
The poor prisoner stopped, trem-
bling from head to foot. "Why it's
Wagr' he said ''it's poor old Wag ="
With the sight of the dog came back
recollections of his home that he had
disgraced and ruined Mary, and the
baby in its cradle. A sick longing fill
ed his heart to see them again.
Its my wife-it's my little girl ~
he thought. He stool irresolute a
minute and then walked hastily to the
station.
Come Wag We'll GO home, "he said.
| This is true story. John Dash is
living now, an honest citizen, and the
old dog still sleeps on his hearth.
The gatekeeper's wife was not wrong
when she said that God had use for
all things that He has made Even a
poor cur may help, and its faithful
love, to save soul alive.-Selected.