The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
THE DEATH OF JACK.
He Was - Famous Hunter OF Deer Until
Old Age Overcame Him.


Jack had been a noble dog, and as hand
some as they make them, but as he lay
before the open fireplace he was old. feeble,
and cross, with n decrcpit LONELINESS that
was saddening to look upon. So Jacks mas
ter thought as he looked at the dog late one
evening In the month of May. AS he lay
there the dogs body twitched and seemed
fairly to creak. the joints were so stiff and
Grabbed. Certain 1t was that the dogs use
ful.days were at an end, and the question
came. should Jack die of age, or would 1t be
merciful to cut his life off at once?
1t was a hard question for Jacks master.
Few dogs had been go tenderly loved and
cared for as Jack. and few dogs had repaid
so fully the kindness bestowed upon them.
Jack was a deer dog, ard last fall he fol-
lowed a trail for the last time. His poor old
legs and feet failed him on the last day of
the hunt, and for the first time he laid him
self down on a hot deer trail grooming miser-
hind the guides heels and followed the mans
footsteps, painfully and YEARLY. For Ave
trail had been ieft Til i ended in the broad
waters Of the Adirondack Moose River.
the saddleback runway how Jack had failed
a. last, tears came To- the masters eyes, and
Rs s5oG the his sv fItle a %sh9 sw ths J %sscser no. l9s;
was sitting on the needle-like leaves beneath
a spruce tree rubbing Jacks head and talk
Next day Jack came out of the woods at
his masters heels, not tied by a chain to the
pack basket as 1t had been necessary to do
in the old days to keep Jack from running
deer. Several deer trails were crossed. some
cold, some hot, and at these Jack stopped
and shifted, then looked Off down tho hill
side along which tho old trail, runs into the
but In an instant his head would droop and
he would go to heel, showing by every move
ment that he was sensible of his inability
to chase n deer again. Sometimes Jacks mas
ter thought the dog was crying.
Week by week Jack failed during the winter.
and now he could scarcely lift himself to his
feet, he was so old and stiff. Not all his old
time spirit had gone. His master would take
down his rifle now and then and Jack and he
would talk over old times while they cleaned
IT,. True, Jack and the man were mOurnful
about It, but both. felt themselves better az
ter such talks, and it seemed as II both slept
batter after one of them.
Jack was inclined to be cross and stupid.
and he had never been a cross or stupid
dog before. It was late when tho master
got through thinking of these things, and
his breath caught suddenly as he rose from
his chair. The dog half rose to his feet. but
fell back again when the man got up. 1t
was so late that every one was In bed and
asleep, and only the moon lighted the room,
the lamps having burned out.
The master went and got bis rifle and for
a little while he and Jack cleaned 1t as in
the old days. After a while the master said:
Come, Jack. Let's go hunting"
People wondered when a shot rang out
that night, but not very much, because men
sometl mes shot owls at night thereabouts;
but Jack was happier, his master is sure,
the little girl wonders why the moon took him
away.