The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09


them. shook his head sadly.
They've got TIE drag roTes out, he said,
and indeed the water was alive vita boats.
The reporter seized him by the arm. is
that the dog" he cried. The pierkaeper
looked surprised. Yes" he answered,
slowly; that's the dog, ard a good dog,
too
The woman came running forward.
Where is she, oh, where is she?" she
walled.
Now. bear up. bear up" said the re-
porter, and then she saw the dog.
oh. Nero, where is she?" she cried
Why haven't you brought her back ? Why
haven't you brought her bacll?''
He done his best said the pierieeper
gTuffly. See here" AID he held up two
dripping little garments
The poor mother seized them with an
eagerness that was terribly pathetic. and
her husband came staggering forward to
her side. shes dead" he cried: dead
and drowned. Nero. how dare you come
back and leave her there?"
l intsrfered at this. ''Ycu nlpstt blame
the dos" said / He has done nobly
Bear your affliction like a man; be brave:
all that can be done has been done"
The dog. huge. shaggy black and white
Newfoundland, seemed to know thai | was
speaking for him. for Re lifted a dripping
paw and laid it on my spot.ess fiannels.
The owner turned TO me
You're right, sir" he said. the tears
standing in his eyes. He has done his
best, and | should not have blamed hiIl.'
He's a noble dog l said, and there was
murmur Of approval from the crowd.
Hes noble dog. and for the sake of his
courage. and to show my sympathy, I'll
give you c15 for him"
The man seemed to waver for moment,
but his wife, laying her hand on the huge
wet head Of the faithful beast. cried out,
No. John, no; don't part with Nero, he's
hes all We've got left now"
There came another murmur from the
crowd of sympathy with her. and. most I'M
justly, of anger with myself. Don't go
for to rob the pore man of his dog said
enc indignant female and other voices
echoed her remark
My friends" said l. hastily. Il have no
wish 10 do So
We'll. don't you do it," repeated my as
sailant
Il don't intend to do it, On the contrary,
l viii hand over els to this poor fellow
to help him to keep this noble dog
Bravo. sir!' cried the reporter. Wen
make Jackpot of it. and I'll put quid
in myself" And. taking off his hat. he
threw a sovereign into it, and passed 1t
round among the crowd.
The poor woman turned to me and caught
my hand in hers. 'oh. bless you. sir" she
sobbed. Bless you, and you. kind gentle
men,
We stayed on that pier for hours. and
when at last we left it, all hopes of re-
covering the body being abandoned. the
woman was still tearfully expressing her
gratitude, for which | must say think she
had some cause. The collection, inclusive
F-1sr inn ..aF
The papers were full of the dogs cour-
age and devotion for days 10 come (there
was no mention. by the way, of the young
man with the life-bel1: and / think that
the basketmaker and his wife had reason
to be thankful to the press. l know of
my own knowledge that three aunts of
mine from London Liverpool and Exeter
sent large donations to the brave Nero
and his master" and. as ! afterward as
certalned. many other people did the same.
The body of the child was not recovered
IN spite of the diiigent efforts of the au-
thorities. and when / had my last inter
view with the parents before / left the
place they were still broken hearted at
their loss.
None the less. they were very grateful to
me for what i had done, and Nero, the
popular idol, shared their gratitude, and
greeted me with most embarrassing
warmth whenever ! crossed his path.
Twice offered to buy the beast but nothing
would induce the man to part with it, The
wife, who had been the most vehement az
hrst in rejecting my offer. had altered her
opinion, and even added her entreaties tn
my own, but it was OF no avail l went
away, regretfully thinking of the dog. He
was not particularly fine specimen. bur
there was an indeseribable air Of humor-
Gus intelligence that attracted me. Most
NeWfoundiands are stolid. almost sullen.
IN appearance, but not Nero. He would
put his head on one side when We met and !
look at me with -pawkiness' that was
irresistible. Had he been human ! feel
sure he would have winked.
would have given $50 for him. hut n
was no use, and babe him and his own
ers a sad farewell
IN April OF this year / went down to !,
stay with cousin of mine who lives in
Dorsetshire, about twenty miles from the
sea coast He is a landowner and a mag
lstrate, and a busy man generally. hut |
ne was not at home when / arrived. His
wife apologized for his absence: Charlie
Is SO sorry that he couldn't meet you. |
out there's been such sad accident in the |
village, and he's seeing about that. He'll |
be home to dinner"
What kind of accident?' I asked.
on. it's most pathetic story. Charlie |
VIII be very angry with me. / know. for |
ne sure 10 want to tell you himself but |
really cannot wait. A poor man With |
a travelling cart came yesterday. He left |
the cart in his wife's charge, outside the |
village, and came In TO sell some baskets |
ana things. While he was away the ian |
caught fre-I believe a lamp exploded. |
The woman was gathering sticks
How sad" said I, Feeling somewhat |
bored.
'Oh. but wait-that's not the dreadful |
part OF it, cried the daughter, excitedly. /
I know, my dear, I know" said her |
mother. please let me tell the story nv
own way. The woman was outside-but |
the poor little child was in the van. The
fire was SO terrible that the poor mother |
couldn't face the flames, It's too terrible |
to think of-but here's Charlie at last"
My cousin came bustling in. We'll, |
George" he cried sorry to miss YOU
had q busy day-we've beeen having a ter |
rible business here; a poor basket max
Err
I've told George all about it, dear"
said his WIFE benignly.
Ny cousins healthy face grew redder, |
but he nobly crushed his disappointment |
down. Well" he said, I've been looking
after the poor people. The mans almost \
off his head-he was abusing his wife In |
the most frightful language when cams |
up; not for leaving the child. but-what |
do you think?-for sending the dog into
the fire."
Poor man." said my cousins wife.
What sort Of dog is it?" asked.
"A Newfoundland-a big black-and-
white dog. It's not very badly burnt"
A Newfoundland The tide of memory
carried me away TO that dreadful scene on |
the pier two years ago. Were all New