Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-01-28
Lions Way.

"He doesn't loog mucn Ike Oltey
dog" said Rob. And as his mother
watched the steadily trotting animal.
with the broad head and the heavy
rolls of muscle about chest and neck
she vas forced to agree with Rob.
he lid not look like "bitey' dog ;
he looked like dog which had bust.
ness to mind and minded 1t.
TIE Lamsons' summer.house was
just neIt a point where the tide ran
very strong. Halt mile out was the
Middle Ground, a huge bar within
three feet Of the surface at low tide.
Behind them, on a bluff, was q email
ligbthouse-the Middle Ground Light.
The big dog belonged to the light
house-keeper, and so Rob saw him Of
ten. At first the boy meant the dog
no harm. But Rob was used to the
pltifnl stray city dogs. and had seen
other boys drive them away. He bad
never had dog of his own. And
tber7 was something digniGod and in
different about this big animal that
the boy resented. Once he tossed
sticks into the water, commanding,
Fetch Fetch T. but the dog paid no
attention. Stupid II said Rob, and
flung a small pebble at him, which hit
him in the ribs. The animal shook
himself, looked at Rob solemnly, and
at stately march moved away up the
beach. Rob was never a cruel boy,
but be had not learned how to be
kind to animals.
O4e morning, when Rob was play
ing on the pier, throwing in sticks
and Watching them chase each other
ewiftly out to aea, he threw one too
hard, lost his balance and went over.
Fortr. nately he Was b4refooted, and he
could swim a little. He kept his
head above water and shouted for
help, but no one seemed to hear him,
and the tide was sweeping him out
fast. Then suddenly, like a whlrl.
wind, down the hill from the light
house tore the dog. Piunging in with
whine, he swan and was whirled
down toward Rob, seized the boys
shirt in his big jaws, and turning,
plowsd to land again. They we're
carried down fully two hundred yards
before they reached shore, but they
reach I'd it. Rob, half-drowned. was
frighr.ned almost out of his senses; (;
nevertheless, as soon as be had stag
gered TO his feet, be attempted to pat
the dog, who was nuzzlDg him.
Good dog good dog !" he whim'
perez. But as he spoke, the animal
growiad little in his throat and
moved away. As Rob went nearer
again, the dog shook himself till the
water few from his coat, and then he
trott.d away without glance behind
Rob Sollo we'd along, and climbe the
hill to the lighthouse. The dog was
lying in the sun at the door. As
Rob pproached, he got up and stood
facins the boy, and growlej. Spme-
thing new in bis look daunted Rob,
who stopped and called out to the
keeper. When the keeper appeared
Rob told his story. The keeper
nodded.
"I've seen you once or twice both
ering Lion" he said. Now he's
saved your life. You are not the
first, boy. And he won't make
friends Well, if he was human, may
be he d be ready to forgive aud for
get, as the song says. But anyway,
he's only dog, you see, even if he
has got feelings. So you can't argue
with nim.' The keeper eyed Rob
keenly. "Come here, Lion, he went
on, aad the big dog advanced. "Tbis
boy is sorry for what he did. and he
wants to make up. How about it,
old failow2"
Rob looked anxiously at the dog,
feeling very much ashamed. But
Lion, paving uneasily at his master,
gave one more glance at the boy, and
deliberately turned his back.
"You see, said the keeper, slowly,
"beipg only dog, he don't trust you
vet. You try minding your own
business as far as he's concerned for
the rest of the time, and maybe he il
come round. But he isn't ready yet.
At tits be. too, turned away up the
hill. SO the small boy had to walk
d WI the hill again. with bis lips very
shaky, and the lesson firmly in hls
memory that sometimes, even when
one Id very cory for doing wrong, be
| cannot make others believe it-not
right away.
A Religious Authors Statement.