Year: 1873

| NICK! ou will come to he estimated for


exactly what you are worth. If fool. no


amount Of newspaper or magazine puffery


can set you up; and if you are useful, no


amount of newspaper or magazine detrac-


ton can keep you down. For every posi-


ton there are twenty aspirants; only one


man can get it; forthwith the other nine


teen are on the offensive. People are silly


enough to think that they can build them


selves up with the bricks they pull out of
your wall. Pass ON and leave them. What


waste of powder for a hunter to 90 into


the woods to shoot black flies, or for


man of great work to notice infinitesimal


assault. My Newfoundland would scorn


to be seen making drive at black-and-


tan terrier.


But one day, on my walk with Nick, we
had an awful time. We were coming in at
great speed, much of the time on brisk


run, my mind full of white clover tons,
and the balm that exudes from the woods
in full LEAKAGE, when, passing the com
mons, We saw dog fight, in which there
mingled Newfoundland as large as Nick,
a bloodhound, and pointer. They had
been interlocked for some time in terrific
combat. They had gnashed upon and torn
each other, until there was getting to be a
great scarcity of ears, and eyes, and tails,
Nick's head was up, but l advised him
that he had better keep out of that canine
misunderstanding. But he gave one look,
as much as to say, "Here at last is an
occasion worthy of me-" and at that lash
ed into the fray. There had been no order
in the fight before, but, as Nick entered
they all pitched at him. They took him
fore, and aft, and midships. 1t was a
greater undertaking than he had antici-
pated. He shook, and bit, and hauled, and
howled. He wanted to get out of the
fight, but found that more difficult than to
get in. Now, if there is anything 1 like,
it is fair play. l said, "Count me in -
and with stick and other missiles l came
in like Blucher at nightfall. Nick saw me,
and plucked up courage, and we gave it to
them right and left, till our opponents
went scampering down the hill, and laid
down the weapons of conflict, and resumed
my profession as minister, and gave the
mortified dog some good advice on keep
ing out of scrapes, which homily had its
proper effect, for with head down and pen-
itent look, he logged back with me to the
city.


Lesson for dogs and men; Keep out of
fights. If you see church contest, or a
company of unsanctified females overhaul
ing each others good name, until there is
nothing left of them but a broken hoop
skirt and one curl of back hair, you had
better stand clear. Once 60 in and your
own character will be an invitation to their
muzzles. Nick's long, clean car was a
temptation to all the teeth. You will have
enough battles of your own, without get
ting a loan of conflicts at twenty per cent
month. Every time since the unfortunate
struggle have described, when Nick and
take a country walk, and pass dog fight,
he comes close up by my side, and looks
me in the eye with one long wipe of the
tongue over his chops, as much as to say,
Easier to get into fight than to get out
of it. Better jog along our own way" and
then preach him short sermon from
Proverbs 26: II, He that passeth by, and
meddleth with strife belonging not to him,
is like one that taketh a dog by the ears"