Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
gruffest and grimmest Of them like to
hear Gamma childish laughter

gruuest ana grlmUesb OIL tHom iho W
hear genuine childish laughter.
And there was the little old lady next
door. She was very poor and lonely
little old lady, and people laughed at
her funny, old-fashioued clothes and
her funny, old -fashined ways. But Shep
didn't laugh. No, indeed! There must
have been some tender chivalry in bis
heart, which would have marked him
for a gentleman II he he'd had two feet
instead OF four, for whenever she went
down town Shep went with her and pro-
tected her and brought her back again.
However sound asleep he might De.
the click OF her gate-latch never failed
to rouse him and he was over the fence
in q minute and walking gravely along
by her side. When she went into stores
he waited for her at the door and when
she came home he left her at her own
gate, with al awkward gameol or two
at parting.
"Somehow." said the little old wo-
man, ''the dog knows that I'm kind o.
frieudless an lonesome like, with my
old man and the children all gone, an
he's tryin' to make 1t up 20 me-"
As for the Little girls around the cor
ner, 1t was well understood that they
could not play at all without Shep. he
was as much at home in their great,
shady yard as he was in his own. de
played ball with them by the hour, and
the screams and laughter OF the child
rem mingled pleasantly with Shops
jubilant barking. When they played
dolls Shep sat beside them and held a
doll in his mouth when they wanted
him to, though | was never sure that he
liked the tests OF the dolls. When they
played lady, Shep was lady too, and
whether he were calling or receiving
calls bis manners were elegant beyond
description.
Even Mike, the drayman, who lived
away down the street, was on the friend
Hest terms with Shep, and when he
passed, morning and evening, he always
shouted a cordial "Hi'lO, Shep"' And
there was vast multitude OF people
who shook hands with him over the
fence every day, and whom ne greeted
with that delightful smile that was
more eloquent than words.
Some Of us recollect the time that
Shep went 10 church. AL his life had
been consistent and well ordered, but
somehow he had never gone to church,
and no one had thought OF such pos
sibility. Nevertheless, In he walked,
ono Sunday, when the church was
crowded; and with an air OF pleased
surprise he promenaded up the main
aisle and looked about him. An
usher passed without noticing him, and
was back ut the door. The minister
was reading the. last hymn. Shop s
whole air showed that ne was thinking;
"Well, this IS Hnel Why have l
never seen this before?"
With joyful grins and much wagging
OF bis tai he recognized one after an
other Of his friends, and insisted on
sitting up and shaking hands with
them. The little girls tried 10 choke
back a giggle, but 1t could not be done.
| They were playing LADY, Shep felt sure;
so he sat down and played lady little
while, too, until II dawned upon him
! that the minister must be talking TO
him. So be went up into the pulpit to
/ Investigate.
! The whole congregation saw Shep,
| but no one could do anything. He
! looked at the ministers face and waggcd
/ his tail In the friendlieSt manner, out
nothing came OF IL. Then he looked
over the congregation. glancing from
! face TO face with a self-possession that
would have been worth gold and dis-
monds TO az orator.
Then the great pipe organ began and
the choir arose TO sing In the gallery
back of the pulpIt shop cast IN
/ amazed and Mortified look in that direc'
ton and started TO retreat, but his
emotions overpowered him and he threw
back his head and gave utterance TO
howl that was full of despair.
Well, the ushers got him out. aud
that was the last OF Shops church
going.
Early one morning a sad piece oil
news spread through the neighborhood
like wildire. The family had been
reused during the night by a savage
growl, scream Of pain, oaths and
wild struggle. In the hall below they
found a burglar down on the floor with
Shops teeth fastened in his throat and
: knife in his hand red with the dog S
blood.
The burglar was secured. but they
scarcely waited to see about that
these people that loved the dog more
than ANYTHING the burglar could have
taken. They were down on the flooI
around him, trying to check the blood
that flowed so fast from his faithful
heart. One OF the best physicians 10
the town was sent for and came. and
worked as faithfully with the dog as
though the dog had been million
aire.
With the first glimpse OF day came
the little old woman aud then the little
girls, and after while the house was
full OF people. Shep looked up al
everyone. tapped his tail feebly on the
floor, and did his best TO show them
how pleased be was. Doubtless, In his
rapidly darkening vision, these famii
Jar faces were pleasant to look upor
and filed his dying dreams with Wis