The record-union., 1898-04-22

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themselves.
Until the Captains promotion to his
present command the battleship Iowa
was the one inanimate object in which
the embryo Admirals took greatest
pride. To them this vessel was the
most magnificent and the most power
full piece of naval architecture now or
ever likely to be afloat. Ralph's cha
grin when he learned that his father
would no longer in person command
this noble craft was so great that the
lad went away by himself and crled
tears of the bitterest modification.
Over and over again he was assured
that the commander of a squadron was
far more important man than the
Captain of any single ship, no matter
how fine and invincible, but it seemed
to Ralph's boyish mind that this could
not possibly be true. His understand
ing of the situation is now quite clear,
however. and he and Harold, who gen
erally agrees with his older brother IN
everything. are now fully appreciative
of their fathers added prominence and
| responsibility.
CAPTAIN Sampson was So on February
9th of this wear. but he knows boy ma
ture like a book. and the relations ex-
| listing between himself and his sons are
| of the chummiest sort that can be i'm
agined. Whenever he has shore leave,
where they can get together, the vet
eran naval hero that is and his juvenile
replicas that hope to keep the name in
| the service for many years to come are
almost inseparable companions. And
whenever his ship has been stationed
| within reach of the family the boys
have been frequent visitors on its decks
| where they have always made them
| selves pets with the men and favoriteS
| with the officers in spite of certain boy
| ish tendencies to explore all sorts OF
| forbidden hooks and corners and to find
out things by asking questions that no
one can answer.
| The Captain himself is fond of dogs,
and so are his boys. For years the
youngsters at all times, and their
father when on shore have taken great
delight in a magnificent English setter
named Andy. This dog was the pet OF
| the entire family and his trustWorthl-
ness was such that the lads were al
lowed to undertake many expeditions in
his care that would hardly have been
risked without him. He was frisky
when they felt playful quiet when they
were sober minded and, invariably
ready to obey.
But early in the present year there
came a change in Andy's disposition
His uniform good nature was frequent
ly interrupted by fits of nervous sulk-
mess, and his old-time willingness to
act as foot ball when the boys were
wide awake. pillow when they were
sleepy and general object of whatever
pranks their mood suggested gave
way at times to genuine canine impa-
tience.
Nothing serious was thought of it,,
| however. till one day, several weeks
ago, when Mrs. Sampson and Ralph
were alone in the house. The lad had
been teasing the dog, boy fashion, and
the latter had shown some nervous
ness.
Good old Andy" said the boy, you
shant be bothered any more. I'll get
you a cracker"
This peace offering was received with
Andy's old-time gracious manner, and
then the lad threw himself on the floor
by the dogs SIDE intending to pillow
his head on the animals shoulder. This
Andy evidently thought altogether too
much, and in an instant all the savage
ferocity of his prehistoric wolf-like an
cestors asserted itself. Springing to his
feet the dog sunk his teeth repeatedly
into the boys face, and when the en-
counter was over with his cheeks and
neck were cruelty torn, the blood was
running in streams from half a dozen
wounds.
| Young Ralph received this attack in
lust the manner one would expect from
the son of hero. In less time than
it takes to write it he had succeeded
with his mothers help in getting clear
and then seeing that the dog himself
was frightened at what he had done
the lad ran up the stairs to his own
room, where he began to dress his
wounds as we'll as he could.
In the meantime Mrs. Sampson was
in a quandary. 1t would not do to turn
the dog outdoors, since he might then
attack the first person he met. One OF
her daughters was momentarily ex-
pected home from a trip to New York
and if the dog were left loose on the
ground floor she might also fall a VIC
tim to his cruel fangs. There was only
one thing to do and that was to shut
the brute up in one of the ground floor
rooms at once, if possible, for, OF
course. the boy needed immediate at
tention. Fortunately for this plan
Andy's i'll temper seemed to be all gone
he allowed his mistress to lock him uI
without trouble, and she was then able
to care for the lad.
Though it seemed cruel to every mem
Der of the family, and particularly &c
the boy that had been bitten, the dos
was chloroformed to death at once. At
terward an examination was made by
experts. who pronounced him entirely
free from rabies to every ones relief
Under the most skillful medical anC
surgical care obtainable the lad has
now completely recovered, the last visit
of the doctor having been paid ful
month ago There are still two or three
ugly scars on the boyish face, however
and it is probable that they will never
entirely disappear.
Captain Sampson has been twice mar
ried The two daughters of his hrs'
wife are married to two officers in the
navy, Lieutenant Roy G. Smith and En-
sign H. K. Jackson. Ensign Jackson
immortalized himself when serving as
a cadet on one of the ships that were
caught in the terrible storm at Apia
Samoa, some years ago, by leading iht
tars to the topss and forming tbs
famous human SAIL" which saved the
ship from going on the rocks.
The present Mrs. Sampson is 2ul-
tivated. modest woman who is wrapped
up in her husband and her children
Her two daughters are Hannah (nameo
for the Captains mother, but univer'
sally known as Nam and Olive Far
rington.