The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-29
A SMALL TRAGEDY
WITH LARGE MORAL

last week one Of those incidents in
which the nobler and baser motives
that form the opposite ends Of exist
ence were as fully called into play as
in many a tragedy whose history is
hinged in electric fame around the
world. The actors were only a dog
and one or more sneak thieves. but
the canine had more than spark Of
Horatius in his soul-for who knows
that dog hasn't a soul-and the thief
or thieves were as ignobly cruel as
Sykes or Beatty or Richeson or any
other two-legged beast who ever COM
mitted cowardly and useless murder.
This little dog had a good home with
kind friends, who he very much ap-
preciated, particularly one-a blueeyed,
little boy, his special benevolent despot
and deity, who was much kinder to
him than most little boys, for he had
been early taught that little dogs have
feelings. The little boy and the little
dog grew up together, only the little
dog stopped growing after awhile and
the little boy didn't.
Now, this little dog was like some
foolish men-he had an idea back OF
his brown eyes that he was specially
and divinely appointed to give his
friends warning against every danger
that threatened, and as he rather I'M
reasonably arbitrated unto himself the
right to decide what was danger, he
often made a nuisance of himself. and
made his friends weary-which is the
common result Of faithfulness, whether
it be perpetrated by four or twolegged
animals. Particularly was he persist
ent in warning during the hours that
everybody but dogs, cats. railroad and
newspaper men devote to sleep. Loud
and frequent were his vociferations in
those hours-other dogs, cats, lions.
bats, burglars, comets and earthquakes
all dangers looked alike to him.
AS aforesaid. this little dog had a
good home. and the people therein be-
ing more reasonable than the average,
did not muzzle nor Danish him, but
they had grown careless, If not weary,
of his admonitions, and sometimes for
got to mention him in their prayers
when he had been more than usually
vigilant the night before.
! So the night came when he gave his
/ last warning. He lay in watchful doZe-
! fulness beneath his mistress window,
with very likely some dream of a
romp with the blue-eyed boy weavin g
fancies in his brain, when an unwel-
come odor offended his delicate olfac
tories. Like electric trapdoors, the lids
over his eyes lifted-and a suspicious
shape, maybe two, obtruded on his Wis
/ ion.
! At first he was glad. 1t was his bus
mess to warn, and he realized at once
that now he had real opportunity to
earn his board. Loud and angry his
banks rang out. The suspicious shapes
halted, even went back. But they went
not away, and he barked again and
again.
And now came a voice from the win
dow above-a voice always welcome
but now, alas! telling him to be quiet
Well he knew that his warning wasn't
understood, and perhaps he felt that
an injustice had been done in not CIV
ing him two kinds of a bark-one for
fancied danger and one for real. He
4 ght not have been any better off
tho. At any rate the marauders moved
forward again, and he gave them the
best and all he had.
Again the thieves stopped, and now
a masculine voice babe the dog be qui-
ct. So he was quiet awhile, his sharp
little nose lying on his paws and his
bright. unwinking eyes steadily watch
ing the thieves who stood quite still in
the shadows, while his friends sank
back into needed slumber.
Minutes passed that were maybe
hours to the dog, then the emboldened
miscreants moved forward again An
other furious volley of barks. which
were fired with blank cartridge, fol-
they found no target in listening ear
Likely it was then, the dog, when he
hot frio In
emies wouldn't fear, hurled himself
with all his tiny might at the thieves
A clean little dog in a clean home, II
is not likely that his teeth did much
harm, but it would be excusable tc
wish that they were rank with rabies
and sank deep. For the robber shut &
cruel hand on the brave little fellows
neck and choked and choked and chok-
ed till the faithful life went out. Pity
it was no Weakened eye looked along
revolver sights and no vengeful finger
drew on trigger at that minute. i
would have been as just retribution as
ever was melted.
When the little dogs master came
downstairs next morning. he found hi:
kitchen rifled and the faithful watch
er's body lying where his murderer hat
lcarelessly thrown it. With a saddene6
heart and some self-reproach, he took
the little corpse away and buried 1t
before any Of the other members Of the
family could be grieved at the sight
His sorrow and self-reproach was
shared by the older folks, as they tried
to keep the blueeyed boy from finding
out what had become of his canine
playmate and friend.
However. they needn't feel badly. We
all disregard the warnings Of our sin
lcerest friends. and the best way for a
dog. or a man, to die is in the dis
charge of his duty.
i Perhaps, some of you think this is
too long an article to write about the
death of a dog.