Nogales international., 1936-06-20
The Loyal Cur Dog Of Our Childhood Days

lhe Loyal Cur Dog Ut Our Childhood Days
ess Delivered Flanagan J before the
Tenneva Field Trial Banquet Bristol April a. 1860
And SO | am thinking today about INV dog" of
the yesterday of long ago.
They called him cur and by all man-made
standards reckon he properly fell in that GLASS; and
yet to me he was thoroughbred to the manner born
know that the blood of the great generals and war
lords of dogdom coursed through his VEINS because
ne was brave and courageous know that the blood of
the stately matrons and royal ladies of dogdom was
MS heritage, because he kind-hearted tender
and compassionate. No. he wasn't cur but the legit
innate heir to all the noble traits of all the good and
brave dogs of the ages.
There were those who seemed to take delight
IN commenting upon his personal appearance becase
ne was in color what is known as brndle and his
legs were not exactly straight and his hair was more
or less Wooly, and his carriage was not what you
would term regal, but they only saw portion of old
Ned lie was White, clean white, inside
And there were those who even found fault with
ms conduct and manners because he would chase the
cats through the house without stopping at the door
TO wipe his feet scratch fleas in the presence of COM
pany, and puroin this that and the other when loft
alone with the cupboard but you know old Ned was
only human. And, pray, what redblooded boy ever
took time to wipe his feet when in hurry to find his
Dall or Shng lne who had such respect for the
properties OF polite society not to scratch in the
presence OF company around chigger time or who ev
er refused, because of moral reasons to take piece
OF juicy pie Or covered cake that happened
to be lying around and looking sorter lonesome Yes.
When 1t came to manners and conduct Old Ned was
only boy.
But in spite of his ancestry, in spite Of his looks
In spite OF his manners and conduct Old Ned was
great pal and, above all, great teacher.
Wep played together, we hunted together we fish
eo together, We went swimming together we hoed
corn together, went after the cows together MIXED
together, and, when mamma was not acting the part
OF the detective slept together
And many lessons that have stood me in hand 7
learned from Old Ned
though small of stature, bigness never frighten-
ed Old Ned In defense of his rights he would fight
anytnng, large or small from tomcat to vicious
DULL And l learned the lesson of courage from Old
Ned N-o''i OA0
though ofttimes neglected and mistreated moth
ing could come between our friendship or cause him
to turn against his pal And learned the lesson Of
loyalty from Old Ned.
Though ofttmes he went without his meals ~
shVered through the cold winter night there was new
er G Wnlmper And learned the lesson or fortitude
from Old Ned A0- '-''''0
Ever appreciative of every act Of kindness he
would express it in his doggish way bv licking nv
Iace' or jumping up on me with his paws or barking
OUT words OF love- And learned the lesson of graft
tude from Old Ned e->''1
And then one day in the spring Old Ned, my dog,
passed on And over in the orchard under the June
apple tree where we had often played and frolcked
together, where we had often lay down and watched
the clouds go by or listened to the music of the BIRDS
buried Old Ned and erected marker over his grave
and that night country boy sobbed himself to sleep
with petition upon his lips for the dog he loved
Oh, 1t may be just boyish dream, fancy that
found lodgment in my boyish mind, but somehow
down through the years have nurtured the belief
that my dog had the spark of Immortality and that
God just borrowed him for season to gladden. the
neart OF some lonesome little boy up there and that
Old Ned hasn't forgotten any more than have for
gotten and that when arrive one of the first to greet
me will be Old Ned who will run up, put his paws
upon my breast as he did in the days of yore look
up with those knowing eyes, wag his TAIL and bark