Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-10
HE WAS ONLY A DOG.
BUT HE HAD BEEN THE EDITORS
COMRADE FOR TEN YEARS.
Fred Came Nearer to the Standard OF His
Kind Than Most Human Beings Come
to That Of Their Kind-He Was q Real
Christian In Some Respects.

Fred, The Press dog was poisoned Fri
day night. One of the best friends we
ever had, an almost constant companion
for 10 years, died after hours Of torture.
Why did not the slayer show mercy and
shoot Fred dead?
A dog has so many good human quail
ties and graces in superlative degree that
we never hear of ones death that VIC do
not feel that he deserved a more glowing
obituary than many men. Affection, fdei-
fly, constancy, patience, humility in de-
served punishment are traits Of the dog
the world over.
The devotion Of dog to his master is
touching. He will leave his own kind to
cleave to man. Lord Bacon said, "a
man is god to dog" No doubt good
man humanizes dog, and dog forgives
bad man for abuse and is the kinder,
iuster animal Of the two.
Fred fondIy cherished the delusion, II
dclusion it Was, that the Lord made us
specially for him. That was his creed.
lie would really make up with any one,
except those who teased him, and his good
nature could not help feeling resentment
in these cases. but he stuck to us like
long lost brother going everywhere, to
pasture, to the woods, to the postoflice, to
the library, to the courthouse, to park
meetings, to caucuses, conventions and
public meetings Of all sorts, and maybe
he-got some good from these meetings, for
he would always supplement applause
given to q speech by approving barks.
Poor fellow! That was the nearest he
could get to speech, except with his yellow
agate eyes and tclltale tail. lie was rather
too free with his remarks. Any unusual
sight--a parade, n band procession, cir
Gus pageant, an odd dress, the fire bell
would set him going.
Wo never saw a human being more SEN
sitive to ridicule than he. He couldn't
bear to he laughed at. And he was such
an affcctionate fellow. He was a real
Christian that way. We say it with all
reverence, but his meek, joyful, glad spirit
of forgiveness often put us to sense of
shame. His was the nobler spirit. He
forgave 20 times and more IL necessary.
He had some faults. Who has not? But
he had fewer faults than any man we ever
knew. A dog measures up nearer to
correct standard than almost any human
being An amiable dog is stepped in moral
graces. In affection, in unselflsh devotion,
in fidelity, in repentance, in watchful
care, in kindness, in going on service till
he drops, who exceeds him?
We miss that dog at every turn. On the
street corners we catch ourself looking for
him, to see If ho has gone ahead or is left
= behind. AS the town clock strikes II we
miss his rising and stretching and his yell
low glance, as If to say, Master, 1t is
time to go home.' lie could count up to
II, it seems. Before p, IN. he became
restless and watched for the clock stroke.
And he was set to the figure Z. He knew
when Sunday came as well as any church
man. He knew what the fire bell meant
and would run to the flrehouse as it rang,
as excited as any member of tho depart
ment. He knew every nook and corner in
The Press Office, having passed all his
days there, and in a pinch we believe he
could havc set up form, read proof, fed
the presses. We know he could "pi" type.
He liked to lie on u pile of old newspapers,
but he never learned to tell campaign
lie.
There was never a dog in this town that
took such wide range as he Ho went
to all sorts of meetings and shows, entered
stores, and at the bakery knew where was
the box for stale breads and Mt the meat
markets where were the boxes of bones
And his ethics were confused us to mcum
and tuum. He helped himself but with
such becoming grace that he never got
kicked.
He had the weakness of his race for cats
His chief amusement was chasing them
He'd tear down the street, leap fences, go
round houses like n whirlwnd, but he
could never catch one. He couldn't catch
n rabbit. He couldn't catch anything, not
even cold.
He was sold TO us in his tender boyhood
for water spaniel, but he was afraid of
water We were also told that he was a
bird dog. He would neither point nor
set" We found cut he was turkey
dog. We paid for two ho killed. Ono was
put in evidence, and we paid 50 for that
gobbler. He was lost for weCk-ticd
up in the country, whether for ransom we
know not-but one dark, rainy Saturday
night two boys answered our advertise
mcnt, and we found two urchins hitchcd
by Il rope TO seal brown dog with yellow
eyes and long silky ears, and that overjoy
ed canine frescood us with tho clay he had
acquired on his iaunt, and the lads said
ho had killed n turkey. We handed out
So too quick and rescued our treasure.
Paying IS for him as pup and contribut
ing 81 to tho Turkish mission and paying
the annual tax on him for several years
and tho city registration fee and tax and
for leather collar and medal 6 oents)
and for flea lotions, we reckon he stood us
in some $50 to $50 in good money. But
there was never n day we didn't get s.
worth of fun and satisfaction out of him,
SO that any schoolhoy can figure what has
been our income and profit on that dog for
10 or l2 happy years he spent with us.
us. Really he was the most valuable
piece OF property we ever owned.
Fred knew he was mortally hurt and
staggered to us, lolling fiercely, his eyes
imploring sympathy and help. And though |
half paraly2ed he obeyed the instinct Of |
wild animals and dragged himself to COW
er to die unseen. Most animals die I'M
witnessed, and maybe he preferred to slip |
out of tho living universe after the mode |
of his kind, but it seemed a monstrous |
shame TO lot him lie on the lush weeds |
under the currans bushes in the rain and |
dark and die alone. Who would not |
crouch by the side of noble friend and |
hold the lantern at the vigil as priest |
holds the altar candles and crucihx before !
the dimming eyes of the dyingg
We buried him in the garden in wind |
ing sheets ofpresses and felt that grave |
never Enclosed more loving, honest crea-
ture.
Low, Era1f TJo /