The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-09
GRANDFATHER 5 STORY
MARK QUINTRELL

days OF long ago,
When I was young as you are. with
nothing at all to do
Well, I shall undertake 1t, and shall
try to lay much stress
On errors made in those days and the
folly of idleness.
will lay the scene in the county, al
tho 1 lived in the town.
For L really think a country scene will
scare away frown,
And I'll fix the time on Sunday in the
year of nineteen-nine,
For l had just got an auto. and had
learned to run 1t fine.
about my age,
sage;
And then we got our sweethearts. a
couple of silly girls.
Who never thought Of anything but
puffs and frills and curls;
And We went out in the auto for a
great, long Joy ride.
And little we cared where we went,
with pleasure as our guide;
And nothing at all we had to do. and
none OF us a care,
And away we went that afternoon as
an eagle thru the air.
And over the roads how we did spin,
far out in the woodlands green,
But of all the things We passed or
saw, I remember but this scene:
Way out on dim. rough country
road. where we by chance had
gone,
We passed a home upon hill. with
trees around it grown;
And there beside the crooked road, be-
meath a great oak tree.
saw a boy about your size. with a
book upon his knee;
And on the ground beside him there
but clear outside the way.
AS if in dreams Of other worlds. a big
fine collie lay.
They did not seem to notice US. they
did not cen look up.
And so 1 said to the other boy watch
me nip that fellows pup"
| So just as the car was getting close,
1 gave a little cut,
To make it look as il the wheel had
only jumped the rut,
And as We passed beyond the spot, I
quickly turned my head.
And on the ground beside the road,
! that collie dog lay dead:
| L looked again. and saw the boy as he
bent above his pet,
And raised his lifeles form to see II
he was living yet
And then it was that we all laughed
at such a silly boy;
Why should he take the thing so hard
- that We took as a joy?
| We turned the car and leisurely drove
back there to the spot,
AS il the deed, if ever known. was by
all forgot;
For each Of us did want to see Just
| what that boy would say,
| For if he laid the blame on us, we
surely had a way
To tell him how it came about, and
| show twas not our fault;
And SO we brought the car we drove
down to a sudden halt.
The boy then dropped his lifeless pc,
and straight before us stood.
The book he held a Bible was, and II
was stained with blood;
He looked as il no human hand could
ever still his ache,
And though he tried to hold his tears
/ I thought his heart would break
We told him then to "be man." thai
we were sorry, too;
THAT crying only made things worse
and this he must not do.
THAT if he'd only come to town, tina
| we'd sure take him round,
And get him half dozen dogs from
out the city pound.
He told us then that he was poor ans
ha to work each day,
And had no way to go to town, no
had he time to play;
That he alone and with his work mus
keep poor, sick mother.
And that he had no father dear, no
sister. nor yet brother.
That while his dog was yet alive, he'
leave him at the farm,
And feel secure that mother dea
| would never come to harm;
His dog would to the distant fields hi
dinner to him bring.
3 And seem to understand the song tina
he to him would sing.
That when the twilight shadows fel
and all was cold and dark,
There seemed a comfort in the SCUM
of that poor eollie's bark;
. And when his mother learned hi
death. her poor old heart woul
ache;
while he could stand the blow alon
for his poor mothers sake.
He could not help but shed a tear o'e
such a faithful friend.
Who'd been with them thru all thos
years. and met such a tragic enc
And that of all the other dogs "
might find of his race,
No other one that We could find coul
ever take his place
We smiled a sympathetic smile. an
left him by the road;
But no one knew and no one though
of just the kind of load
That he alone. in silence grave, We
then compelled to bear
with no companion or friend wi,
him his grief to share.
We drove on slowly into town. al
really 1 was glad
/. To get away from every one, 1 fe
II so mean and sad;
And though it to forget l tried, son
strangely whispered word
Within my ears would oft return
bark or whine l often heard.
L That night / saw a thousand dogs al
IL each of them were dead,
And some strange thing drew o
their blood and poured it on n
head.
On every hand, on every side. tn
out before me stood