The Washington herald., 1914-09-10
Two Dogs.
ny EMORY J. HAYNES.

They are both newcomers. logo ana Sam, lonl
belonging to the family, died. When Sam, whit
poIiced the back door, sic6ened with age, we wer
unhappy, but really as his self-mposed station wa
humber, our sense of loss was not as great. Th'
cook and the hired man, with the grocers boy
mourned the most for Sam. We still had Togo OF
the front piazza
Our sympathy went out to Togo Also as he coulC
no longer go fetch his friend from the back at
ing for bit of play He would to look to US
pitiably for explanation as he appeared in thu
glories of the aftergow. As if he had said Il can
not find him. Do you know where Sam is?' Wher
one of the ladies broke the news to him, as kindly
as plainly, that Sam was dead, he seemed not tc
know death. The idea could not be conveyed to him
1t was as if she had exhorted him to go try again
to bring Sam. And he always returned with down.
cast men
How beautiful is the memory of dog that misses
his friend. Togo never got used to being alone The
only dog in the family when all were assembled
and there were candies and smokes and love-making
and laughter If two candies were dropped on the
stone as usual, one for him and the other for Sam
Togo would not touch Sans morsel though day
after day Sam came to eat it nevermore.
1t with distress that, in due course, we saw
Togo also going slow. He did not seem to under
stand it himself l explained to him that it the
common lot. l myself was compelled to go slower
than when youth was spry. But the dog resented
the oncreep of decrepitude. Naturally enough since
he had no immortal hopes.
He was just the same sentinel bristling afront a
tramp He often joined battle with the dog on duty
at the stables. But the fight in his mind was too
much for the fight in his body He lacked strength.
told Togo that l myself experienced the same dis
parity. My pluck as great as ever but in wind
was falling off. l exhorted him that, at our age
discretion was the better part of vaor That he need
not fight for fame. for his name was safe in the
of fighters. At which he only licked
my hand and turned to growl defiance toward the
stable dog there in the coach-house door,
So that one day poor Togo got knocked out, or
nearly out. We had the doctor and the dog pulled
through. But there is always one battle too many,
one last strain and tussle. And while we win, yet
it is best to retire
One day proud Togo refused to 1inger superAuous
on the scene. He had been with US the
evening before, in the sunset glories, and
received his usual attention. We remember
that he was very affectonate and rubbed his
velvet ears against every hand He went through
one two OF his favorte tricks unasked He lay
under every chair, and when went indoors he
Darked goodnight.
the door-mat. As Napoleon paced the floor at St
Helena so Togo kept walking back and forth along
The stone pavement of the veranda One of the chill
iren him standing, feet on the rail, regarding
The June full moon the trees He serenaded the
moon, as he had way of doing when in poetic mood
or lovelorn.
We never saw the dog again What happenedo
We do not know. All lovers of dogs can recall some
animal who, when he knew his time had come wand
red of to die Poor fellow, there was nothing else
'ut to make grave in our hearts and bury him
here.
So all this story explains how we have these new
logs, Rex and Spot. We are trying to give them
Proper places in affections. But it is slow work
So does the dull globe yield slowly to the boy.
Though really what would the old globe do without
hese newcomers? The future lies before them,
hese two dogs. The soft. dear feet of their
predecessors have not left a mark behind If it is
ealy in these two they will conquer our affections
Ours, did l say? Even dog may outive his master